The Lies That Define Us (Us 2)

“Thanks.” Rebecca grabbed the apron and slipped out, closing the door behind her. “Here you go.”

She handed it to me, and I tied it around my waist. It was pretty short, half an apron, but it’d get the job done. It was black and had one, long, pouch-like pocket I could use to put things.

Back behind the bar, Rebecca rifled through a cabinet. “Aha, I knew I stashed some of these in here.” She held out a notepad triumphantly. Plucking a pen from her pocket, she handed that to me as well. “Consider this a first day gift from me.”

I laughed, accepting the notepad and hot-pink pen.

“Watch me for a bit, and then I’ll let you try serving a few.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, my relief obvious. I knew by watching her I’d pick up on things faster. Sending me out on my own immediately would have only resulted in disaster.

“What can I get you today, James?” Rebecca asked the man who was still waiting patiently at the bar.

“The usual,” he replied with a pleasant smile.

“Ah, I know your usual, but Ari here does not.” She pointed at me where I stood by her side. “So would you mind saying it so she can write it down?”

“’Course.” He turned his attention fully to me. He tried not to be obvious about it, but he couldn’t help but look me up and down, his eyes lingering on my breasts. At least he couldn’t see much else since the bar hid my bottom half.

“I’ll have a Bud Light and the roasted pork barbeque sandwich.”

My pen scribbled furiously across the page.

“Any sides?” Rebecca prompted.

“Nah.” He tapped his fingers against the bar top. “That’s it.”

“We’ll get this right in.” She winked at him before dragging me over to a computer to enter in the order. “How are you feeling so far?” she asked me when I’d finished putting the order into the system.

“Pretty good,” I answered honestly.

“Good,” she nodded, “but I have a lot more I need to teach you.”

From then on, everything seemed to exist in a blur as I tried to absorb everything she was telling me.

I soon discovered the thing I found most difficult about being a waitress was carrying a heavily-loaded tray. The other girls balanced it on one hand and made it look effortless. I held my tray in a death grip and then Rebecca had to grab the plates and set them on the table.

My shift ended at four, and I was exhausted. I’d been on my feet the entire five hours and had been running around like a chicken with its head cut off for most of it.

I had a newfound respect for servers.

I thanked Rebecca as I left and stepped outside, expecting to see Ollie or Talia waiting to pick me up.

Instead, it was Liam.

He stood outside his Jeep, leaning against the side of it with his arms crossed over his chest. His lips were pursed like he was incredibly displeased by life itself.

His icy gaze landed on me and he muttered, “’Bout time.”

I pressed my lips together to keep from saying something snarky. As much as I’d have liked to tell him off, I knew it would be wrong of me. He’d given me clothes and a place to stay—that kindness deserved my patience with his prickly personality.

He opened the driver’s door and slid inside, slamming the door closed a second later.

I sighed heavily and prepared myself for another silent drive. I climbed into the massive vehicle, and Liam tore out of the parking lot before I could even get the door shut.

Keep it together, Ari.

A minute or so later, Liam spoke, his question catching me completely off-guard. “How was your first day?”