Page 25 of New Year

“Doing okay. I’m working at that shitty fast-casual chain over on Landmark Avenue, but it’s steady work and pays the bills. I can’t wait for Tim’s to reopen. You’re coming back to work, too, right? Or have you moved on?”

Nat latched onto his present position to spin a kind-of-truth. “I’ve moved on. I actually just started working for a businessman as his personal assistant. He’s at an appointment right now. I’m waiting.” Duh, he was waiting. “Um, I drove him.”

“That sounds really interesting. I bet it beats waiting tables.”

“It’s definitely a change. I’m sorry I lost touch.”

“Hey, shit happens.” She checked her smart watch. “Listen, I have to get to an appointment. Do you have anything to write with? I can give you my number for when you get a new phone.”

“I don’t have anything.”

“Damn. Listen, if you can, stop by my work tonight and I’ll slip you my number. Don’t be a stranger, okay? I mean, we got blown up together, we should stay in touch.” Her eyes flickered with something Nat saw in his own sometimes—the flash of terror when you remembered how close you’d come to dying. More than any other two people in the world, Sasha and Angelo understood that flash, and he hadn’t spoken to either of them in months.

“I’ll try to stop by,” Nat replied. “It was great seeing you, I mean it.”

“Me too. Take it easy, honey.” She waved as she strode toward the nearest building entrance.

The restaurant on Landmark was across town from Zack’s house, so he’d have to figure out the bus lines to get there. A ride share would probably cost more than what little money Nat had left in his pocket after today’s spending spree. Then again, Chase had insisted on paying Nat something for his three hours today.

But did Nat want to maintain his friendship with Sasha? What if Austin was crazy enough to be watching Nat’s former co-workers? He was pretty sure she didn’t know Austin. They’d never gone to Tim’s together, or spent time with Sasha socially. No, as much as he liked and missed her, she was safer if Nat kept his distance.

His only priorities right now were staying safe, earning money, and getting the hell out of Reynolds. Far, far away from Austin.

CHAPTERFIVE

Zack kept an eye open for Shelton’s arrival to work that evening, and he asked Shelton to meet him in his office. “You are not in any trouble,” Zack said before he began closing the office door. No one liked being called into the boss’s office; it was probably a fear most adults possessed, left over from visiting the principal’s office as a child.

“That’s a relief, since I haven’t done anything wrong,” Shelton replied.

The testy response rolled right off Zack. “In case you’ve been worrying about your friend Natty, don’t. He’s in a safe place.”

“Really? You found him?”

“Completely by accident.” Zack gave him an even more condensed summary of last night than he’d given Chase. Just the major moments, none of the emotional or personal details.

Shelton glared. “He’s staying at your place in exchange for what? Boss?”

“Listen, I understand exactly what Nat was doing last night, and I have an idea of what went on when you met him. But let me assure you that I have no desire to take advantage of Nat or the trust he is giving me. If you need it put more bluntly, I am not”—he lowered his voice to a harsh whisper—“ever going to demand sex from Nat in exchange for my sofa. That’s not who I am.”

Shelton held eye contact for a long time before looking away. “I believe you. I think Chase would have done the same thing, if he was still working full-time. You guys seem different, but you’re more alike than what’s on the surface.”

“Well, since Chase is one of the best people I’ve ever known, his occasional lack of filter aside, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It was meant as one. It’s never easy when a new general manager takes over a place that’s been running well for a lot of years, but—and I can only speak for myself here—it helps that he respects you so much. Helps me trust and respect you, too, boss.”

“I appreciate that. I have worked in a lot of restaurants in my career, and I’ve met thousands of people in my lifetime. Change is rarely easy, but it’s often inevitable.”

“That’s the damned truth. I wish I could do more to help Nat out of his situation, but I’ve got my own stuff going on.”

“It’s all right. You did what you could when you could. Right now, I’m in the position to help him, so I’m helping.” Shelton didn’t need any deeper explanation than that. He was an employee with a good heart, but that’s all he was. Not a friend, or someone Zack had any business further confiding in.

“Thank you for telling me. I better get my section set up.”

“Have a good service tonight, Shelton.”

“You, as well.”

Around three, Zack texted Chase and asked how the day was going so far. He didn’t worry when Chase took almost thirty minutes to respond, and that was only because he knew Chase wasn’t alone.

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