Until Cece (Happily Ever Alpha World)

“You know what?” she finally prompts, and I hold my breath. She leans forward over the bar and says only loud enough for me to hear, “Fuck men. The only good one I’ve ever met is my boss, but thankfully I’m a lesbian. You’re hired. When can you start?”

My jaw drops, but then I quickly compose myself with a chuckle. “Um, well, my kids are about to be home from school and my sister who will be watching them for me to work is in my car at the moment, so all I’d have to do is run her home and I’d be back in like, an hour.”

She raises her eyebrows in surprise and nods. “Wow. Um, okay. That would actually work, because it’d give me time to walk you through a lot before the dinner rush, and we’re kind of desperate, since we’re down three servers.”

“Really?” I squeak, both excited and nervous that this is happening so fast. “All right.” I blow out a breath. “I can do this,” I say more to myself than to her. “Um, what should I wear? Is this okay?”

She walks to the other end of the bar and reaches underneath. When she stands and heads back to me, I see she’s grabbed a dark-blue T-shirt with the words Winston’s Bar and Grille in white across the chest. “This should fit you. Just pair this with some jeans and you’ll be set. Um, do you happen to have nonslip shoes?” she asks.

“I don’t, but I can stop somewhere on the way home and grab a pair. That’s not something that has to be specially ordered, right?”

“Nope, they have them mostly everywhere, even Walmart and Target.”

I can’t help the smile that takes over my face. “Oh my gosh. I have a job!” I squeak out, making her giggle. “Thank you, Stephanie. I promise you won’t regret this.” I stand from the stool, the shirt and my folder clutched to my chest. “See you in an hour.”

“Sounds good,” she replies, and I head for the door. Then it dawns on me… “Oh, crap. I was going to order something to go for dinner.” I start back toward the menu still sitting on the bar.

“If you’re not picky, I have a family-style order that didn’t get picked up by Door Dash if you want to just take that home. It’ll just need to be reheated in the oven. I was going to save it for one of our other waitresses, but she called in sick,” Stephanie offers.

My mouth falls open once again. A job plus free food I don’t have to cook? Hell to the yes, this is going to be amazing. “I’ll take it!”

5

Winston

“Don’t be mad,” Stephanie says by way of greeting as soon as I step foot into the back office.

I eye her suspiciously. “One, when have I ever been mad at you? And two, what did you do?”

She cocks an eyebrow. “One, that time I turned away the fresh produce guy who came by with his card, because I thought you enjoyed going shopping for all the ingredients yourself. And two, I hired a waitress who will be here in the next twenty minutes.”

I cross my arms over my chest and stare down at her as she sits in the desk chair. “As I explained, I do love shopping for all our ingredients myself, but having produce delivered directly to the restaurant means the fruits and vegetables would be at least a day fresher on top of being less expensive. Luckily you kept the card and I was able to lure him back.” I uncross my arms and lower myself into the seat across from her desk. “And why would I be mad about you hiring a waitress who can start so soon? I told you to place an ad this morning.”

She winces. “Well, you see, what happened was…” She pauses, looking a little embarrassed. “She had a damn good sob story. Like, the best, and I couldn’t tell her no, even though she has zero past job history or higher education to speak of.”

I groan and sink down into the chair until the back of my head is resting on the top of it. “Let’s hear it.” I sigh.

“Homemaker who’s been a stay-at-home mom of three for a decade. Husband and her separated, and now she’s trying to find a job for the first time,” she summarizes.

“Damn. That is good. Does she fit, you think? Mom of three who had to have gotten pregnant young if she’s never had a job before and didn’t go to college. I’m picturing like… The Whites of West Virginia or something,” I admit.

She snorts. “She’s as far from The Whites of West Virginia as you can get. I got the whole perfect Pinterest mom vibe from her. I bet her entire house is farmhouse themed and she buys every item from the Hearth and Hand Collection at Target. Or better yet, I bet she orders everything from Magnolia itself.” She pauses, seeming to rethink her words. “At least, she did before her pig of an ex cheated on her. Now she’s gotta somehow start from the bottom to provide for her and her kids.” She shakes her head.