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Chapter TWENTY-TWO

My shift is nearly over, and I'm filling salt and pepper shakers, and wiping down mustard containers and the honey bears on every table when Kate strolls in. She has her sunglasses on top of her sleekly cut shiny hair and she sits down at the bar. "Hi, Lena," she says. "How are you doing?"

"Fine." Lena seems wary, and I watch the pair of them without bothering to hide my interest. She continues to put glasses away, but I see her send me a glance. Her body is straighter, more rigid.

I move to the next table, a few steps closer.

"You're recovering?"

"Don't, Kate." Lena puts another pair of glasses in place and turns away.

"Will you send Tyler out to talk to me?"

"Sure." Lena raises her chin at me, and the gesture's not unfriendly. "Jess, will you go get Tyler and tell him his sister is here?"

I arrange the condiments exactly right and take my time. "Sure."

Tyler is sweeping the floor. He looks up when he sees me, and I can tell he's going to apologize, but I hold up a hand to stall it. "Your sister is here."

"Fuck. What does she want now?"

"Who can tell with you guys?"

"Jess-"

I turn on my heel. "I don't want to hear it."

As I return to the dining room, the door opens and in walks Rick. Because the day isn't bad enough already. He doesn't look like the pitiful guy Lucy has been describing in her Facebook messages. His hair is freshly washed and he's wearing a pair of mirror sunglasses. His green t-shirt is one of my favorites, fitting his long body well, and it's tucked into his jeans. He sees me and smiles, lifting one hand.

For a long minute I'm not sure how to handle it. If I ask him to leave he'll probably make more of a scene than if I let him say what he wants to say.

I hope so, anyway. Grabbing a menu from the counter, I approach him. "Hi, Rick. Did you want a table?"

"In your section, please." He doesn't smell like a vat of Jack Daniel's, either. That's a good thing. Maybe he'll be sane.

I show him to a table by the window, as far away as possible from the bar and the triad of Kate, Tyler and Lena. Tyler is staring at us so hard that we should technically be bursting into flames.

I ask quietly, "Rick, what are you doing here?"

"I just came for a sandwich." He gives me his best smile, and it's pretty good, I have to admit. White teeth, nice mouth. But there's nothing about him that calls to me anymore.

A scene is not going to be good for me. "Fine. What can I bring you to drink?"

"You have craft beers, right? What's a good one?"

"A wheat beer?"

He winks. "Sounds good."

A beer means I have to go to the bar. Tyler says, "Do you want me to get rid of him?"

"No, he's fine." From Lena, I order the wheat beer Rick will like. "Extra orange slices, if you don't mind."

Kate is leaning on the bar, swinging a foot, watching me closely, looking between me and Tyler. She's almost smiling.

I'm really sick of these people.

Lena gives me the extra orange and leans in so the others won't hear. "Do you know that guy?"

And I realize that she thinks he's hot. "His name is Rick. He plays in a band called White Stags."

"Classy."