Page 13 of Journey to Love

“It means you need to lose weight before you’re seen with me wearing something like that” he barks.

“Fuck you, Paul!” I quickly slam my hand over my mouth. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean it, I swear it just came out” I panic but it’s too late. Before I know it, I feel the sting on my cheek and his hand firmly grabbing my jaw. Tears are running down my face as I try to pull Paul’s hand down. “Don’t you ever speak to me like that again!” I’m wincing and the taste of metal hits my tongue. Paul lets go and I bring my hand to my mouth. I cut the inside of my cheek against my teeth.

“Anyaaa? You there?” Lana’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. “Yeah, sorry, I zoned out. What were you saying?” I reply, trying to sound confident.

“I asked you if you wanted to go out tonight,” Lana answers, her excitement evident in her voice.

“Oh...” I glance at the clock, it reads 10:28 P.M. “I would love to, but I have to work a double shift tomorrow. Raincheck?” I suggest, feeling torn between wanting to have fun and the responsibilities looming ahead.

“It’s not that I can’t handle being out all night, I can,” I reassure myself silently, “but that memory of Paul mocking my weight made me self-conscious. Fuck Paul! He doesn’t control you anymore!” my inner voice retorts.

“You know, yeah, Lana, I’ll go out with you tonight, and then you can spend the night here,” I say with newfound confidence, pushing aside my insecurities.

“Yayyy! Okay, I’ll let my parents know I’m staying at your house. If they ask, we just watched The Notebook,” Lana squeals with excitement.

I laugh at her enthusiasm. “You too, huh?”

“Oh hush, my parents don’t care if I’m out all night. They just care if I’m at the bar. They’re afraid I’ll turn out like my uncle and start day drinking,” she confides in a hushed tone.

We hang up, and I start getting ready. After curling the ends of my hair, I pull out a hot pink strapless dress that accentuates my curves. Then I slip on my black leather jacket and matching knee-high boots. “Oh yeah, I look badass,” I say to myself in the mirror with a grin.

I knock on Nana’s bedroom door and let her know I’m heading out. She nods understandingly and waves me goodbye, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and affection.

I walk into the bar and look around the room, it is jammed-packed for a Wednesday night. But then I see a sign that saysLadies Night, Half-priced drinks till 10 p.m.Oh sweet!I exclaim to myself. I keep scanning the crowd looking for Lana as I continue walking inside. Finally, I see her in the far corner of the bar sitting with a couple of people I don’t recognize. I push my way through the crowd of people who have gathered around the bar, most have credit cards in their hands, and they are shouting at the poor bartenders.I would hate to be them tonight. I walk toward the table; Lana is already out of her chair and rushing over toward me. She wraps me in a hug and then introduces me to everyone. “Hey everyone, this is my good friend and co-worker, Anya” I give a polite smile and a small wave to everyone.

She lets me get in the booth first and then follows after me. I look around the table and Anya starts introducing them to me. “Okay this is Michaela”, she sitting on the other side next to Lana. She is short like Lana, with curly red hair, and her freckles bring out her hazel eyes. “This is Peter and that’s his girlfriend, Bonnie”, they sit across from us and are both equally good-looking. Peter is tall, his dark brown hair is slicked back, he has deep blue eyes, and his muscles show that he works out. Bonnie has light brown skin, light brown eyes, straight black hair, and maybe 5’6”. They both do a slight nod up in the air as a gesture of acknowledgment. Lana continues going around the table, “Next to Bonnie is Olivia”, who for some reason is looking at me like I just climbed out of a dumpster. She’s gorgeous, I’ll give her that. With her full lips, long brown hair, slender body, and long legs.If she keeps staring at me like that, she won’t have a pretty face any longer.My inner voice warns, “And sitting right next to you is Liam”, he is the complete opposite and looks at me like I’m his next meal. He’s not bad to look at though, he’s tall too,let’s be honest everyone is tall compared to my 5’1” height. He’s wearing a tight t-shirt that defines his muscular body, he has a strong jawline that leads to his sculpted chin. When he smiles, a dimple peeks through his left cheek. I smile, ignoring the daggers coming from Olivia.Seriously, what is her problem?

“Nice to meet you all,” I say looking around the tableExcept you Olivia!I say to myself. Bonnie leans in, “So, how long have you two worked together?” she points between me and Lana. “Well, I’ve been working at Lonestar Mex for about 4 years now, and Lana came on board a few months after I did.

Olivia pursed her lips and jerked her head up, “How sad that you have to waitress for money, I could never” she said then flipped her hair over her shoulder. I sharply turned my head in her direction, shooting her a menacing glare. She gives me one back. I lean in toward Lana, “hey what is Olivia’s problem with me?”. Lana looks toward Olivia and then back at me. “I honestly have no clue” she replies. We both sit back up and I try my best to ignore Olivia.

After a while, I feel myself getting comfortable, despite Olivia’s dirty looks every now and then. Liam then leans in toward me, his breath warm against my ear, and his hand resting lightly on my back. I instinctively tense at the sensation and subtly shift my body away from him. "Don't be afraid of me, sweetheart," he whispers, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. "I was just about to ask if you wanted to dance with me." I scoff, “I'm not your sweetheart, and no, I'm fine right where I am, thank you,” I retort with a touch of disdain.

"I'll dance with you, babe," Olivia retorts, her tone dripping with superiority as she shoots me a condescending look. Liam rolls his eyes in exasperation. "Been there, done that," he interjects, his voice tinged with annoyance as he shoots Olivia a look of disgust. Olivia's expression shifts from one of smugness to a mix of surprise and indignation. Her eyebrows knit together, and her lips purse in a tight line as she processes Liam's response. A flicker of irritation flashes in her eyes before she regains her composure, attempting to mask her frustration with a forced smile. She clears her throat, feigning nonchalance as she replies, "Suit yourself, Liam. I was just offering." She turns away from him, glares at me then starts a conversation with Bonnie.

I can’t take this anymore!

I turn to face Olivia, feeling the simmering frustration beneath the surface. "Got a problem with me?" I ask, my tone edged with irritation. Olivia's lips tighten, and she meets my gaze with defiance. "Nope! No problem, as long as you stay away from what’s mine!" she smirks. "What does that even mean?" I retort, my frustration mounting. She narrows her eyes. "I mean, I saw pictures of you and Joe at the Rave!"Pictures?I think, my confusion growing. "What pictures?" I demand. She scoffs, pulling out her phone and scrolling through the Rave website and shows me. "Look, I have no idea why that photo's there or that it was even taken. But that night, I shut Joe down!" She scoffs again. "Yeah, right? You looked pretty pissed when he had his hand on your thigh."

"Listen up. I don’t know you, and you don’t know me, but let's set the record straight!" I say, jabbing my finger towards her. "I don’t owe you a GODDAMN thing, but I’ll explain anyway! Joe tried to grope me under my dress, and I shut him down. I left him on the dance floor to go to the bathroom. When I returned, he was pissed because I said no! Then had the audacity to insinuate I was asking for it!" I pause, seething. "Just because you see one lousy photo doesn’t mean you know what happened!" I take a breath. "Next time, get your damn facts straight before accusing people you don’t even know!" I take a breath and then continue.

"And lastly! I wouldn’t touch Joe with a ten-foot pole after that. So, if you want his toxic ass, be my guest! Just know what you’re getting into before diving headfirst," I finish, sinking back into my seat.

The tension at the table dissipates, and Olivia retreats into her seat, her demeanor subdued after my outburst. Lana, ever the peacemaker, attempts to lighten the mood. "Okay, well, I need a drink after that," she says with a forced chuckle, shooting Olivia a pointed glance that speaks volumes:don’t mess with my best friend. Thankfully, Olivia seems to have taken the hint, and the rest of the evening passes without further incident.

Glancing at my phone, I realize it's already past 1 AM, and exhaustion washes over me. I bid farewell to the table, expressing my need for sleep before my double shift the next day. Lana walks me out, offering an apology for Olivia's behavior. I wave off her concern, adopting a casual tone. "Eh, don’t sweat it. I’ve dealt with my fair share of Olivias before. I know how to handle them, and she doesn't bother me," I reassure her.

Lana chuckles, expressing her surprise at Olivia's interest in Joe. I place a comforting hand on Lana's shoulder, offering reassurance. "Lana, it's not your fault. You did nothing wrong. If anyone should apologize, it's her. But I’m not holding my breath. I'm okay, really, and it's no big deal," I assure her with a smile.

"Now, I really do have to go. I barely got any sleep last night, and I don’t want any accidents happening because I’m too tired," I say, giving Lana a quick hug before heading home and telling her I’ll leave the spare key out.

A few days pass, and Lana and I find ourselves caught up in the whirlwind of work. The restaurant is teeming with patrons, bustling with the energy of Memorial Day weekend and the beginning of summer break. Locals and tourists alike flood the establishment, keeping us on our toes from morning till night. Life in a tourist area certainly keeps you on your toes, that's for sure.

Finally, we manage to snag a brief moment to eat and steal away for a quick smoke outside. In the hectic life of a server, there's no such thing as a proper break. You grab bites whenever you can between serving tables, and more often than not, your food ends up in the trash before you can finish it.

"I can’t believe this is our last day before vacation," Lana gasps, catching her breath between drags of her cigarette.

"I know, right? It's like the universe decided to throw every local and tourist our way just before we leave," I quip, trying to lighten the mood.

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