AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’ll do it. Or Dorthy is gonna come hunt you down,” he says from the couch.
He’s not wrong.
“I’ll be back down around six on my way out. You better not be here.” I point at him and give him my best “I’m your boss” glare.
“Oh, hey, if you can fit it into your busy dating schedule”—I roll my eyes at his dig, but he doesn’t miss a beat and continues—“trivia night is coming up at that books and coffee place a few blocks from my apartment. Theme is ’90s Pop Culture. Wanna go and destroy the other teams?”
I chuckle because of our hobbies, the pop culture trivia is the one we both enjoy the most. He is training at becoming a blacksmith, and me, well, I’m a sucker for a good Dungeon and Dragons campaign. But trivia? Put us in a team and we are unstoppable.
“Sure, send me the info and I’ll add it to my calendar.”
“You got it, boss.” He salutes.
“Don’t call me that,” I grumble as I walk out his office door.
“If the shoe fits,” he yells after me. I raise my hand and flip him off, shaking my head at his laugh that follows me down the hallway.
He’s got about two hours before he needs to be kicked out for the night, so I’ve got two hours to get some work done and focus on my task list.
No more thinking about the gorgeous brunette from my past.
At least that’s what I tell myself anyway.
* * *
Flipping the switch on my way out, my office goes dark except for the light from the city that streams through the windows. It’s dusk at just past six. Nearly March, I can’t wait for the days to start getting longer. It won’t make me feel like such a workaholic.
I’m not, by the way. I love my job and being the boss here in the Indianapolis division, a lot falls on my plate, but I spend a healthy amount of time outside of the office. I’ve connected with some old friends from college, some of which are still single, so we do things, things young thirty-somethings do. I’ve been a part of an online Dungeon and Dragons campaign for a couple years or so. Call me a nerd. I don’t care. I love it and really get into the role-play of the game. As a kid, I was always waiting for my letter from Hogwarts.
Tonight, I’m out at six because I do my weekly campaign tonight and I hate being late. Sure, it’s all online, and I could sit in my underwear if I wanted. No one would know, but still, I’m a grown-ass adult who has responsibilities.
Pulling the messenger bag over my head, I jog down the back stairs to the restaurant. I could use the office exit doors, but I keep my promises and need to make sure Travis is out of that kitchen.
I push through the door that opens into a back hallway where the small employee breakroom is. Travis’s office is down the hall. Walking by, I see the lights are out and the door closed. Good. But he could still be in the kitchen.
The kitchen is blocked off with a swinging door to make it easy for the servers to get in and out of. It swings open now and a server with a tray of plates comes through. I smile and nod but spot Travis over her shoulder. I feel a grin grow on my face at the sight.
“That’s it. You’re fired.” My voice carries through the spacious kitchen.
His head jerks up and he rolls his eyes.
“Knock it off. I’m on my way out.” He points to a counter near him but out of the way of food prep with his coat on it.
I narrow my eyes. But Kim comes to his aid. “Sorry, my fault. I had a quick question about one of the items on the menu and wanted to ask before he left.”
“All right. I’ll allow it, but everyone, hear me now. This man leaves in five minutes or less or I’m firing your fearless leader in the morning.” I point and drag my serious gaze around the room, making sure the servers, line cooks, runners that are standing around and everyone else understand the task. My gaze stops at the pastry chef, Rich, and I say, “The job is yours if he fails.”
Rich chuckles, shaking his head. “Don’t want the job, man.”
I wink at him. I know he’s exactly where he wants to be.
“Cole, go away. You’re disrupting my kitchen. A kitchen that will still be mine in the morning whether or not I leave on time tonight. The idle threats aren’t a good look, my man.” He glares at me and I know he’s not really mad. We pull each other’s chain like this on the regular.
I throw my hands up in exacerbation. “Fine. Whatever. I know when I’m not wanted.” I grin at him and he rolls his eyes but smiles.
Walking past the kitchen, I chuckle to myself. Messing with Travis is too much fun. He gives it back just as much, though. We’ve been friends for ten years, so he’s probably my longest friend.
There’s a clear walkway from the kitchen through the tables and I take a moment to observe my restaurant. Most every table is full, a couple being cleared and cleaned, which is exactly what an owner wants to see after six on a weeknight.
