Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“You have no idea.” She’s been helping me with drink orders as well as running to the back to serve as many appetizers as our cook can keep up with.
“Well, as you can tell, if you ever need a few friends, you’re more than welcome to join our group. We usually have coffee once a week at Oak & Brew, you know what. I’ll just add you to the group chat.” Ronnie and I usually talk, see how things are going in one another’s lives, but it’s rare that we intermingle our working relationship into, I guess, a friendship. I don’t begrudge her, either, especially when there’s usually a turn-around when it comes to waitresses. And to be honest, I’m sure I’ve given off the vibes of being here to work, not play.
Maybe tonight, I’m giving off a different aura, probably because I’m feeling a lot of guilt between my mother finding out about Locke and me needing to talk to Jace about it. I need to bring it to his attention with a swiftness, but after that greeting, who would really want to?
“Thanks, I’d really appreciate that. I think I’m going to need all the friends I can get,” I say as Jace makes his way back to the bar.
“Girl, anytime. I’m going to go handle my crowd. Holler if you need any help. I’ll jump in.”
“I’m good. You should be celebrating. And please, let me help out so you can enjoy it, too.”
“Please don’t leave us, and I mean that as a friend and employee. You’re the best thing that’s happened to The Social. I’m finally able to keep a schedule, and there’s no worrying about being called in or answering a phone in the middle of the night because this or that happened. Truly, thank you.” With that, Ronnie lifts the heavy tray loaded full of an assortment of drinks—beer, mixed drinks, water, and sodas. We don’t technically allow anyone under the age of eighteen in here without an adult and past a certain time, but clearly, tonight is one of those nights when you look the other way.
“Jade, you got a minute?” I turn my attention away from the group when I hear my brother’s voice.
“Yeah, but it’ll have to be quick. Unless you want to shelve this for tomorrow?” I follow up to soften the blow a smidge.
“This won’t take long. My wingman knocked some sense into my head, though I knew I needed to say this all along. You deserve an apology, a genuine one. I’ve overstepped, and I’m sorry.” My jaw drops open. I quickly close it and then swallow my tongue. Okay, not really. I’m still going to circle back to that wingman comment, but Jace McKay, my older brother, the person who is allergic to apologies, is giving me one.
“Apology accepted. But listen, I’m keeping the location sharing off. I kept it on for far too long. If the situation were reversed and I showed up out of the blue, you’d have had my head. You’re also not going out to do something crazy like buy me a car or transfer money into my account. I’ve got this, really. I’m twenty-eight. I need to do this, okay?” I look around Jace. “Plus, Locke has no problem with me borrowing his truck until I get a lock on what I’m going to do next.”
“Truce,” Jace says the word of our childhood. He holds out his hand, I extend my own, and our handshake is steady, not a challenge, not a joke. We’re laying it wide open. His grip is firm, a change from what it would be from the years of childhood. Back then, it’d be crushing; now, it’s one of sticking to a promise not to butt into my life.
“Truce,” I reply.
“Good. Gonna grab my tab and Locke’s then head on out. He’s not as young as he used to be, something about needing sleep and shit.”
“Pot, meet kettle. You’re older than him by six months. The difference is, you slept all day.” I take my hand back and move to the cash register to tally up their total, then to the kiosk to set up the payment. Ronnie’s dad prefers the old-school way, while she prefers this century; they’ve settled on doing both, comparing what works more efficiently at the end of the year and going from there.
“Not wrong about that. Love you, sis.” Jace throws more cash down than necessary. I go about bringing him back the change, but he just shakes his head.
“Love you, too. Drive home safely, yeah?” I reply.
“You do the same.” That’s the end of our conversation. My eyes watch as Locke pops off the barstool, meeting Jace halfway, and my man gives me a subtle nod of his head, mouthing the word sugar along the way. It hits me square in the chest how amazing Locke is, and I’m the lucky woman who gets to have him.