Blue - Lip Gallagher

~chapter 36~

Briiiiinnggg. Briiiiinngg.

The sound of a phone ringing brings me out of my daze. I've been zoning off for who knows how long, the sounds of Patsy's Pies around me blending into a muffled blur, but now I reach for the old, dingy phone next to the register and bring it to my ear.

"Patsy's Pies. My name is Aurora, how can I help you?"

"Rory," Fiona's voice says from the other end of the line. "Hey-"

"Where are you?" I ask, watching the door as a loud and rowdy group enters the diner and sets off the small bell hanging above it. "I thought you were working a double today."

"You know, I was, but I don't think I'm going to make it in today. I- uh- I'm just really not feeling well."

"Uh huh," I say in an unconvinced voice.

Fiona definitely sounds flushed but I doubt it's from anything close to a fever. Lately she's been spending all of her time with Gus, one of the musicians that's always coming into Patsy's to flirt with her, and I know my friend well enough to know she's not about to break that habit.

A small gasp worms its way into my ear from the other end of the line and all of a sudden I realize that I really don't want to know the real reason Fiona is attempting to wriggle her way out of her shift.

"I mean, I was hoping if it wasn't that busy that you guys wouldn't really miss me? Aaaand you can take my tables?"

I roll my eyes and prop the phone against my cheek to yell across the restaurant.

"Sean! Fiona is on the phone, says she's not feeling well!"

I can hear her protests begging me not to put Sean on the phone but my boss is already crossing over behind the counter. He switches places with me and takes the device while I slide next to the food window in an attempt to casually overhear their conversation.

"No Fiona today?" a voice says from behind me and I jump to see Riley readjusting her apron. Her mousey brown hair is pulled back in a frizzy ponytail and as she reaches past me for a plate of pancakes I notice a smear of syrup across her forehead.

"Shit," I hiss, nearly jumping out of my shoes before reaching forward to rub the sticky liquid from her skin. "You scared me."

"Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt your eavesdropping. Not obvious at all, by the way."

"Thanks."

"Fiona?"

"Not for a while. Sounds like she'll be here for dinner, though," I answer, deciding to help by grabbing the several sides of bacon for her table.

"Let me guess, Gus again?" Riley asks.

"If I had any money, I'd bet every single penny."

Everyone around here knows that Fiona and Gus have been like lovesick puppies pretty much since he convinced her to come to his show. He's always hanging around and flirting with her during her shifts, reaching out to touch her when he thinks no one is looking.

She's told him several times to leave her alone and let her work but it's clear she doesn't really mean it. Fiona likes the attention and she likes Gus. He seems like a good enough guy, even though I always think Fiona can do better than whoever she's dating at the time.

Riley and I drop off the food and make our way back to the counter together.

"You know, I really thought she and Sean had a thing," my friend admits to me as we walk. We both look over to sneak a peek at our boss behind the register.