Second Chance Boyfriend(54)
“Fine. Get over your pissy attitude and I’ll tell you everything you need to hear.”
My jaw drops open. I can’t believe he just called me pissy. But he’s right. I am. “What’s up?” I ask weakly.
“I know you’ve only been here for a few weeks, but you impress me. A lot. You only need to be told once what to do and how to do it, and you have it under control. The customers like you. T thinks you’re fantastic and I value her opinion above anyone else in this place.” Colin leans across his desk, as if he really wants to get his message across. “I want to give you more hours, but I won’t do it if you’re going to bail on your shifts all the time.”
“I won’t bail on my shifts,” I say automatically.
He smiles. “So you’ll take the increase in hours.”
“Absolutely.”
“I’m giving you a sixty-day probation period. Once that passes and I’m satisfied with the job you’re doing, you’ll automatically receive a raise.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Really?”
“Really.” He nods. “I plan on opening up a few more locations in the Sacramento area over the next twelve to eighteen months. I need people who are able to train my new employees like T does. Is that something that interests you?”
I’m like Jen. Travel is near to impossible for me, what with Owen in school and my mom never around. But I can’t say no, can I? The restaurant biz definitely doesn’t interest me long-term but I need a steady, good-paying job, especially if I really go through with it and get an apartment for just Owen and me. What Colin’s talking about sounds like my every current financial wish come true.
“Um, possibly?” My vague answer doesn’t please my boss at all. He’s frowning at me big-time. “Look, I have a little brother and our relationship with my mom is…complicated.”
His bunched expression smoothes out completely. “We’ll discuss everything further once we get closer to the possibility of my needing you for training purposes. Truthfully, the plans for the restaurants are just that—still in the planning stages.”
“Sounds amazing,” I say weakly, because it does. This guy is ambitious as hell and I can’t help but admire him.
“It will be, trust me.” The grin he flashes me is so bright it momentarily blinds me. “Now get back out there and help Jen. We have three reservations tonight, all big parties.”
Groaning, I stand and hurry out of his office, my feet already aching, and I haven’t even really started working yet.
* * * *
“Do you work tomorrow?”
I grab my purse out of the locker I stashed it in and shut the metal door with a loud clang. I’m exhausted. Tonight’s shift was rough and I can’t wait to go home and collapse into bed. “No, thank God.”
“Me either. Look.” Jen glances around, as if she’s afraid someone’s going to catch us talking. Weird, considering we’re all alone in the room. “There have been some things going on in my life and I’m dying to go out and blow off my steam, you know? So you want to go with me tomorrow night and grab some drinks? Maybe have a girls’ night out?”
My first response is to say no. I don’t want to miss out on one night with Drew, which is ridiculous and needy, but damn it, he only just came back into my life. I want to spend every moment I have with him.
Then I catch the look on Jen’s face, the worry and need in her gaze. Does she not have any other friends to ask? Or is she just like me, with really no friends at all?
“Sure,” I say before I can talk myself out of it. “Where do you want to go?”
The smile that appears is worth my few hours away from Drew. I think this girl needs my friendship more than I realize. “I don’t know, La Salle’s?”
I smack her lightly on the arm. “Good one. I don’t think so.”
“How about Jake’s? It’s always hopping.”
“Well…you do realize I’m underage.” I used to have a fake ID but I lost it. After that bouncer guy made me sign a piece of paper to make sure the signature matched that one night about a year ago when I was with some loser dude on a date, and it didn’t match? I was done for. He snatched that license from me and I haven’t bothered to find another one since. “So I’m not much fun on the go-out-and-get-drinks deal.”
Jen laughed and shook her head. “I forgot. You act so much older than twenty, you know? You’re like an old soul.”
“I don’t know whether to take that as a compliment or an insult.” I wrinkle my nose.