Page 47 of Infinity Chronicles 2
“Dante made it, I was just finishing itfor him.” I bump my shoulder into Dante sitting in the middle between them.
I eat quickly, keeping track of the time while doing so. “Laura said you wanted to talk?” Dante finishes up his eggs even quicker than me.
“Just wanted to get on the same page. Laura and I spoke about her talking to Maggie, lightening her schedule.”
Dante peers at me from the side, like he’s weary of my reaction. “And you agreed?”
I huff. “Yes, I get we have a lot going on. Ifeel guilty about it, shejusthired me.”
Dante crinkles his brow. “Laura, you do realize Maggie has been running that diner forever and she didn’t even really need to hire you when she did.”
Placing my plate in the dishwasher I pause. “Say what?”
“That was why Milo and I were so confused when we saw you there the first time. She hired you because she wanted to, not because she needed to.”
My guilt morphs into something else, did she pity me? Maggie never acted like she was giving me a handout. I worked for everything I earned, but the diner definitely seemed busy enough to need me. I lean my butt against the counter, my eyes going up to the ceiling as I think.
“Don’t overthink it Laura. You needed a job, Maggie gave you one, that’s that,” Ares states, like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
I narrow my eyes on him, “And we’re sure you can’t read minds?”
“Idon’t need to read your mindCara, it’s written all over your face.”
Dante chimes in, “Yeah, an open book.” He swirls his hand over his own face, but means mine. I roll my eyes and pull a face. Let’s see if they can read that one. Dante lets out a burst of laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Ollie asks, stumbling into the kitchen. “You guys already eat?” His nose lifts into the air.
“Just some eggs, good morning.” I push off the counter. “We need to head out.”
“Good morning sugar tits.”
Ares chokes on the bite of eggs in his mouth, spluttering all over his plate. It would almost be worth it to let Ollie call me that just so I could see his reaction.
“Oliver,” I chastise with no real heat.
“What? That one fits amazingly well,” he scoffs, like I’m the one being ridiculous.
“Good bye,boys,” I call over my shoulder as I head to the mudroom for my sneakers.
Chapter 17
My shift at the diner drags on. We haven’t been as busy as usual. Even so, I wait until my shift is almost over before asking Maggie if we could talk. Closing the door behind her, she guides me into her small office right off of the kitchen. “Maggie, first I wanted to tell you thank you for giving me a chance here, I know it’s difficult to hire a girl with no real contact information,” I blurt before I lose my nerve.
“You looked like the trustworthy type.” Maggie leans herself back against her desk, relaxing a bit.
“Well, it really means a lotto meI wanted to let you know.” I fidget with my hands, now comes the hard part. After being here all day, I still can’t wrap my head around her only hiring me because she knew I needed a job. I think shereallyneeded the help, and I feel terrible asking her to shorten my hours. “I also wanted to tell you, that… that I might notbe able towork as many hours going forward.” Not looking at her I rush on, “There’s just a lot going on right now.I’m not sure I can keep up with everything. And nowIbasicallylive with the guys. I don’t need the money as bad. I only have a few more months left of school. I don’t want to drop out now.I’d rather be working here than going there. But Ijustcan’t quit, I’m sorry.”
She doesn’t respond right away. Lifting my gaze from my shoes, I find Maggie watching me. A curious smile on her face that looks more like it’s made of acceptance than anything else. “Are you quitting altogether?”
“Not if you’ll let me stay.”
Maggie lets out a weighty sigh. “Good. I’ve gotten used to having you and the boys around.”
That’s it? I don’t know what I expected her to do or say, but it wasn’t this easy agreement. “So, you’ll let me stayon one or two days a week? I mean I can cover until you find a replacement of course.” I straighten my back, half expecting her to fire me on the spot.
Maggie’s lips twist and she plants her hands behind her on the desk. “A few days a week sounds fine. Why don’t we say Friday, and Saturday?” She doesn’t seem angry at all, maybe the guys warned her.
I nod, probablytoo eagerly. “That would be good.”
