I walk into work and immediately get to cleaning tables and getting set up for the breakfast rush that I know will be coming. It keeps my mind busy, and it isn’t until mid-morning that it all seems to come to an alarming halt.
There are some women that I recognize from school. It’s Jacqueline and her friends. They’ve always been nice enough, but I feel like they probably talk about me behind my back. “What can I get you?” I ask them, a little surprised that they’re eating here at the diner. They seem more the type to skip breakfast for a protein shake or something, but what do I know?
Jacqueline starts. “We’re all having water, and to eat we’ll have eggs over easy, avocado, and a slice of tomato.”
I stare and wait for her to continue. “Would you like pancakes, potatoes, or toast with that?”
She scrunches her nose up. “Uh, no... thank you.”
I nod and tap my pen on my notepad. “So three waters, and three orders of eggs over easy, avocado and tomato.”
I look around at the other women, expecting one of them to add something, but they’re all just nodding their heads.
I nod. “Well, okay. It will be out in a jiffy.”
I turn to go, but Jacqueline stops me. “Natalie, can I ask you something?”
Just by the sweet, low tone of her voice, I go on alert. “Uh, sure.”
She smiles at me. “I heard Elijah was with King Bryant yesterday and that his truck was outside your apartment until late last night.”
I look at the three women, and they’re all watching me very closely. Whiskey Valley is definitely a small town, and I didn’t even think that anyone would be gossiping about me. “Uh, yeah, I had to work a double and King... I mean, Mr. Bryant brought him home for me.”
They’re all nodding and seem to lean in toward me as if what I’m saying is something really juicy. I can feel my face heat just thinking about that kiss he laid on me last night. And even though these women are definitely being nosy and I don’t owe them anything, I still don’t want people to gossip about me.
I go to walk away when Jacqueline reaches for me. Her hand goes to my wrist, keeping me next to the table. Don’t cause a scene, Nat. You need this job. I turn with a smile on my face. “Was there something else?”
Jacqueline leans forward and loudly whispers, “I know you’re new in town, so I feel like I should warn you about King. He’s sort of known around town as a player. He hits on me, knowing I’m married. He’s rich, and he can pretty much have any woman he wants. He has to, I’m afraid.”
I try to school my expression and not react, but I must not do it well because I can feel my stomach plummet and the color drain from my face. “Oh, there’s nothing going on—"
I start to tell her there’s nothing going on, but she interrupts me. “And well, I’m sure you know how gossip is... You don’t want the people of Whiskey Valley to get the wrong idea about you...”
I stutter “thanks” to her before walking away and into the kitchen. It’s just a few steps to the back, but by the time I’m there I’m breathing as if I’ve just run a mile. One kiss, and I was already wanting more. Damn it, I should have known better.
The rest of the afternoon I work on pure adrenaline. I get done with work a little early, go by the grocery store, and then head out to pick up Eli, praying the whole way I don’t see King. I don’t even think I’ll be able to look him in the face now.
When I pull up to the ranch, Eli leans down to talk to me through the open window. “King had to go check a fence, but he wanted me to ask you to stick around until he got back.”
I point to the back. “I have groceries I have to get into the refrigerator. I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”
“But Mom,” Eli starts, and I’m already leaning over to open the door.
“No But Mom. Get in, we have to go.”
Eli gets in, and I get him started talking about his day. He’s still loving it, and it’s hard to believe that the camp will be over in just a few more days. I can tell he’s going to miss it.
“Huh, Mom?”
I shake my head. “Sorry, what did you say?”
“I said, what’s for dinner? I’m starving.”
I resist rolling my eyes. He’s always starving. “Hamburger macaroni.”
Eli crunches his nose up. “Aww, Mom. Let’s order a pizza. I’ll buy.”
I can’t help it. I laugh. “You’ll buy? With what?”
He pulls out money from his pocket. “King paid me.”