Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 147136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 736(@200wpm)___ 589(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 736(@200wpm)___ 589(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
Nate cleared his throat, leaning farther back in his chair.
“So I could hire you today and you could quit on me this weekend if you found something else? That’s what you’re telling me, right?”
“Yes,” I answered honestly.
“Do you have any idea how much hassle that’ll be for me? The amount of paperwork and double coverage for training I’ll set up, all for nothing? And when you do end up quitting, I’ll have to scramble to get your shifts covered. That’s not easy. Why should I even hire you?”
My breath caught in my throat as I stared at him, scrambling for a response.
Shit!
He was definitely leaning toward blowing me off. As he should. This was ridiculous. I could find a job tomorrow and not even get the opportunity to pick up a shift here.
I briefly glanced in Tori’s direction, only to see how little invested she was in this discussion.
She was busy admiring the collection of sailboats lined along the bookshelf on the other side of the room, humming softly to herself.
Scowling, I turned back to Nate in time to catch the impatient tilt of his head.
I inhaled a deep, soothing breath before finally responding.
“Because I would really appreciate the opportunity to work here, probably more than half of your staff. Because I don’t simply need this job, I want this job. Being over qualified isn’t an issue. I didn’t get a degree in waitressing. I have no idea how to work your computer system. But I am a fast learner. I’ll work my ass off for you. Tori said she does doubles occasionally to help you out. I have no problem with that. I actually wouldn’t mind the constant distraction. And again, I promise I’ll give you notice if another job comes up. Even if I’m only here a few weeks, you won’t regret hiring me.”
Silence stretched between us. Nate seemed to mull over my request, running his hand along the back of his neck as he exhaled a thick breath.
I looked anywhere but his face.
The stripes in his shirt. The clutter of paperwork on his desk. The back of my best friend’s head as she continued to forget I existed.
“I doubt half of my staff knows how to work the computer system. In fact, none of them use it,” Nate admitted, drawing my attention back to his face. A subtle grin pulled at his mouth. “You’ll fit right in.”
My mouth stretched into my biggest smile in months. The tension pulled from my shoulders. I extended a hand to Nate as he stood up out of his chair.
“Thank you so, so much for this. I can start immediately. Today. Tonight.”
He laughed, releasing my hand.
“How about Friday? I’ll pair you up with Tori for training.”
“Great.”
“Awesome,” Tori sang, skipping over to rejoin the conversation. She threw her arm over my shoulder. “Thanks, Nate. You’re the best boss ever.”
He jerked his chin, then reclaimed his seat, his eyes refocusing on the documents in front of him.
“Get Sydney set up with uniforms before you go.”
Tori directed me out of the office, nodding at Nate’s request.
“Thank you again,” I said over my shoulder before the door to the office closed behind us.
I felt relieved, and a bit excited. I hadn’t worked with Tori since we were sixteen and both living in Raleigh. We never got through a shift without cracking up at least a dozen times.
I needed this right now.
Tori pulled away from me when we reached the hostess desk.
“We’re getting out of here ’cause I don’t hang at work on my days off.” She reached for the keys in her back pocket. “Wanna wait for me out in the car?”
I looked out the large window overlooking the dunes obscuring the ocean.
“I think I’m going to go check out the beach really quick. Text me when you’re ready.”
She gave me a double thumbs-up before spinning around and walking back in the direction we came.
I slipped out the door.
I crossed the pebble stone parking lot and ascended the staircase leading to the beach, wrapping my arms around myself even though I wasn’t the least bit chilled.
The sun burned across a cloudless sky. I felt the intensity of it bake into the skin of my bare shoulders.
Waves crashed against the shore, some carrying surfers with them in the distance. A few feet ahead of me, a small child kicked a sand castle and giggled with his father.
I sat down on a step and slipped my sandals off.
The sand was warm underneath my feet as I dug my toes into it, staring out at the world in front of me. I rubbed a shell between my fingers as I watched a couple walk hand-in-hand toward the pier.
They looked happy. I tried to remember the last time Marcus held my hand, or even reached for it.
My chest burned when I couldn’t conjure up an image in my mind.