Page 98 of Breakout
“I would never say that.”
Larry smiles and shakes his head. “You need to take better care of yourself, sweetheart. Between school and here, I’m afraid you’re spreading yourself thin.”
“I’m fine. I promise. Just a little longer, and then I’ll be able to take a breath.”
“That’s what we all say,” he muses.
“Peyton, we just sat someone in your section. They asked for you specifically,” Cole, this afternoon’s manager, says.
“Guy or girl?”
He raises a brow. “Does it matter?”
I sigh and stand. I shove a few more fries in my mouth and dump the rest.
“Thank you for lunch, Larry,” I say as I load my plate into the dishwasher.
“You’re welcome, Peyton.”
I know I should stop by my purse and grab a breath mint before hitting up the table, but Cole looks like he’s five seconds away from having a coronary because I’m taking too long.
I’ll just grab one when I get whoever is here a drink.
I know it’s probably not, but I hope it’s Beckett. It’s been a minute since I’ve seen him alone, and I could really use some one-on-one time right about now. Well, one-on-one time that won’t end up with us naked.
Although I do love it when we’re alone and naked…
I head onto the floor and toward my tables. My steps falter when I see Gabe.
Definitely not Beckett then.
“Hey, Gabe,” I say, offering him a stilted smile.
Why does he keep showing up where I am? I know that’s self-centered of me to think, but I can’t help but feel like it’s true. I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I saw him before he started asking me out, and now it’s like he’s everywhere I turn.
“Hi, you look gorgeous,” he says with a big smile.
“What can I get you?” I ask him, not acknowledging his compliment.
It’s a risk. Some men act poorly when you push off their advances. I’m starting to see that nice Gabe isn’t quite so nice.
“Can I get a Sprite?”
“Sure. I’ll be right back.”
Before he can say anything, I spin on my heel and head toward the bar.
“You good?” Dani asks as she gets the drink.
I reach behind the bar where we keep a stash of breath mints and pop one into my mouth.
“I’m good. Thank you,” I say as I take the drink from her.
I head back to Gabe and set his drink on the table. “There you go. Do you know what you would like to eat yet?”
“I’m not hungry, I was hoping I could talk to you,” he says, making me cringe.
“Gabe, I’m working.”
