Page 41 of Daring the Defender

“Sure.” I set my coffee on the bar. “I’m just happy to warm up for a minute. I’m still not used to this weather.”

With a box of paper napkins in his hands he gives me the once over, “You definitely need a heavier coat.”

“I know. I just haven’t found one I like.”

“That’s the difference in harsher weather. We worry less about want than need.” He grabs the last box and after he carriesit in, I let the door swing shut. I follow him back in and pick up my coffee, taking a warm sip.

“Other than the cold, are you enjoying your time with your brother?” he asks, using a blade to cut the tape on the box of napkins.

“It’s different than my life at home.” He raises his eyebrows, waiting for me to continue. “I’m not in college there, and I don’t really have a job other than supporting my father’s ministry.” I watch as Mike grabs a napkin dispenser off the side of the counter and stuffs the paper rectangles inside. I pick up one of the dispensers and a stack of napkins and do the same. “I’m not used to this much freedom.”

“Are you enjoying it?”

“I think it’s more overwhelming than anything else.” And confusing.

“Transitioning to adulthood isn’t easy, but if you’re anything like your brother, I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

“Where do these go?” I ask, and a moment later I’m placing them on all the table tops across the bar. When I finish up, I head back to the bar. “Anything else you need help with?”

He studies me for a moment. “You looking for a job?”

“Oh, I meant right now.” I laugh. “I doubt I’m qualified.” I look at the lines of liquor bottles behind the bar. “I’ve never even tasted alcohol.”

“No drinking required,” he says with a smile, “but I could use a server.”

“I’m only planning on being here for a few weeks.”

“I had two employees quit recently and haven’t been able to find a good replacement.” He lifts an eyebrow. “And the fact you just helped out with little to no direction shows you have the number one thing I look for in an employee: initiative.”

A strange swell of pride fills my chest. “If you’re okay with this only being temporary, I’m game.”

He grins. “You’re a lifesaver! Thank you.”

“When do I start?”

“How about tonight?” he suggests. “There’s no game, so it should be slow enough to get your bearings.”

That fluttery panic rises in my throat, but I take a deep breath, and swallow it back. “Sure, why not?”

Seriously, I’ve got nothing to lose but hours in front of the TV and obsessing over Reid Wilder.

Mike reaches under the bar and tosses me a T-shirt.

“Welcome to the team.”

I’ve donea lot of uncomfortable things this week, but for some reason this feels big. Raising my hand, I knock on the door. Before I can even regret doing it, the door opens and Nadia peers out of the Teal House.

“Shelby! Hi!”

The first words out of my mouth are a rushed apology. “I’m sorry I showed up without calling, I know you’re probably busy.”

The divot between her eyes appears. “We’re definitely not busy. Twyler’s just watching TV and I was pretending to study for an exam while really shopping online.”

Behind her I hear Twyler yell, “Nad, ask her to come in and close the door! It’s freezing out there!”

She swings the door open and I step inside the tiny house. The off campus neighborhood is called Shotgun and the Teal House is the example why. The houses are from back when the neighborhood was a mill and filled with workers and they lived in these narrow homes where you can see straight through the house from the front door to the back. In the small living room, Twyler sits on a couch, the TV on pause and a bag of chips next toher. “Hey, Shelby.” She does a double take. “Girl, you really need a coat.”

I really do, but that’s not why I’m here. “I think I did something stupid.”

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