Standing up, I look around. The cafe is retro, with its red and white checked flooring, brightly colored bench seats, and table decorations. I notice the person Lisa is serving is watching me. I drop my eyes, but I can feel his eyes on me as I walk behind the counter and grab my apron.
Lisa sets the coffee pot down and I grab a mug, filling it before gulping down the liquid gold.
“Rough night?”
“You have no idea,” I tell her, finishing my cup and pouring another.
“Vick isn’t in yet. Hopefully, he doesn’t stop in today,” Lisa says, walking past and squeezing my shoulder.
The morning is abnormally quiet. Like, no one comes in, except the man that Lisa served. When I watch him from behind the counter, he looks up and I avert my gaze. Something is off about him.
He is gorgeous, with dark hair, thick lashes, and a strong jawline. He is bigger than most people in this area. This man clearly works out; by the size of his biceps alone, I assume he lives at the gym. He is dressed nice too, which is a little odd for this side of town. He doesn’t fit in; he stands out like a sore thumb. His button-up shirt hugs him tightly, and I can tell his chest is just as muscular as his arms. Lisa pulls me out of my daze when she taps me on the shoulder.
“It’s quiet, I am going for a smoke. You all right on your own with Mr. Hotty?” she says with a wink.
I chuckle and watch her leave out the front, placing her apron on the empty table next to the door. As soon as she walks out, the man moves, making my eyes snap to his. They are emerald, green, and I can’t look away as he approaches, sitting on the stool at the counter. I watch his lips move but don’t hear what he says, hypnotized by his eyes.
“You okay?” he asks with a smirk on his face.
“Huh?” Good going, Evelyn.
“I asked if I could have some more coffee,” he says, pointing to the pot behind me.
“Shit, sorry, I spaced out,” I mumble, turning around and grabbing the pot before refilling his cup.
“Evelyn,” he says, looking at the name tag attached to my shirt.
I nod before looking to the door for Lisa, hoping she will be back in soon to save me from my awkwardness.
“I’m Orion,” he says, making me look at him. Hmm, that surely is one weird name.
“Nice to meet you, Orion,” I tell him, and Lisa walks in.
She puts her apron on before tossing me her smokes, giving me a wink. I take my apron off and walk outside. As I walk around the side, the chill in the air blasts my face. I sit on the milk crate, light up a smoke, and inhale deeply.
“Smoking is bad for you.”
I hear his familiar voice before I see him. The sound makes my eyes snap open. Not creepy at all.
“Gotta die of something,” I tell him, waiting for him to leave. He leans on the side of the building, watching me. “Can I help you with something? Are you lost?” I ask, a little annoyed.
“No, I was looking for you, actually,” he replies, looking down at me.
“Well, you found me, so you can leave now.” I wave him off, and he chuckles.
“That’s not very nice,” he says, raising an eyebrow at me.
“Last I checked, you’re invading my personal space, so I don’t need to be nice,” I tell him, quickly finishing my smoke and putting it in the ashtray. Walking back toward the entrance, I groan when I see my boss’s yellow car pull up out the front. Orion opens the door and waits for me to enter.
Quickly stepping past him, I put my apron on and warn Lisa that Vick is here. She walks out to the front counter, while plastering on a fake smile. I don’t bother hiding my disgust for the man, especially after yesterday when he told me I had to blow him if I wanted my tips. Filthy asshole. I am the same age as his daughter.
The bell jingles and Vick walks in. He is a middle-aged man who is overweight and balding. His white shirt is covered in grease, probably from last night’s dinner. Oh, and he is ripe today. I have to fight the urge to gag when he walks past and I catch a whiff of his body odor.
“Ladies,” he says, walking out the back. I roll my eyes, and Lisa groans loudly once he is out of sight.
I notice Orion watching us. A strange look crosses his face as his eyes follow Vick. Then, all of a sudden, I hear Vick shout out my name, and I look past the kitchen to his office with a groan.
“Maybe we can make a run for it?” Lisa jokes, light-heartedly.
“Evelyn!” Vick screams from his small office.
I grab a mug and fill it with coffee to take to him. I hope he is distracted with something and doesn’t remember me calling him a perverted pig before I stormed out of work yesterday.
As I enter his office, Vick is sitting at his desk. He runs his hand over his bald head, a cruel grin on his face. “Shut the door,” he snaps, as he reaches forward and snatches the mug from my hand. Coffee sloshes all over his desk. I grab the tea towel tucked into my apron, mopping it up.
“Do you have anything to say about yesterday?” he asks, raising his unibrow.
“Nope, I am pretty sure what I said was pretty accurate,” I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring at the vile man before me.
“You should watch who you are talking to, girlie. I am not firing you only because we are understaffed, but I am cutting your shifts as punishment.”
“Who are you punishing, Lisa or me? She can’t run the place by herself,” I state.
“She will manage. Unless…” he says, uncrossing his legs and looking at his pants zipper.