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chapter one
MEGHAN
I close my eyes, breathing deep, trying to collect myself. I really need this job; living in my car is for the birds.
College was a bust; there wasn’t anything that felt like I was meant to do.
I just felt unsettled, uncertain of my future.
There has always been this feeling like something was missing in my life. I have no family and I never had close friends growing up.
My mom and dad died in a car accident when I was very little.
I never spent more than a year in one place at a time after that. I thought for years that college would be my chance to settle down and that I would have a steady place for more than a year.
College was okay but I pulled out at year three. I’m twenty-one years old and it’s like I’m back to square one.
Spending the night in my car is something that I don’t want to do again.
So, I drove and drove from New York, where I was in school, and ended up in a small town in Texas.
I saw the help wanted sign in the window, and I almost hit a mailbox trying to swerve in at the last second.
I’ve been gathering the nerve to go inside because I have a lot banking on this; a new life, a new start to everything.
I pull my bag over my shoulder, locking my door behind me, and make my way inside. As I walk inside, I stop and stare all around.
The food smells out of this world, and my mouth waters at the sight of the amazing breakfast in front of me.
The door to what I’m assuming is the kitchen, is pushed open by a beautiful woman. She looks around the room until she spots me standing at the door.
“Hi, can I get you a seat?” she asks me, her voice is soft and kind.
I smile at her and look at the help wanted sign in the window. “I saw you needed help.”
She looks like she is ready to burst into tears staring at me. “Oh my God! You came for a job?” she says dramatically, and I try not to laugh at her reaction.
I nod and say, “Yeah, that is my plan. If you need me?”
She splits the distance between us. “Honey, I could cry. I’ve needed help for months and here you are.”
I laugh. “Well, you have me. I can start now,” I tell her, and her eyes widen further. I know right off the bat that I’m going to love working for her.
Maybe I can get enough tips so that I can sleep in an actual bed tonight. She takes my bag and motions for me to follow her. “Follow me and I will get you all set up.” She leads me through swinging double doors that lead to where she just walked out, which is the kitchen.
I peek over at the man cooking on the grill, and I almost take a step back because holy shit he is huge and scary.
“This is my man, Dante.” I eye him warily, but he gives me a soft smile.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I tell him.
She leads me past the kitchen to a little office that includes a sitting room area with lockers. “This one can be yours; food is on the house,” she simply states, and I try not to let her see the relief in my eyes.
Being hungry is not fun.
“Do you know of any places to rent?” I ask her so I can know how much to save up. I need to find a place because staying in hotels is way too expensive.
She turns around and eyes me. “Where are you staying right now?”
