Page 9 of For the Lover in You
"Damn, man, you don't think you might have fucked with her in one of your one-night stands, left that hoe on read?" Owen asked.
I shook my head. Mila had a look that I wouldn't forget. She wouldn't have been just a one-night stand. She would've been someone I remembered being with.
"Hell no. Either way, it doesn't matter because once I finish telling Justin about her, she's as good as fired."
"Damn, not you a snitch," Owen joked.
I didn't care what he thought. There was no way I was letting this mad-ass woman handle my drinks or food.
Four
Mila
While biting my fingernail, I paced the floor in the office. My heart raced because I knew I was about to be jobless.
"Mila, calm down, you might not be in too much trouble," Chasity insisted, digging in her nails.
I rolled my eyes at Chasity because she didn't know what would happen. She wasn't the manager. Chasity was my cousin on my daddy's side. She and I grew up like sisters, but once Kyle and I got married, she and I didn't talk often. Chasity was recently promoted to the head bartender at Justine's. Due to her promotion and the diner wanting to quickly fill the vacant position, I was hired right away.
She'd heard what happened and instead of judging me, she showed up to help, like Trina did. She insisted I move to where she was so I wouldn't risk the chances of running into Kyle and his new family.
"Chas, I got into it with a customer. He demanded to see Justin."
Justin was the manager of Justine's. I thanked him a million times for hiring me on the spot, especially since I had no experience. Now here I was ruining my opportunity because of the way I talked to a customer.
She sucked her teeth. "Girl, Trey isn't going to push to get you fired. He's cool. All of them are. They are here every Thursday during the football season and basketball season."
I rolled my eyes. I didn't care how cool they were. I was sick of having to tolerate these men. Since working here, every man I served has asked to pay me for other services. I'd had enough after the last table. The older man left me a one-dollar tip on a fifty-five-dollar tab. I needed money. I had to take care of myself and KJ, but I couldn't take dealing with the advances, which was why I gave him attitude. He was pressing me, asking me questions, and I already knew what he wanted. It was a trend here at the bar. I was at the point now where I was back-talking all customers if I felt they had another motive in place.
"Most of the men who come in here are weird. They only want to hit on you. They do small talk and then leave barely five percent on the tab but want some ass. This shit is too much, Chas." I flopped down in the seat.
My eyes watered thinking about how much my life changed. Before a tear could fall, the office door opened, and Justin appeared. He didn't look happy or upset. He held a blank look on his face.
"Chasity, can you excuse us, please?"
Chasity immediately walked out, but not before looking back at me, mouthing that she loved me. Justin came and sat beside me. We sat in silence for thirty seconds before he spoke up.
"Mila, you can't keep doing this. You've only been on the job for a few days, yet I've had more complaints against you than anybody."
"Justin, these men are disgusting, constantly trying to hit on me, acting like they care, and probably having a wife at home."
He shook his head, then placed his hand on my knee and smiled. Justin was a forty-five-year-old black gay man. His husband was the chef in the kitchen. Justin took over Justine's when his mother could no longer run it. He changed the atmosphere to accommodate today's society. He took pride in helping, hence why he didn't hesitate to give me a job.
"Everyone ain't him, baby. You have a child to provide for. Shake that shit off and make the money. You're more than this. You're still letting that man control how you move, and he ain't even here."
He was right. Justin knew everything that happened with Kyle and me. During the interview process, Justin asked me why I wanted to work at Justine's, so I spilled my guts, letting him know about how drastically my life had changed because of Kyle. Even though he never met Kyle, he hated Kyle just as much as I did.
Kyle had ruined me. I barely slept at night, and I barely ate. I'd lost ten pounds and ended up chopping off all my hair, so I didn't have to keep looking at the curls Kyle swore he loved so much. Men now disgust me, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Still, Justin was right. KJ needed me, and I couldn't let him down. I needed to be grateful for this job and start taking it seriously.
"Sorry, I will do better. I promise."
"I know," he said, standing up. "And you're going to prove it by finishing the table out."
My eyes widened, and I jumped to my feet. "No, Justin! Please don't make me help them anymore. I already embarrassed myself."
"Those are my regulars, and they treat everyone here well. Don't push my regulars with money away. I'll have Chasity makethem around of beers on the house. Now straighten up and go turn this whole thing into a three-sixty." Justin walked out of the office, leaving me there.
I hoped Justin would've passed the table to another server. I let out a frustrated sigh before checking my appearance in the mirror. It seemed as if the table was many miles away as I took my time. I knew Justin was watching me. Internally, I prayed I could keep my composure for the rest of their visit. I felt embarrassed when I stopped at their table because I knew they knew Justin had scolded me. I swallowed hard when they stopped talking to look at me.
