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I picked up the tray and delivered the waters first. Then I went over and dropped off the two glasses of wine, getting an earful about how late their food was. After I asked them to let me check on their order, I started to make my way over to the last table—a table I really didn’t want to serve. I glanced over and once again saw Felice running her hand down Carter’s arm as she excused herself to head to the washroom. I let out the breath I was holding and made my way over to the table after she had already left.
I said nothing, just set the rye and ginger where Felice had been sitting and the Scotch down in front of Carter. He didn’t look up. He kept his face buried in his cell phone, perhaps writing an email. “Can I get you anything else?” At the sound of my voice, he stopped and slowly lifted his head from his phone.
“Hope. What are you doing here?” he asked, a look of shock coming over his face.
“Working. I wasn’t supposed to be in this section, but Mary had to go home.”
“No, I just mean here in general. I figured that being back with Trent, he would take care of everything, and you wouldn’t have to work anymore.”
I was just about to start explaining when I heard her dreaded voice behind me. “Well, well, well. Look what trash the cat dragged in.”
“I could say the same thing about you.” I smirked.
She picked up her drink and took a sip. “This is not what I ordered. I want a new waitress. Carter, get Mike to get us a new waitress.”
Carter looked at Felice and then back to me, rolling his eyes. “There is no need to get a new waitress. Mike makes all the drinks.” He reached across and picked up the glass and took a sip. “It’s exactly what you ordered.”
“No, it’s not.” She turned toward the bar and waved at Mike. Carter shrugged his shoulders and mouthed an apology.
“Is there a problem here?” Mike asked, coming up behind me.
“No...” Carter tried to speak, but Felice spoke over him.
“Mike, we have a slight problem. We need a new waitress, and this drink isn’t what I ordered.”
“It’s a rye and ginger. I poured it myself, and that is what you always drink, Felice.”
“Nope, you’ve made a mistake then. And, please, get us a new waitress.”
Mike nodded and looked at Carter who looked annoyed and totally pissed off. “Okay, no problem.”
As Mike walked away, I stood there, my eyes locked with Carter. I just wanted to tell him everything, but Felice wouldn’t have it. “Run away, little one. Leave me to my date.”
I could feel the tears burn my eyes. As the words fell from her lips, he looked away from me. I slowly backed away from the table and went over to where Mike was standing at the end of the bar. “Mike, can I go back to what I was doing tonight? Give the girls the three tables I had, please.”
I couldn’t deal with this tonight; there was no way. Mike took one look at my tear-filled eyes and nodded. “Sure thing, Hope. Go on.”
Carter
DroppingFelice off at her apartment door had been the best part of this whole date. I watched her as she slid the key into the lock and turned it slowly, then she turned and leaned seductively against the door frame. Like maybe if she fucked me with her eyes I would come in.
“You want to come in for a little nightcap?” She winked, running her hand down my cheek.
“No, I really need to get studying. You know I take my exam tomorrow.”
“Well, it may do you good to get your mind on something else for a little while,” she said, running her finger along the collar of my shirt.
“I don’t think it will. Good night, Felice.” I stepped across the hall and opened my apartment door. Not looking back, I shut the door, leaving her in the hallway.
I sat down and tried to study, but all I could think about was Hope. She had looked so beautiful, and I wanted so badly to be able to talk to her. I pulled out my phone and scrolled to her name. I’d deleted every text she had ever sent me after reading the first two words of her last text: “I’m sorry.” That was all I had needed to see to know that it was over between us, and so I had sent her a goodbye text and sent her things with Hunter.
Finally throwing my phone down, I went into my bedroom and quickly changed into a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. I continued to try to focus on studying. I had less than twelve hours. In more ways than one, I felt like I was drowning. Once I got into the material, three hours had seemed to fly by, but I realized I hadn’t even made it halfway through the the first section of my notes. Hope just kept invading my thoughts.
I leaned back, closing my eyes. “Don’t do this to yourself, Carter. You can’t do this,” I murmured aloud to myself. I tried again to bury myself in my studies, but there was no way I could get into it. I glanced at the clock. If I hurried, I could make it to the bar before Mike locked up for the night.
I got up and ran to the door, quickly throwing my running shoes on, grabbed my keys, locked up, and ran to the elevator.
In my rush toget there, I almost ran right past the bar. I ran down the steps to the entrance and went to pull the door open, but the lock stopped me. I put my face to the window. A couple girls were sweeping up the floor. I knocked, but they just ignored me just as they had been taught to do. I thought for a second and then I pulled my phone out of my pocket and messaged Mike. Soon he appeared and opened the door. “Sorry, man, the girls have been told not to answer the door after it’s been locked. New policy.”
