Page 9 of Diamond Angel

I roll my eyes and go back to the ketchup bottles. “You’re just a fount of knowledge, aren’t you?”

“And don’t you ever forget it.” She throws me a saucy wink. “How’s that old man of yours doing?”

“Dad’s okay,” I say reluctantly. “He likes working at the library. And the hours are flexible, so he can take care of Adam in the evenings when I have a shift here.”

“I’ve always wanted to have sex in that library,” Mabel muses. “Do you think he’d be willing to help me out with that little fantasy?”

“Mabel!”

She laughs. “I’m only teasing. He’s cute, but not my type. The two of you are a lot alike, you know.”

“We are absolutely not,” I snap defensively.

“Oh, you can gnash your teeth as much as you want, little kitten, but let’s face it: just ‘cause you run from something don’t mean you’re safe from it.”

Her words land in my gut with that dull, aching thump that means they’re way too true and way too accurate.

“I think I have some more work in the back.” I carefully pivot on my heel and make my way to the kitchen where Bruce, the line cook, is massaging burger patties into shape.

“You stop gettin’ laid and it starts to show on the face, Taylor! Remember that!” Mabel calls out after me. I’d like to think that she’s loud because there’s no diners around to hear, but I know from experience that that’s not true. She doesn’t give a rat’s ass who’s listening.

Bruce offers me a sympathetic smile when I round the corner. “Don’t let her bully you.”

“She’s not bullying me. She just wants me to be happy. Apparently, everyone’s under the impression that I’m miserable here.”

“Oh, I disagree.”

“Thank you, Bruce.”

“I think you’d be miserableanywhere.”

My face falls. “Et tu, Brute?”

He laughs and places the next patty on a tray lined with parchment paper. “You’ve lived in this town for two years, Taylor. And I can count on one finger the number of times I’ve seen you laugh.”

I roll my eyes and lean against the counter. “You got anything for me?”

He pulls out a tray of jam pastries and holds it out for me to take one. “Go on. Gorge yourself.”

I take one and pop a bite into my mouth. “See?” I say as I chew. “These little desserts make me happy. It’s the simple things for me. And contrary to what Mabel thinks, I don’t need a man. She’s been married five times, and none of those worked out. So who is she to give me love life advice?”

“Mabel’s talking about sex, not love.”

“I’m one of those old-fashioned cranks who believe the two things go hand in hand.”

Bruce nods solemnly. “I’ve always suspected there was someone.”

I try not to choke on the pastry. “There’s no one, okay? For God’s sake, everyone’s always pestering me about it. But I’m not running from anyone or anything.”

Even to my own ears, that sounds pretty strident. Needless to say, Bruce is unconvinced. “That was defensive.” He offers the tray again. “Eat more sugar. You’re cranky.”

I scowl, but I accept the peace offering. As I eat it, we hear Mabel’s laugh from the diner. She’s got her hooks into the first brave lemming leading the dinner rush.

“He must be good looking,” I chuckle. “That’s her ‘turned-on’ laugh.”

A moment later, Mabel walks in through the swinging double doors. Her eyes are bright with excitement, and her cheeks are flushed. The new customer must be fresh meat.

Ping.I reach into my pocket and check my phone.

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