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“I aced it sophomore year. Why?”
Adalee pinches me under the table.
“Ow.” I clear my throat. “I was headed to the library after breakfast to find a tutor.”
Brooke shifts her weight, and her gold dangle earrings catch my eye. Why can’t Harper and Adalee mind their own business? I transferred here to start over and to stay focused. However, I did perform my best today and even I know it was because of the woman standing in front of me.
Chapter Six
BROOKE
“Oh, well. I have a few minutes when I get off. I clock out in half hour, but I don’t know how much help I’ll be.”
Reed’s damp hair waves at the ends. I wouldn’t mind him hovering over me with drops of his sweat falling onto my hot skin. When we stare at each other for so long, Logan holds up a jar of sauce and asks, “Can I get some hot sauce? This one is empty.”
It takes more time than it should for his question to register. “Of course, I’ll be right back.”
Striding into the kitchen, I lean my back against the wall and cover my heart. It’s beating out of control. Reed is even more handsome in the light of day. His defined jawline and plump, enticing lips make him a prime candidate for modeling. I notice that his eye color, which I had initially thought was blue, is actually a captivating shade of slate gray.
Bonnie, my supervisor, quickly hands me a brand new jar of hot sauce.
“Were you eavesdropping?”
“Hell yeah, I was. Three hot guys and only two girls, which one is single? I’m guessing the one on the end. He was checking you out.”
“I’m meeting him after my shift. I kissed him last night at the bonfire.”
“Oh, girl, he’s an eleven out of ten. Does he know about Caleb?”
It’s like she just stuck a pin in my happy balloon, sucking all of the air out of the room. Shaking my head, I say, “I just met him last night. I gave myself one night to be a normal college student.”
She slaps me on the butt. “Don’t let it go too far without telling him. Now get this hot sauce to Logan Warren.”
“You know him?”
“Everyone knows Logan. Pride of the Bluegrass,” she says as I stride away on cloud nine.
“Here you go. Need anything else?”
What would I do if Reed saidjust you. Oh swoon. When no one says anything, I leave the check. “You can pay at the register when you’re finished. Thanks for coming in.”
As I turn to walk away, Reed grabs my hands, and static electricity zips through us, and we jerk away, but both of us try to play it off. “I’ll wait until you’re off, and we can walk to the library together.”
My eyes scan his friends, and they’re smiling, which can only mean two things. One, he picks up girls all the time, or two, he’s genuinely interested.
“Okay.”
I have three other tables to wrap up before I have to reconcile my checks and tip out. My stomach knots and cramps. Last night, I was tipsy, maybe even drunk. Definitely drunk, or I would never have let that happen in public where anyone could have seen.
The crew shuffles out of the booth, and Reed takes a seat on the other side, I assume so he can see me. Hagan and Logan fist bump him. Adalee gives him a quick hug, and Harper squeezes the life out of him. And the smile he gives her lights up my heart. It’s evident that he deeply cares about her, and she happens to be pregnant with his friend's child.
It gives me hope. If I tell him I have a son, it’s possible he won’t freak out. Talk about putting the cart before the horse; I need to check my feelings. Or I can tell him right away, so I don’t have to suffer through disappointment.
As I continue fulfilling my duties, Logan settles the bill for their table using cash and insists that I keep the change. A surge of happiness washes over me as I am complimented, aware that they regard me as the best waitress they have encountered in months.
Expressing my gratitude, I humbly protest, feeling that the amount left behind is excessive. Logan, however, reassures me. "You're doing us all a favor by tutoring him. He's always breaking stuff at the house." A smile forms on my face, appreciating the recognition and understanding of the additional efforts I put in.
Harper says, “See you soon,” as they wave goodbye.
