Page 22 of Waiting for Sunshine

I look over to Shane who is picking at the skin around her thumb, something I’ve noticed she does when she’s anxious.

“If you don’t want to serve them, you don’t have to. You are on bar duty today, so Heather can just keep the table.” I say, facing Shane. I cross my arms, waiting for her to respond. She shakes her head and smiles.

“No, it’s fine. I don’t mind.” She makes her way over there and I find myself unable to focus on anything else. She stands at the edge of the table, and one of the guys holds out his hand to shake hers. She shakes his hand and a forced smile appears on her face. When another customer sits at my end of the bar, I am forced to tear my eyes away from her.

Shane appears back behind the bar just as I am closing out tabs for my customers. When I look up, I see Heather back at the table Shane was requested at. Right as I am about to ask her why she’d come back behind the bar, the guy who had taken her hand when she first approached the table, waltzes up to her.

“Hey gorgeous, why’d you leave me lonely over there.” He pouts. This guy is clearly drunk, and in the middle of the afternoon.

“Oh, I was needed back behind the bar, but Heather is more than capable of taking care of you.” Shane answers him so professionally, with her bright smile intact. Seeing as how I hadn’t told her I needed help, I got the unspoken message.

This guy leans over the bar, reaching a hand out for Shane,

“Well, I was hoping I could ask you for your number.” He says with a smug grin. I have a mind to punch it right off of his face. As his hand inches closer to Shane, instinctively I step in front of her. Crossing my arms over my chest I look down at this pathetic excuse of a man.

“Well, as she said, she is needed behind the bar. Shane, would you like this… person, to have your number?” I ask, never breaking eye contact with the guy.

“Um, no.” She says quietly.

“Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll have Heather bring you your check.” I nod the guy back over to his table.

“What if I’m not done?” he arrogantly asks.

“You are.” I bite out. He takes his sweet ass time getting back to his booth. Once he’s there I tell Heather they’re done and to run them their ticket.

When Heather returns she hands Shane the receipt, “Here ya go, It’s still under your name.” She sets it down on the counter and I notice a phone number written on it. I involuntarily grunt at the thought and Shane looks up at me.

She rolls her eyes as she picks up the ticket. Turning her attention back to the terminal she keys in the ticket number.

“Some guys just can’t tell when you’re not interested.” She says, sliding the receipt into the drawer. She glances around the bar before facing me again.

“Then again, some don’t know when youareeither.” She shrugs her shoulders and brushes past me. Her tone is so casual, but the statement feels loaded.

Have I missed a major fucking sign?

If so, I would be pissed.

This is the first girl that’s ever captured my attention the way she does. The only one whose laugh makes me want to be a stand-up comedian, and whose smile lights up a whole damn room. Someone who cares so deeply for others that her own needs go unmet until she knows every other person is taken care of.

She’s the one person who’s ever made me question every belief I have when it comes to romantic relationships. If there were ever a person Iwouldgo all in with, it would probably be Shane. But if her comment was just that, a random comment, and I’m reading way into this. I don’t wanna risk putting myself out there like that. That’s just not a risk I’m willing to take. Not yet.

* * *

As Shane and I are getting ready to clock out from the morning shift, Ruby and Marco were coming in for the night shift. We still have about half an hour before our shifts are up when Taylor, and two other dark-haired girls I kind of recognized, come walking through the door.

“Shaney, we’re headed to Topgolf, you coming?” Taylor asks, sliding onto a bar stool.

“I can’t, my shift isn’t over yet.” She replies.

“Well just come when you’re done! Boss man is welcome to join too.” She side-eyes me then looks back over to Shane. Before Shane or myself can get a word in, Tucker comes busting through the door from the kitchen.

“Whoa, looks like a party. What, no tequila shots this time?” he teases, bumping Shane’s shoulder, making her smile as she rolls her eyes at him.

“Very funny, martini man.” Shane teases back.

“No, really. What are we all doing here?” Tucker asks, as his eyes scan over Shane’s friends all lined up at the bar. “And I don’t believe we had the pleasure of learning your names the first time you were here.” He lays on the charm.

“Oh, Tucker, Max, these are my other two best friends, Leah and Lauren.” Shane introduces. Tucker and I both nod and say hello.

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