Page 111 of Off Limits
‘You can let go of me now. I wanna google your girlfriend. What’s her last name?’
I let her go. ‘Harper.’
‘How old is she?’
‘Twenty-two.’
‘You gonna tell Mom and Dad?’
‘Nope.’
‘Sensible. Bein’ a stripper an’ all… she might not pass the Mom test.’
I wince. ‘I’ve never cared less about the fucking Mom test.’
River softens. ‘Do you love her? Is she the one?’
I don’t have to consider my answer for very long before slowly, I nod my head. River crumples, bites her lip. ‘Can I meet her?’
‘One day. I promise you.’
‘What if the Conways find out? Would they fire you for being in a relationship?’
I’ve thought about it. ‘I doubt that. I might get a fine for misconduct. But Serenity?’
I wince, because it’s inequality at its worst. Though she represents the Mutineers brand, she doesn’t win points and can’t get us to the playoffs or Super Bowl. She’s both expendable and replaceable, at virtually no cost to the management.
I imagine some might argue that I am not.
‘They’d fire her in a nanosecond,’ I say.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Serenity
‘Hey! What are you guys doing here?’
Tuesday morning, at The Bounty, I have visitors. Three members of the CMC – Jewel, Leona and Shawny – have all come for a late breakfast, unannounced.
‘You look cute in that apron,’ Shawny says as I embrace her. Her white-blonde hair smells freshly shampooed. ‘We always said we’d crash one of your shifts for breakfast.’
‘Can you go on a break and sit with us?’ Jewel asks, squeezing my hand.
‘Let me take your order first,’ I say. I’ve only been here an hour.
‘Do you have any kombucha?’ Leona asks as she slides into the booth.
I giggle at my fellow rookie’s request, because The Bounty doesn’t exactly offer the world’s healthiest set of breakfast options. ‘I can get you a black tea?’
Shawny swipes up the menu. ‘Are you kidding me?’ she says. ‘I want calories. Fried steak and eggs. With a chocolate shake on the side.’
‘Coming right up,’ I say emphatically.
‘Seriously?’ Jewel questions, looking Shawny up and down. ‘How come you literally don’t gain a single pound after inhaling that?’
‘It’s literally all I’ll eat for the rest of the day.’
‘How about you, Jewel?’ I ask.
