Page 12 of The Perfect Play

After a couple steps to the rack of aprons, I grabbed one and tossed it to Jake. He caught it and stared at it a few seconds as if he had no idea what to do with one.

“It’s called an apron,” I said, emphasizing the words slowly and with my hands. “You wear it around your waist.”

For the first time since he’d bumped into me in the hall the day before, he frowned, and the thrill of satisfaction at making fun of him didn’t quite feel how I thought it would.

“I’m not an idiot, Davis.” He pulled the strap around his head and started tying the strings around his waist. Once he’d finished, he crossed his arms and looked at me, eyebrows raised. “What’s next?”

I focused on his words and realized I’d been standing like a statue for several awkward seconds. “Right this way.”

We walked over to the large gray bins we used to collect the dirty dishes. “Take this,” I said, tugging one of them free from the stack. “You’ll also need a rag to wipe off the tables after you clear them.”

Outside the kitchen, I pointed to two tables next to each other littered with several plates, glasses, and napkins. “Go ahead and clear all those dishes into the buckets and then wipe the tables off. I’ll go check on my tables and be back to show you how to wash the dishes.”

He stared at the tables as if in disbelief that this was how his afternoon would end. I left him there, seeing several glasses that needed to be refilled and several small requests from the customers. Once I’d caught up, I walked into the kitchen to find two heaping gray buckets of dishes sitting next to the large sink.

Jake stared at me, a slight hint of a smile on his lips.

This was not good. I’d managed to avoid him for the three and a half years since he’d betrayed me, and now just being around him was cracking the shell I’d built around myself when it came to him.

I pulled several of the dishes out of the bin, setting them in the bottom of the sink. “Put all the paper napkins, straws, and straw papers in the garbage,” I said, grabbing several of the items and turning to drop them in the large black can behind me. Resuming my position, I pulled a scrubber from behind the faucet and turned the water nearly to hot. “Then just make sure to scrub these as best you can before placing them in the dishwasher.”

“Why bother to wash them first?” he asked, taking the scrubber from me.

“Because this thing is ancient,” I said, tapping on the washer, “and when it goes down, you’ll have to wash and dry everything by hand to make sure it’s all sanitized. It’s really no fun; I promise.”

His face softened, and I turned away, feeling the intensity of his gaze. “How long have you worked here?”

I turned back, surprised by the question. Instead of some sarcastic retort, I went with the truth. “Since the week after my mom left. I knew Dad wasn’t going to be able to pay for all the extra activities when he had the mortgage and food to worry about.” My throat felt tight, talking about something so candidly with the one person I should’ve been able to rely on this whole time.

He touched my forearm, the wetness from his fingers sinking into my skin and the warmth there causing my stomach to flip. “I’m sorry, Pen. I’m sure it’s been hard without her.”

Raising my chin an inch or two, I shook my head. “We’ve managed just fine. If my mother preferred the lavish lifestyle and a new family, we’re better off without her.” My heart knew I was lying as much as my brain tried to convince it otherwise.

Jake opened his mouth to reply, but Sara came in saying that one of my tables needed something. I nodded at Jake and left the kitchen, feeling more vulnerable than I had in months, years even. How was I going to work with him and keep my focus on the future rather than dwelling in the past?

I’d just have to make sure I kept my eyes on the prize: a scholarship to anywhere but here.

Chapter 10

Jake

It took several minutes for my hands to adjust to the stinging hot water. But it somehow didn’t compare to the feeling I’d had while I watched the emotions on Penny’s face as she talked about her mother’s betrayal. No doubt she felt the same about me, and the thought caused my stomach to sour. I’d messed up big time when it came to her. But would she ever accept my reason for turning my back on her in her time of need?

I didn’t get a chance to think on it too long as the other waitress came in and said there were four other tables that needed to be cleared as soon as possible. I walked out with my gray bucket and saw several people sitting and waiting near the entrance to the diner. I thought about dropping the bucket and making my way out of there, but Penny would probably have to clean up the mess, and then where would I be at getting her forgiveness?

But why did I suddenly want her to forgive me? I thought through it as I got to work on the tables, but I didn’t come to any firm conclusions.

It took nearly ten minutes to clear everything and wipe it down, having to retrieve more gray buckets a few times to hold all the dishware. By the time I was done, I sighed, knowing I still had a lot to do on the other end.

I passed Penny a few times, and the lightness in her voice, her laugh even, made me long for those simpler times when we would hang out in the treehouse in my backyard or play catch for an hour or two. Even as I listened to her joke with the customers, something pinged around in my chest, making me feel the guilt even deeper. I’d screwed things up back then, but maybe there was time to fix it.

I’d loaded several batches of dishes through the washer and was surprised when Penny came into the kitchen and stood near me.

“How’s it going? Looks like you’re getting the hang of it.” There were no traces of the sarcasm I’d been met with for the past two days.

“I’m surviving. It’s actually not too bad, and I kind of like it.” The words surprised even me, as I’d been able to escape life so far without a job of any sort. I thought back to her retort yesterday when I’d mentioned needing a new car.

Penny folded her arms across her chest, her expression bordering on triumphant. “It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it, right?”

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