The Professor (Forbidden Encounters 1)

“Do I even want to know?”

I stop abusing my poor forehead to glance at Charlie, who just walked through the door. She’s tying her apron around her waist, over the short royal blue uniform dress.

“Nope, and I wouldn’t tell you.”

She frowns. “Well, now I want to know.”

I consider telling her the crazy tale of running into the hot guy I kissed on vacation. We’ve become pretty tight and Charlie is a stand-up girl, a good person, just like her father. But I can’t tell her. No one can know, not even Lucy.

“It’s… the usual. Daddy issues.” It isn’t a complete lie. I have been thinking about my dad and it’s been stressing me out.

Sympathy softens Charlie’s features. “Have you been to see him?”

“Not lately.” Visits to my dad have become less frequent over the last year. It’s too depressing seeing him in that orange jumpsuit and having to talk to him behind that glass. I hate it. And I’m still mad at him. “He did call Lucy and me for Christmas.”

“I’m sorry, Abbs.”

“Don’t be. I’m fine.” One of the things I hate with a passion is anyone feeling sorry for me. “Let’s get to work before old man Denton finds us chatting back here.”

Charlie rolls her eyes. “That man needs the stick removed from up his ass.”

I shush her. Sure, Harold Denton can be a dick. The diner’s owner is uncouth, miserable and has the worst attitude problem, but he was the only one willing to give me a chance. Having the surname Knight while trying to find a job on the better side of town wasn’t working out. I begged for this job and I was given a chance. I’ll always be grateful to Harry.

I threw myself into work, only taking a break to check up on Lucy. She just started working at the only convenience store on our side of town as an after school part-time gig. With Dad locked up, paying college tuition next year is looking a little dim. She says she doesn’t mind taking a year off to work and save up some more so we’ll see how it goes.

“Well, the money won’t make itself,” I sigh, taking the notepad in hand and then click the top of the pen to get ready to go to my section and take orders.

“Let me know if you need anything. I’m always here for you.” Charlie squeezes my arm in reassurance, and I give her a soft smile that doesn’t reach my eyes.

The last thing I want to think about right now is my dad.

I walk toward an old couple sitting at a booth. They are holding hands across the table and for a split second I think of Bryce. I shake the thought out of my head and plaster on a smile. “Hi, my name is Abby, I’ll be your waitress this evening. Can I start you guys with something to drink?” I ask.

“I’ll take a diet coke,” the woman says while she reads the menu.

“And I’ll take a coffee, black. Can you bring me water with lemon too, please?” her husband asks.

“I’ll be right back with that,” I tell them.

They are dressed up. The man has on a button up short-sleeve shirt tucked in and she is wearing a cute lilac pantsuit. It looks like she got her hair done too. It looks fresh and poufy. Like a white cotton ball. She has big amethyst earrings clipped to her lobes and shoes that remind me of what grandma’s wear to church.

They are happy.

I want that.

With a sigh, I grab their drinks and make my rounds.

It stays busy all night and the tips are decent, so I keep my head up and think about girl’s trip I need to save for.

My shift is almost over, and I’m dead on my feet. I can’t even sleep when I get home because I already have some reading to do. Charlie was right, I am a nerd. I don’t have to go as hard as I do with the studying but I can’t help myself. I’ve always been extra hard on myself when it comes to school. I just have to do well and get out of here.

It’s almost midnight, the end o

f my shift. Denton’s Place is an all-night diner, so we still have late night eaters coming in. Charlie took off three hours ago. Now that school has started again, she doesn’t do as many hours. She has her father to help her out. I don’t have that same luxury. There’s no one to help with expenses and keeping a roof over mine and my sister’s head.

The bell over the door signals an arrival, but I continue wiping tables. Angie will take care of whoever it is. She’s just arrived for the night shift.

“Ahem! Can a guy get something to eat around here?”