Page 17 of To Go
Unlit cigarette between my fingers, I lean against the grimy brick wall, which I’m sure used to be red and has now turned into a goopy, greying mess.
Maybe one of those guys from the pressure-washing videos should come down here.I love those videos. They’re so freaking satisfying.
Once her load has been successfully swung into the bin, Stella lets her head slump behind her, pointing her exhaustion to the sky, exhaling heavily.
“Long shift?” I call out, staring at the wall across the alley from me. She jumps at the sudden noise but recovers quickly, smothering her surprise with a blank expression.
“Smoking?”
“Nope.” I wave the unlit cigarette
“You doing that dumb thing where you feel cooler holding it?”
“Sure,” I chuckle. She ambles over to me, leaning against the wall and reaches out for the cigarette. I give her a look as I pass it over and watch her consider it between her two fingers.
“I don’t know about you, but this does make me feel cooler.” Her head lazily turns to me, giving me a smirk.
“Whatever you say, sunshine.”
“It’s my first bar shift,” she admits, “and it’s been kicking my ass. I thought early morning rushes in the café were bad, but this,” she gestures behind her with the cig, “is a whole other ball game.”
“You were doing great in there.”
“What would you know about it, stud?” she mocks.
“Enough, sunshine.”
“You could never work in the service industry,” she declares. “ It’d kill you.”
“I could,” I disagree.
“Nuh-uh.”
“I did. Small diner.” That surprises her, and her eyes narrow in suspicion.
“I call BS”
“Lasted two days.”
“Now that I believe,” she laughs.
“Either way, you did good.”
“Thanks, stud. All I need now is an eighteen-hour nap.”
“Anytime, sunshine.” We fall into a comfortable silence for a moment before she speaks.
“Why’d you follow me out here?”I guess small talk is over.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” Denial is not just a river in Egypt, apparently.
“Liar,” she drawls.
“Why were you jealous of Lacy?” I counter.
“Oh my god, her name is Lacy? I am so not jealous of that.”
“Liar,” I say, throwing her words back at her.
