He stands and fishes his wallet out of his back pocket before laying down a hundred dollar bill on the bar. He wraps his arms around me without permission and kisses the top of my head. “Goodbye, beautiful. I’ll miss you.”

I can’t bring myself to say the words. Telling him goodbye makes him leaving real…final. I’ll never see him again, but even as hurt as I was about him sleeping with Deena, I’m just not ready to fully shut him out.

My heart squeezes as I stare after Xavier. The urge to stop him surges through me, but I know allowing him to walk away without a fight is what’s best for both of us. I don’t think I have it in me to ever trust him again, and no relationship can ever work without trust.

12

Anna


The last two hours of work drag on. I know it’s stupid, and we’ve said our goodbyes, but I still miss Xavier. Deep down under all those playboy ways, I know there’s a good guy. I saw him peeking through during the little bit of time I spent with him and that makes it suck even more that he’s leaving because maybe, given time, we could have fixed what is broken between us.

Quinn stacks her tray on top of mine. “I’m beat. Let’s count out our drawers and be done. I want to go home and sleep.”

Brock leans against the counter and pulls Quinn into his arms. “Sleep? I thought we had plans.”

The intimate way he yanks her hips against his causes her to giggle. “I suppose we can go out for a little while.” She reaches in her apron pocket and hands me her car keys. “You’ll be all right driving home?”

“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” I take the keys and stuff them into my pocket before removing my apron and tossing it on the counter next to them. “Watch this while I go to the bathroom, will you?”

Quinn giggles as Brock nuzzles her neck and then whispers in her ear.

“Sure,” she says as I head to take a short break before cashing out for the night.

Once I’ve used the bathroom, I move to the sink to wash my hands. I stare in the mirror at my green eyes, and even I can note the sadness that lies within them. It’s going to take me a while to get over Xavier. Even in a week, he’s left a lasting impression on me.

I readjust my dark ponytail and head back out to count my money from the shift with Andy so I can get out of here and be depressed at Aunt Dee’s.

Andy’s sitting at the bar with his logbook, ready to do final counts with the wait staff. I grab my apron off the counter and take a seat next to him.

I glance around as I toss my apron on the bar. Only Alice and I are left in the place. “Did Quinn count out already?”

Andy nods as he makes a note on the paper in front of him. “Yeah, she was first. She was anxious to get out of here tonight.”

I roll my eyes and wonder if she and Brock made it out of the parking lot before they attacked one another.

“All right.” Andy turns his attention to me and reaches for the apron. “You made three hundred seventy-two dollars and twenty-three cents. Cash total we need to have turned in is one hundred and fifty-two dollars and thirty six cents.” He reaches in the pocket and searches around with his hand. After a few seconds he furrows his brow and scratches his balding scalp. “Do you have it somewhere else? These pockets are empty.”

My heart leaps into my throat. “What?!”

I shoot off the stool and begin digging around in the pockets. “It was right here before I went to the restroom. I left it with Quinn.”

Andy’s lips twist, and he blows a rush of air through his nose. “Looks like we have a problem. One of two things happened. One: Quinn took the money when she left, which could be why she wanted out of here so quickly. Or two: you have it.”

My mouth drops open, shocked. No one has ever accused me of stealing before. “Andy, I wouldn’t steal from you.”

He rubs his chin as he takes in my expression. “I’m leaning with option one then. I don’t feel like you’re lying to me. I usually can tell when someone’s guilty.” He shakes his head. “I hate to fire Quinn. She’s been a good employee for the last year.”

My eyes widen. “Fire Quinn? You can’t. She loves this job.”

“Love it or not”—Andy shrugs—”Larry’s doesn’t tolerate theft of any kind. If we suspect it, you’re done. That’s why we have you all sign that accountability contract when you start. It’s our insurance that you all understand our zero tolerance policy.”

Oh no! I know she wouldn’t take the money. I can’t allow her to lose her job. “Andy, please don’t. Fire me instead.”

Alice leans against the bar with a smirk on her face. “I told you not to trust them, Andy. They’re not sweet like they claim to be—especially this one.”

“Alice,” he scolds. “That’s enough.”

She shrugs. “Just saying, I think she’s your thief. You should fire her now before she robs you blind.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “What’s your problem with me? I’ve never done a thing to you.”

She rolls her green eyes. “I just don’t like you.”

“It’s because of Xavier, isn’t it? You’re jealous!” My voice raises an octave as the adrenaline flows through my veins.

I can’t remember ever feeling this angry with someone.

Alice laughs and flips her hair over her shoulder. “Jealous? Honey, please, don’t flatter yourself. If I wanted your man, I’d have him.”

I clench my fists tighter. I’ve never been one for violence, but she’s got me seeing speckles of red. I want to scream at her and call her a liar—tell her that he’d never touch her—but after last night I’m not so sure. I thought things between him and Deena were over the first night we met. I didn’t even know she was still around, or worse still, competing for Xavier’s attention. So how do I know he wouldn’t be into a sex-only relationship with Alice too?

When I don’t immediately retaliate, Alice smirks. “Fire her, Andy.”

“Alice, I can’t just get rid of her because you don’t like her,” he says and his shoulders sag.

She folds her arms. “Do it. She stole the money, and I don’t want her around anymore.”

I see the struggle in Andy’s eyes, but I know he’ll side with her eventually, so I’ll make this easy for everyone. “I quit. Blame me for the money if you like, but I didn’t take it, and Quinn wouldn’t either. If you want to blame someone”—I point to Alice—”blame her. She’s probably the one who took it just to get back at me for being jealous.”

“That’s absurd,” she argues. “Don’t listen to her, Andy.”

He drags his eyes up to my face. “I think you’d better go, Anna.”

Tears begin to burn my eyes. It’s so hard to let this job go. The two things I’ve found comfort in since I got to Detroit are both no longer apart of my life. It hurts, but I’ll do anything to keep from causing Quinn any problems.

I square my shoulders. “Not until you tell me that Quinn keeps her job, no questions asked.”

She’s done so much for me already. Ensuring her job is the least I can do.

Andy nods. “You got it.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, trying to keep it together until I get outside.

I turn my back and head toward the door when I hear Andy say, “Good luck, Anna.”

That’s when the first tear falls. I throw my hand up in a lame wave as I keep walking. I don’t want them to see me break down. I don’t want Alice to know just how weak I really am.

The moment the cool night air hits me, I dash toward Quinn’s Honda. I open the door and flop down in driver’s seat, allowing all the emotions I’ve kept bottled up to come crashing out as I sob hard.

What am I going to do?

Quinn was my ride to and from work. I can’t expect her to be my chauffer when I find a new job. I grip the steering wheel and rest my head on my hands and cry harder as the feeling of overwhelming failure engulfs me.

I don’t want to give up. Not after only one week. If I could find another job quickly, then I won’t feel so bad when I explain what happened to Quinn and Aunt Dee. It will take some of the burden off.

I crank the engine alive and glance down at the clock. It’s only nine thirty. Surely there are bars and restaurants still open so I can go and check out a couple of job prospects.

I drive around the city, looking for any restaurant I see with an open sign. After going into two, and being asked to come back tomorrow, my optimistic balloon deflates a little.

Looking for a job this late is a dumb idea.

I check the clock again and my stomach rumbles. With everything going on, I forgot to eat lunch and dinner today. I’m completely famished.

I begin keeping my eyes peeled for a drive-through when a familiar diner comes into view and I pull into the parking lot.

It feels strange coming here without Xavier, but I’m comfortable enough here to go in and eat alone. I know Nettie will keep me company.

Bells on the door chime the moment I step inside and Nettie glances up at me from behind the counter. “Lord, child. Come on in here and sit down.”

She pats the counter in front of her. “You and I need to talk woman to woman.”

“Oh…okay.” Feeling completely uneasy, I take the seat in front of her, and she hands me a menu.

I study the menu and try to pretend Nettie isn’t watching me like a hawk. My face is probably still a puffy mess where I’ve just been bawling in the car. It was a mistake coming here looking like this. Hopefully Nettie won’t pry since Xavier isn’t with me.

“I’ll have the pancakes again and a water.”

“You got it.” She takes the menu from me and stares for a long second. “He fool around on you?”

I raise my eyebrows.