Page 7 of Peaks and Promises

The grin on Buzz’s face made me nauseous. He was missing a tooth on one side, leaving a big, black gap in his icky smile. He winked at me, and I tasted bile in the back of my throat.

Tess was behind the counter up front and asked them if they’d like a booth.

“We want her.” Buzz pointed at me.

“Excuse me?” Tess asked.

“As our waitress.”

I sighed. Tess glanced at me, raising her eyebrows as if to ask what I wanted her to do. I nodded toward table six. Obviously I didn’t want to wait on them, but what was I going to do? I didn’t want them to cause a scene. I couldn’t risk my job.

“I’ll be right with you,” I mumbled as I made my way to the kitchen.

I grabbed a pitcher of ice water and took a second to collect myself. With a deep breath, I went out to the dining room to face them.

The stench of cigarettes clung to them, bringing with it a host of memories—very few of them good.

“Can I get you something to drink besides water?” I poured them each a glass.

Buzz leered at me and let his menu drop onto the table. “Hey, Sum Sum.”

“Do you want to order anything?”

“Calm down.” He shook his head, like I was being an impatient jerk. “It’s not even that busy in here.”

“Club sandwich,” Hammer said. “And a Coke.”

“How about a furburger with a side of thighs?” Buzz swung his gaze toward me again.

Hammer chuckled.

Pressing my lips together, I bit back a sharp reply and waited.

Buzz’s mouth curled in a grin. “Cheeseburger. Coke for me, too.”

“Fries?”

He nodded.

“I’ll get that going for you.”

I turned to go, but he spoke up again. “How’s Nate?”

Clenching my teeth, I froze, then slowly turned to look at him.

“You know, he’s getting older,” Buzz said. “He’s ten now, right? About time he started learning to be a man.”

“From you two?” I asked, not bothering to hide the disdain in my tone. “I don’t think so.”

“Maybe we’ll talk to Axel about that.”

Anger flashed through me like wildfire. “Axel has nothing to do with my son.”

Sharing a glance, they chuckled.

“You sure about that, Sum Sum?” Buzz asked.

“Stay away from him.” My voice was quiet, but sharp. “Both of you. Stay away from my son.”