Page 19 of Neighbors' Omega
“You can switch me to a weekend schedule if it’ll be easier. I’ll be around since my family’s local.”
“I’ll probably take you up on that offer.”
“I can do more hours too.”
I shook my head. “Can’t. Work-study limits. You’re already near the top of allowed hours. Any more would put you over.”
“Oh… yeah.”
“Thanks for the offer though. I appreciate it.”
“Of course. And you can give me extra hours between semesters, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Put me down for as much extra as you can give me then as soon as the semester is over.”
“You got it.”
“And what are your plans?” she asked. “Gonna visit family out of town?”
I laughed. “No. Most of my family is here, so I’ll be able to fill in some gaps. But it’s going to be a rough few days for me.”
“We’re that low on people?”
I shook my head. “I’ll be in pre-heat all weekend. I’ve already put in my time off request starting the Monday after Thanksgiving.”
She winced. “You’re not worried about it coming early?”
“No, it’s regular.”
“Lucky. Mine loves to come early one cycle, then late the next. I’d love to be able to pinpoint it more than a few days out.”
“You’re still young. It’ll settle down soon enough.”
“I hope so. I have plans for my life, and they don’t include kids for a few more years.”
I grinned. “I think you’ll be fine. You’ve always seemed practical and cautious.”
She shrugged. “Maybe, but heats are funny things. I’d rather not be caught off guard.”
“I hear you there.”
She grinned, and started to turn back to her work, when her phone alarm sounded.
“Oops, time for class,” she said, standing and grabbing her bag from under the counter. “See ya tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” I echoed as she walked out.
She’d almost reached the door when somebody coming in caught my eye.
“Roland?” I asked as he approached the desk. “What are you doing here?”
He grinned. “Shane said you might have some cookbooks here.”
I blinked. “We do, but what do you need a cookbook for?”
He rested his elbows on the counter and leaned in. “Have any old regional cookbooks? The older the better.”
