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Jake winks at me while Jack turns back to his table, grumbling, “I was just trying to make conversation. Can't a body inquire about a new person in town?”
“I apologize about that. He may be a bit overbearing at times, but he's completely harmless.”
“That's okay,” I reassure Anna.
“I could tell by the look on your face that he was making you uncomfortable. Next time, just tell him to put a sock in it.”
Jack grunts.
My lips twitch.
Anna smiles and tells me my food will be out soon. I watch as she walks up to Nick, gives him another quick kiss, and slips back behind the counter.
Grab my purse, I pull out the cheap disposable cell phone I bought at the beginning of my trip. I know until Chris hears from me, she’ll be on pins and needles. I promised her I would call or text her daily just to let her know I was okay and where I was. She’s been my lifeline through this whole mess. I don't know where I would be if it weren’t for her. Hell, I don't even know if I would still be alive if it weren’t for her. We've been friends since third grade, and she has saved me more times than I can count, including helping me escape from Steven. She’s the one who gave me the courage to make a stand and metaphorically say no to him. I say metaphorically because there’s no way I could ever say no to his face.
I shudder at the thought of the repercussions from Steven if I ever worked up the courage to stand up to him.
My text to Chris is short, just letting her know I’m in Jaded Hollow, Ohio, and that I will be staying here for a while. She knows my cash is running low. Between the two of us, we were able to scrounge up a whopping $5,534 for me to travel on. That may sound like a lot to some, but when you’re constantly on the go it disappears fast. Most of the money came from her, which I refused in the beginning because she’s a struggling full-time waitress. Unfortunately, due to certain circumstances, she had to put off going to college for a few years. Her waitressing gig is what’s paying her way through college. She kept insisting, and I finally realized that I had no choice. It was either take her money and run, or end up dead. I knew one of the times Steven lost it, he would end up killing me.
So, while Steven was at one of his “meetings,” I checked myself out of the hospital early. Chris took me to get a cheap car, and I loaded it up with as much of my stuff as I could. Just outside of town, my first stop was a cell phone store in a strip mall to purchase a cheap non-traceable phone. My next stop was a gas station to fill the gas tank in my car, and I vamoosed. I was gone, hoping and praying, into thin air. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Steven caught up with me two weeks after I left.
My thoughts are interrupted when my cell pings with an incoming text from Chris.
Chris: Please be careful and keep a close lookout. Keep me posted daily. Love you.
Me: I will, I promise. Love you, too.
I slip my phone back into my purse just as Anna walks up with my food. “Here ya go, sweetie,” she says, setting my burger and fries in front of me. My stomach rumbles at the sight of it.
I blush and peek up at Anna, who’s still standing at the table watching me. When I do, my hair falls away from my face and exposes a small portion of my scar. Although she recovers quickly and tries to conceal it, I hear her gasp. This is a typical reaction, so I ignore it.
I lower my head so my hair falls back into place, then slowly raise my eyes to her. I decide I may as well start my job search.
Tentatively, I ask, “Do you know of any places around here that are hiring? The only experience I really have is bartending and housekeeping.”
Her expression is troubled. She’s biting her bottom lip while she considers my question. After several seconds, her eyes light with excitement and she nearly shouts, “Yes! I know just the place!”
Although I know I need a job, I’m a little leery at her excitement. I mean, seriously? How can someone become so excited about the prospect of referring someone to a possible job opportunity? Something else is going on here and it makes me nervous and cautious. I make a note right then to watch myself around Anna. She’s sweet and seems like a nice girl, and I already like her, but she also comes off as mischievous.
Once she’s done bouncing on her toes in her excitement, she looks at me with her eyes dancing merrily. “Jaxon's Pub” needs a bartender. Do you know where it is?”
Yes, I know where it is. I remember driving right past it on my way into town. It was the bar with the motorcycles out front. My previous experience in bartending was back home at an upscale restaurant called Bryler. There was a bar in the restaurant. It’s independently owned by a local family. I worked there while I was in college to help pay for my tuition. It was there that I met Steven. He was there for a meeting with a client, and I had the misfortune of being the bartender on duty. Working in a high-class restaurant was a lot different than working in a rugged bar. I’m not picky though. I know I need a job and am willing to give just about anything a try.
“Yes, thank you, I know where it is,” I tell her, and give a little smile.
She returns my smile with a big one of her own. “Just tell Jax I sent you over. And don't let him scare you off. He can be, let's just say, intimidating, at times. Underneath it all he's a good guy, though.”
Her words make me nervous. There’s no telling what I could be getting myself into working for this Jax character. I've had enough drama in my life to last a lifetime. I definitely do not need or want more; especially now, with my life in shambles.
With a few more words informing me that Jaxon should be on shift, she walks off to take care of her other customers. I look at my food and, with a desperation that’s pathetic, dive right in. It is the best burger and fries I’ve ever eaten.
Once I’m finished, which takes all of five minutes, I gather my purse and slide out from the booth. As I make my way to the counter to pay for my meal, I notice Anna standing next to Nick. They’re whispering and glancing my way, but quickly avert their eyes when they catch me looking.
Behind the counter is the elderly woman who was with Anna when I first walked in. She comes to the register that sits behind the counter. Her name tag indicates that Maggie's Diner is her restaurant. She has white-gray hair that she wears in a bun at her nape. Her eyes are a dark chocolate brown. Upon closer inspection, she appears to be nearing her seventies, rather than the fifties or sixties I originally thought. She’s wearing a white button-up short-sleeved shirt, a pair of tan slacks, and completing her outfit is a pair of black nursing shoes. Over her outfit, she has the same colored apron as Anna.
“Hi, did you enjoy your meal?” she smiles and asks with a warm and friendly tone.
“Yes, ma'am, I did. Thank you,” I return.
