Page 48 of A Fool's Game

If the opportunity had been promising piles of money, I wouldn’t have had to walk away at all.

That’s the thing about the restaurant industry. There are no guarantees.

All you can do is cut yourself open and bare your tender insides for the vultures and hope they like what they see.

When my alarm goes off at six am sharp, I’m relieved to be roused from a deep sleep. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve worked all day after one, two, or even zero hours of sleep, but it’s never ideal.

I click the button to silence the alarm and notice a text from the night before.

Mom: Looking forward to seeing you two tomorrow!

I groan and set the phone back down.

How could I have forgotten today was New Year’s Day?

Last night, after sending everyone home to enjoy the holiday, I spent several hours closing down the kitchen for one of the two days a year we don’t open for student meals, making sure the vending and soda machines were full enough for whatever stragglers wandered in.

I’d only been home long enough for a shower when Gem texted me that she and Ainsley were back from the bar, and she wanted me to join them. I thought I’d have a few more hours to myself, or that she’d try to talk me into coming out with them, but apparently Ainsley has the same outlook on late night partying as I do.

Hard pass.

Miraculously, I drift back off to sleep and wake a while later to Gem crawling beside me in the tiny bed.

I wrap an arm around her and pull her close. “Happy New Year, love.”

“It’s not really the new year except in the capitalist patriarchal colonizer calendar, but thank you,” she whispers, snuggling in.

I pull her close and smile. “Did your captive escape?”

She shakes her head. “He’s still asleep.”

“What time is it?”

“Going on eight.”

Dang. I can’t remember the last time I slept so late. “We’re catching the bus in less than an hour.”

“I know.”

Her words are soft and heavy. I hear what she’s not saying and try to make myself let her off easy. To say it’s okay without her having to ask.

But I don’t.

“Do you think…” she says finally, trailing off as her fingers dance across mychest.

I take too long to respond, and she starts to pull away, but I hold her tight. “Of course. The more the merrier.”

“Can I tell you a secret?” Ainsley asks as we settle into our seats on the ferry.

“Yes, please,” Gem answers right away, snaking her arm through his and pulling him closer to her right side.

I already have her left arm held tightly in mine.

“I’ve never been on a ferry before.” Ainsley’s statement falls like a rock into the air around us. “At least not one in this country.”

“I’m going to punch you in the face right now,” I huff out.

Ainsley laughs, but Gem tosses me a look that clearly says—be nice.

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