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“I can’t either,” Pamela says, her hand clutching her stomach. Her face is a ghastly shade of gray.
“Are you sure it’s not nerves?”
“Positive. My roommate came down with the stomach flu last night.”
“I’m the least experienced server here,” I say. “Ask someone else.”
She clamps her lips together. “Then find someone! But I can’t stay or else I’ll…” Pamela suddenly claps her hand over her mouth and runs toward the bathroom again.
This is not good.
I scan the room, desperate to find a warm body. Unfortunately, everyone has either stepped out or is avoiding Elizabeth. The head hostess gives me a death stare, her eyes pleading for me to march over to Elizabeth’s table right now.
I force a smile, even though my confidence is withering.
“Welcome to The Delacroix.” My voice cracks like I’m a hormonal seventh grader.
Elizabeth looks me over. “Well?”
“Would you like something to drink?”
“What do you suggest?” She scans the drink menu.
“I hear the strawberry lemonade is good.”
She looks at me strangely. “You haven’t tried it?”
I realize my mistake. You’re never supposed to admit you haven’t tried something you’re recommending.
“It’s a customer favorite,” I add. I’ve got to prove myself, so I rattle off the ingredients, since one of my few superpowers is the ability to organize large amounts of information in my head, thanks to my OCD.
Elizabeth looks pleased. “I’ll take that and an extra water.”
I put in her drink order, grab a water, and drop it off at her table.
“Excuse me!” she says, interrupting my escape plan to find another server.
I swivel toward her.
“I want to hear the specials for tonight,” she says.
My heart bumps against my chest. Stay calm. You can do this. The bad thing about my OCD is that it sometimes spirals out of control when triggered by anxiety. The two work hand in hand, like best buds on the playground. Or bitter enemies.
Just then, Jadyn enters the dining room, her gaze landing on me.
I shoot her a look.
She zigzags around chairs, rushing over to Elizabeth’s table.
“Welcome to The Delacroix,” she chimes on cue. “What can I get for you tonight?”
“Ms. Mack was asking about the specials,” I explain, my smile still frozen.
Elizabeth looks between us with a slight frown.
“Of course,” Jadyn says as she dives into the list of specials. By the time she’s done, I want to give her a standing ovation, except that might seem weird in front of our most valuable guest.
“Please bring out one of each,” Elizabeth says. “I like a sampling of the best you have to offer.”
