Page 13 of Royal Desire

“Fuck. If I were a good friend, I’d hunt you down, pull you over, and throw your ass in jail to save you from your pathetic self.”

I take a turn in the opposite direction of the Deacon estate and head to town. “I’d like to see you try.”

“It would be fun. But what sounds like more fun is watching you walk into the diner and deal with the new wait staff. Tell me when, I’ll be there.”

“I’m on my way now.”

“Hot damn. I’m at the station. I can be there in three minutes. I don’t want to miss a moment of this.”

“See you soon.”

I disconnect the call.

But I drive in silence.

There’s no fucking way I’m turning on music.

CHAPTER FIVE

BRING ALL THE EMOTIONS

Ruby

“Sorry I’m late!” I rush into the Combover and grab a pad of paper and a pen. I’m not sure how Winnie does it. She remembers every order rattled off to her by memory. I won’t have the chance to work here long enough to master that. It proves that when your heart isn’t in it, your brain doesn’t follow. However, I do know every word to thousands of songs.

I could kick myself for popping off at Payne in front of Devon back in the conference room. If my gig at the manor blows up in my face because I can’t control my mouth, then I might as well be up shit’s creek without a good lip plumper and waterproof mascara.

Winnie sits at a barstool behind the counter next to the register. Her foot is propped on another stool with her crutches next to her. “You’re fine, darlin’. I’ve been yelling orders to Carl and people have been pickin’ up their food. It’s not the first time we’ve had to kick in as a community to eat lunch.”

I wrap the small apron around my waist and tie it in the front. “I’m so sorry. Devon pulled me into a meeting I wasn’t expecting. I couldn’t very well say no. I’ll scrub the floor to make up for it.”

She waves me off. “You’ll do no such thing. That’s Carl’s job. It keeps him humble. You’re back just in time for the lunch rush.”

This isn’t my first gig waiting tables. In fact, my first job was right here at the Combover in high school. And being a performer in the Big Apple is not for the faint of heart. There were many slow times when I worked in restaurants and bars.

Singing and serving aren’t my only skills. I can pour a mean drink and studied the bartending bible to make sure I was never stumped.

“You really should take this opportunity to stay home and rest. Binge some Netflix or read a good book, Winnie. You don’t need to be here all day, every day.”

She barks out a laugh so high, it almost sounds like a cackle. “Hey, Carl! Ruby suggested I stay home and watch Netflix! Sound familiar?”

Carl sticks his head out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel that’s tied to his own apron wrapped low around his belly. “I told her the same thing. The only way that’ll happen is if I tie her to the sofa. The woman would call the po-po and have me arrested for trying to keep her off her feet.”

Winnie doesn’t argue, and her smile is as bright as the sun. “What can I say? The people of Winslet would miss me. Your food isn’t the only reason they come in.”

I throw up my hands in defeat. “You can’t argue with that, Carl.”

Carl huffs and turns back for the kitchen. The bell rings over the door. It’s the high school principal with a few people I haven’t seen before, and a couple of old timers who are retired. I wouldn’t know that they’re retired, but they’re wearing the statement on the ball caps that barely sit on their heads.

I start to fill cups with ice water before heading to their tables. I serve the retired club first. They don’t pick up a menu and place their orders. I bet everyone in town knows the menu by heart. But that’s only after they explain to me why they can’t have any caffeine after ten o’clock in the morning.

“I’ll be right back with your drinks.” I turn for the kitchen when one of the men stops me.

“Hey, I heard you were singing last night up at the fancy manor. Alice told us this morning when she was on her walk.”

I smile and shrug. “You know Grandma. She’s proud. Blake played the piano. I guess you can say we’re a family act.”

“Like the Osmonds,” the other man says. “But I guess they were both singers. “Maybe like Captain & Tennille.”