Page 14 of Betrayal & New Beginnings

Minutes later,IheardWade’svoice behind me andTammytalking back to him, butIwas trying to write down the order and not screw it up, soIdidn’t turn around until after their exchange was clearly done.WhenIfinally looked over,Wadewas on his way out, but stopped to chat with a booth full of women.Theywere all dolled up, and one was now standing next toWade, her hand stroked his arm in a very familiar way.

I found myself getting irrationally angry at the thought of that woman touching him.Itried to focus on putting the order into the computer and not staring at them, but my eyes kept flitting over from time to time.Wadedidn’t seem to be encouraging her touching, but he also wasn’t stopping her either.Heseemed to know her or was at least familiar with her based on his body language.Anold girlfriend, maybe?Occasionalbooty-call?

“No matter how hard you hit those buttons, it won’t make the food come out faster,”Tammysaid beside me.

I looked up at her to find her looking at me, then glancing over atWade, then back at me.

“For what it’s worth, that girl is a regular customer,” she said quietly. “Sheflirts with him all the time, but as far asIknow, he hasn’t done anything with it.”

She patted me on the shoulder and walked back to grab some empty glasses and dishes from her side of the bar beforeIcould sputter out any kind of comment—whether to defend my thoughts or pretendIwasn’t angry.AsIwatchedWadetalk to that woman,Isighed and tried to clear the jealousy from my mind.Ineeded to get my focus on myself right now, not a man.Itold myselfIwasn’t going to look back over at them.

“God, what a hussy,”Bethhissed as she walked up to my side of the counter to pick up her drink order.

I glanced up at her to see she was also looking atWade.

“That woman comes in here all the time, making a scene withWade,”Bethcontinued unprompted. “Allup on him, being a bitch to the rest of us servers if she can’t haveWadepersonally bring her drinks out.Then, when she gets stuck sitting in one of our sections, she’s a horrible tipper and crazy rude.Sucha pain in my ass.Theonly good part is watching her face every time he turns her down.”

She left no room for comment, grabbing her drinks and walking away.Herparting words put a small smile on my face—especially whenIlooked up to seeWadestepping out the door.Thewoman frowned as she sank back into her seat.

I wasn’t proud of my initial reaction to the so-called “hussy,” butI’dbe lying ifIsaidIdidn’t take a little pleasure in seeingWadereject her.

6

ELLIE

I had been inAtlantaover a month, and was really settling in.Idecided on a school to attend and was in the process of getting registered to start next semester.Everythingwas falling into place, butIstill hadn’t met many people yet outside of the pub.Thegood news wasIhad traded a few texts withRuthie, and we had plans to meet up for lunch later this week.

I was on the late dinner shift tonight, which started at four and went until eleven or midnight, depending on how busy we were.Tammywas on the early shift, which meantIwould only get to work with her for about an hour or two tops, untilSamcame in to relieve her.IlikedSam.Hewas young like me, but not really a chatty person, which was fine, but it certainly didn’t make the shift as fun as it was withTammy.

Most of the other staffIhad met were also really cool and great to work with, butTammyreminded me of an older version ofKatiefrom back home inTennessee.

ThoughIguessIcouldn’t really call it home anymore.WithGrangone,Randallbeing a miserable excuse of a person, andJackliving here inGeorgianow,Isupposed that meantGeorgiawas my new home.

“Home isn’t where your house is, but where your family is,”Granused to say toJackand me shortly after we went to live with her.Iused to think she only said that to make us feel better about leaving our old house behind and moving in with her, but nowIwas starting to get it.Georgiawas where my brother lived, along with his best friends.Friendswho were like brothers to him.Ifhe was happy here, thenIcould be too.

I was only about an hour into my shift whenTammycame over and told meIhad a phone call again.Isighed, knowing they would likely have hung up.Again.

“WateringHole, this isEllie,”Isaid, but once again,Iwas met with silence.

“Hello?Thisis theWateringHole.HowcanIhelp you?”Irepeated, this time with a little more vigor.

I was just about to hang up, when a voice from my past brought chills to my body.

“Hello,Elliana.Ifound you,” the man said slowly, saying my name in a creepy way only he could.

“Randall?”Isqueaked.

“Ahhh yes, she does remember me.”Hisvoice sounded calm, but with an edge of hostility. “Youcan run,Elliana, butIwill always find you.Youwill always be mine.You.Belong.To.Me!”Hisvoice dripped with displeasure and malice, even though it was barely above a whisper.

The room started to spin, andIhad a hard time breathing.Howhad he found me?Iknew he likely assumedIcame toGeorgia, but how did he track me down at work?Ivaguely heardRandall’svoice continue but couldn’t hear what he was actually saying.Igrabbed the bar to stabilize myself, andIfelt the phone slide out of my hand.Inmy haze,IheardTammyyell something, but allIkept thinking about wasRandallhad found me and he would come for me.Hewould never let me go.

* * *

Tammy’s face came into view, and she kept telling me to take deep breaths and look at her.Thescenery around me changed, butIcouldn’t focus on that.Ineeded to figure out what to do.

As my brain fog began to clear and my mind sharpened,Ilooked around and realizedIwas now sitting on the small couch inWade’soffice.

“Tammy?”Iasked, my voice croaking.

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