“Actually I was going to talk to you. This can wait, but I’m too excited and my brain is all over the place,” she starts. I’m listening intently wondering what she’s about to hit me with.
“I know you only invited me here for a few days and neither of us were expecting that I would cook today, but I was thinking I could tell Raul I would be free to work for him the next few days while I’m in town. Just until Derek gets back and things go back to normal. I don’t know, but I feel like I found myself today. I know it sounds silly, because it’s just a job at a resort restaurant. But working is a lot of fun and it’s way better than what I’m doing at school. Is that okay with you if I tell him? I know you wanted to snowboard with me more though, so I totally get it if you don’t want me to tell him,” she says.
Wow. Of all the things I thought would come out of her mouth, that was not one of them. “Of course you can tell him! Who am I to stop you? If you really want to snowboard we can always do it some other time,” I tell her, relieved that I get to spend extra time with her.
“So your feelings aren’t hurt?”
“Not at all.”
Although I’m touched that she cared enough about my feelings to first ask.
“Eee, thank you Aspen! I’m gonna go let Raul know!” She says all excitedly and walks over to the end of the bar where Raul is making customers their drinks. She tells him her thoughts and Raul’s face grows with excitement. The two of them look so cute together like father and daughter. I’m glad Raul can be that way for most people. It’s just weird that he isn’t for his own son, but I try not to think about that much. Although I do miss Gio and hope he can come visit sometime soon. I hate to think that Gio is missing out on spending time with his dad while I’m getting all of his time.
Genevieve comes back over to where I’m sitting and since she left I already devoured three more of her philly cheesesteak egg rolls.
“He said I could work!” She says. She sounds like she just won the lottery. Not like she just got an average job at a resort bar. I’m happy for her though, I know this experience is new and special for her.
“That’s amazing! Looks like we will be coworkers for a couple days then,” I tell her and then give her a wink.
“That’s right,coworker!” She says and gives my shoulder a light punch and then giggles my favorite sound.
“I gotta keep working, but I’ll keep coming to check on ya!” She says.
“Girl, take a break!” I tell her.
“I already did!” She says back with a smile.
Damn, I missed her break? I gotta coordinate with her the other few days she’s here so we can eat together. I want to spend every single second I can with her and have her attention all to myself.
I’m selfish like that.
Genevieve gets back to work and I clean the rest of my plate up. I can’t get over how scrumptious this food was. I’m not going to lie, Derek is a fantastic cook and I mean fantastic, but I was getting kind of sick of my everyday burger. This is a nice change.
I observe Gen as she works and am in awe. The apron tied around her waist makes her look so sexy. She wipes her dirty hands on it every so often and uses the back of her hands to move any stray pieces of hair out of her face. She looked flushed yet happy and I’m happy for her.
Who knew Genevieve would be the working type and be so good at it. She continues to impress me. Although I shouldn’t be surprised, Genevieve seems like the type that could be good at anything she sets her mind to. Genevieve is je ne sais quoi—a term typically used when you can't quite put your finger on what makes something special, but you know it has an irresistible charm. That’sexactly what Genevieve is. She’s already become so special to me I don’t know how it happened so fast.
But I’m not going to question it, because the good things in life you don’t question, you just accept.
27
Genevieve
Aspen’s lunch break is over and I’m left thinking about him. I think about the way his hair falls, framing his face perfectly. I don’t even think he uses any product in it. I think about the way his eyes lock into mine, making me feel like the only important person in the world. Aspen has that power, to make people feel like they are the most important person in the room.
I try to clear my mind of him so I can focus on my real issue at hand. What the fuck I want to do with my life.
The working life is crazy, but I love it. I’m honestly questioning my whole life’s purpose in this moment. Who knew getting a little greased up would make me have such an epiphany. I’m extremely grateful to Raul for letting me help out and to Aspen for being so okay with it. I know they’re shocked by my gratitude, but honestly as much as I’m helping them out, they’re helping me.
They’re giving me purpose.
Raul taught me everything I needed to know from the second my shift began. He’s been such a kind instructor that I can’t help but notice he speaks similar to the way Aspen speaks. I wonder if there is some sort of connection there.
Raul showed me how to use the computer to take orders in case he was busy with a customer, otherwise, he’s mostly putting in the orders himself. He said on busy days it’s good to also write down the order on paper so I have it, but since it’s been a slow start I’ve been able to remember it all.
He showed me where the food was and what I could use and then, the fun part was he told me I could make whatever I wanted. They have a set menu so I’ve been making food off of there, but I’ve also been making these special philly cheesesteak egg rolls. I know they sound random, but my brothers and I would make them all the time because they’re so easy. You just chop up hamburger meat or steak and then add melted cheese, grilled onions, peppers and then put all that in an egg roll wrap to fry.
It’s heaven sent and dripping with grease all at the same time. I could eat these all day, but I like to watch what I eat so I just had two and then a caesar salad with no croutons for lunch. Raul and I took turns having lunch, not that it was super busy or anything. So it wasn’t too bad when I was left alone to run both the kitchen and the bar.
