Page 11 of Sugar Coated Lies
“Is that how he got the black eye?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you going to ask him out?” Annabeth follows me as I fill a glass with ice water and get a fork.
“No,” I say, as if the idea is insane, because it is. “Why would I do that?”
“Because he’s beautiful. And you’re single and young and you haven’t dated anyone since your grandma passed. It’s time to get back out there.”
I laugh. “While all that might be true, what’s also true is that I don’t have the time for anything else in my life.”
“Not even a beautiful man?”
“Not even that. And beautiful on the outside doesn’t mean beautiful on the inside.”
“Wise words,” Mike chimes in from where he sits on a stool eating his burger and fries.
“Thank you.” I smile and carry the pie and water to the handsome customer.
“Here you go.” I set them in front of him, along with a fork. “Can I get you anything else?”
“Yes, actually.” He picks up the fork. “I’d like you to join me.”
“Why?” I ask, stunned, and glance at the camera in the corner.
He takes a bite of pie and moans with delight. “Wow, fresh out of the oven.” He smiles. “I thought I’d only imagined how good this pie was in my drunkenness. Did you make this, too?”
I nod and stiffen at the click of a door opening and closing. Gary.
“Excuse me for a moment.” I follow my boss into the kitchen, certain he wants to talk.
Mike stands at the sink, washing his lunch dish clean, and Annabeth must be out on a smoke break because I don’t see her.
Gary turns to me, his eyes narrowed into slits. “That’s the man from last night, correct?”
“Yes.” Why does he care?
“He came back for more pie?”
“He really loves it.”
Gary doesn’t say anything, just rubs his large belly.
I bite my lower lip and focus on avoiding his gaze.
“He wants me to sit with him,” I blurt, surprising myself.
“Hmm?”
Not the response I expected from my boss. He wants us busy at all times and would never allow us to sit with a customer.
“He must have an agenda.” Gary catches my gaze and holds it, a conniving glint in his eyes. “Find out what he wants.”
“What do you mean? He just came for the pie.”
“Of course, he did. Don’t you know who that is?”
I look at Mike, who shrugs, as clueless as I am.
