Page 68 of The One I Hate
“You’re a frustrating person.”
I shrug. “Two things can be true at the same time.”
“I—” Charlie starts to speak when a man in his early thirties starts marching toward her, shouting her name at the top of his lungs. He’s short, skinny, and I can smell his Axe body spray from twenty yards.
I don’t know who this guy is, but I want to punch him.
“Charlie!” He yells, stopping beside us. “Where have you been?”
She turns to him as frustration paints her beautiful face. “I was taking a break. Is something wrong, Billy?”
Billy tries to puff out his chest, which is a futile attempt. He looks like a toddler trying to buff out.
“Everything is wrong, Charlie,” he says, a hint of arrogance in his voice. “For starters, your staff is putting out the wrong course.”
She looks over his shoulder as servers are walking around, delivering salads to each table.
“It’s the first course. Salads are the first course. What exactly is wrong?”
Billy huffs, hems, and haws as he scrambles for an answer. Who the fuck is this guy, and can I punch him yet?
“Just—just come back to the kitchen. This might be your last night, but you still work for me and I don’t appreciate you slacking. Plus, there are things we need to take care of before you leave. We can’t afford to get behind tonight.”
Yup. I’m probably going to punch him.
“Fine. I’ll be right there.”
“Yes. She’ll be right there.”
Billy apparently doesn’t appreciate my chiming in. “Who are you?”
“Simon Banks. DJ tonight. Best friend of the groom. And longtime friend of Charlie here.” I extend my hand. “And you are?”
He doesn’t say anything, instead just staring at me. He’s jealous of the suit. I can tell.
“Why are you wearing a suit you stole from Barbie?”
Oh, now he’s gone and done it. “First of all, I’d be proud to be a Ken. Two, it’s not Barbie Pink, it’s Bright Pink, you fuck. And three, you never answered my question: Who the hell are you and why are you ordering around Bug?”
“Who’s Bug?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say, my sarcasm rapidly ramping up. “That’s what I call Charlie. It’s my pet name for her. She loves it.”
His face reddens. Oh. I see. He likes Bug.
Cute he thinks he has a chance. Adorable, really.
Billy ignores me and turns his attention back to Charlie. “If you want paid for your last night, you’ll be back in the kitchen in two minutes.”
He glares at me before turns sharply and storms away.
“Bye! Nice meeting you!”
Charlie slaps me on the chest. “Stop it. Ignore him and let me go back to work.”
“Sorry, Bug. Can’t do. You know I don’t like to ignore things.”
She rolls her eyes and starts walking away.
