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“Can you please stop doing that? And like I said, not talking about it.”
“Oh, come on, sugar. He came armed with a cute toddler and candy pink roses. He’s a keeper.”
He really isn’t.“Yeah, well, that ship has sailed.”
“Didn’t look like it from where I was standing.”
“And where exactly were you standing?”
Cindy barked out a laugh. “Busted. Me and Rusty were spying on you out of the service hatch.”
“Of course, you were.” I rolled my eyes and began wiping down the tables again. Anything to avoid this conversation.
“I just don’t understand what happened. He went to so much effort for homecoming, and you seemed so smitten with him.”
“Cindy,” I groaned. “I don’t want to discuss it.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll drop it for now.” Her brows waggled. “But, sugar, he isn’t going to give up.”
That was precisely what I was worried about. Eleven days had passed since I’d walked into the school and had my sliver of normal ripped out from under me, and Evan was still trying to apologize.
“Yeah, well, it’s too late for that.”
She smiled wryly. “Everyone deserves a second chance.”
“Not listening,” I called back, refusing to make eye contact.
The doorbell chimed as a crowd of kids entered. My stomach plummeted when my eyes landed on Kendall.
Cindy was quick to notice and went over to them. “What’ll it be?” she asked.
“A booth, please,” one of the girls said.
“Follow me.” Cindy shot me a glance that said she had my back. But something filled the hollow in my stomach, a fire that had me marching toward them and saying, “It’s fine. I can take it.”
She eyed me warily, but I smiled wide and turned to the group. “I’m Becca, and I’ll be your server today.”
Kendall’s eyebrow quirked up, and she tilted her head to the side regarding me. A couple of the girls glanced back and forth between us, obviously confused. Hell, I was confused, but I couldn’t spend the next eight months of my life running in the other direction whenever Kendall walked into a room.
“I’ll get a chocolate shake, please,” someone said, and I jotted it down, waiting for the other orders. Kendall went last, her eyes still trained on me. “I’ll get a fruit smoothie please, Becca.”
A shudder rippled through me, but I did my best to flash them a smile before I said, “I’ll get your drinks right away and come back to take your food order.”
Snickers followed me as I made my way to the counter to put their order in. But I let them roll off me.
“Hey, everything okay?” Cindy leaned in and whispered.
I nodded stiffly. “I’m good, thanks.”
“You show ’em, sugar.”
I doubted Kendall O’Hare was the kind of girl you showed anything, and I knew my little show of strength wouldn’t go unnoticed, but I wasn’t another Ami. She wasn’t going to run me out of Credence because of a few photos and insults.
I’d already run from one town. It wasn’t happening again. I just needed to stand tall and show no signs of weakness.
Cindy helped me prepare the drink order and load the tray. I carried it carefully, paying close attention to any strategically placed feet, but the table paid me little notice. When everyone had their correct drink, I asked, “Can I get you anything to eat?”
The guys wasted no time ordering burgers and fries, and the girls ordered a salad each, just leaving Kendall.
