Page 3 of Fight For Us
The shuffling sounds stopped. Oh good, he was focusing. “Nothing really. Derek had just come in to relieve me. I went into the office to grab my stuff and…” He hesitated.
“And?” I asked, waiting for hisahamoment.
“I think my phone rang.” I heard the creak of his chair and a small hiss that told me he’d pushed to a stand.
“Who called?”
“The rep from Sysco. She was letting me know they were out of the chicken strips I ordered.”
Our voices connected like two ends of a string as we said in unison, “The walk-in.”
I waited a few seconds, while Wes made his way into the industrial sized freezer. “Find it yet?”
“Yup, got it. Right there next to our last bag of said chicken strips.”
I leaned my head against the couch sending a silent prayer to the universe for strength. “There ya go. Problem solved.”
“What would I do without you, Tiger?” The rumble of his voice caused my face to heat. I ignored the familiar feeling.
“You survived without me for years. You’d make it.” Although he might lose his head in the process.
“I thought I was doing okay. But now that I have you, I realized how much of a shit show the place was.”
I smiled at the compliment, feeling the heat spread to my ears. It didn’t feel warranted though.Not really. Yeah, I added some much needed organization and cleanliness to the place, but I was a crap waitress. My scant collection of tips showed as much.
“Nah, it’s not me. Kelly’s the one who keeps the place going. It should be renamed Kelly’s, instead of Sunshine.”
He responded with a growlyhmph.A sound that I’ve come to learn was so very Wes.
“Anyway, if that’s all, I should get going. Working the breakfast shift tomorrow.” My eyelids grew heavy but I still needed a quick shower before getting into bed.
“Get some rest.” I pushed off the couch, my shoulders aching from exertion. “And Tiger?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
In a matter of seconds I let myself forget about his mess from earlier and his order ticket mix up. One thanks and he had a clean slate. It wouldn’t last long. Tomorrow he’d do something or another to get under my skin, but for tonight, I’d take the reprieve.
“Anytime,” I said. And I meant it.
Chapter 2
Olivia
Two Months Earlier
The first time Imet Wesley Reed, I ripped him a new one. That’s right. I chewed him out, hauled him over the coals, gave him a tongue lashing.
But who could blame me? It was a parent’s job to keep their children safe. And he needed a little reminder of that fact.
“Alex, time to pack up. Dinner will be ready any minute.” I stood, brushing sand off the back of my thighs. I didn’t want to track it inside and make more work for the already overloaded housekeeper. She was sweet enough to stay and work for our family while we were guests at the estate.
“One more, Mom. Please. Look at that wave coming.” He pointed at the monster of a wave heading toward the shore andclutched his boogie board like his life depended on it. I inhaled the salty sea air and counted to three before nodding.
“One more. That’s it.” My mother would scold me out for having the audacity to show up five minutes late to dinner. A dinner she did nothing to prepare for, might I add.
Alex held the board against his lanky frame and ran straight into the breaking wave, flopping down a second too late. My fault for making him wait during my calming breath, I guessed. I couldn’t help it. This little private beach had no lifeguard and my ten year old thought he was invincible. Anxious thoughts were bound to chime in.
