Page 37 of SEAL's Patience
“Wow, that had to suck. Didn’t I hear you saying last week you’d just had it checked?”
“I did. You’d have thought that they’d have checked everything, but I guess not.” Patience slowly entered the room, heading for her locker. She didn’t want to startle Charity.
“You know, if you need a ride home, I can take you later. I really don’t mind.”
She was a little surprised at the offer. Charity had mostly kept to herself since Pam hired her. With so many employees asking for vacation over the holidays, she’d needed extra staff. Charity seemed like a good worker, although Patience had a gut feeling that something was going on in her life to make her so jumpy.
“I really appreciate the offer. Can I let you know later?”
“Sure thing. I’m on till close.” Charity closed her locker. “See you out there.”
“Yup. Be right behind you.”
After tucking her jacket into the locker, her stomach growled. Reminding her she hadn’t eaten since the bowl of cereal after talking to Livie. It would be a few hours before she could take a dinner break.Dammit.Grabbing a mint out of her backpack, she shoved it into the small space and shut the door.
Maybe the candy would be enough to fool her stomach for a while, at least. After another low growl, she decided she’d stop by the kitchen on her way out front. Tony, the head chef and Pam’s husband, wouldn’t care if she grabbed a piece of fruit or a handful of chips.
Tony was always teasing them. He grumbled they were too thin and probably didn’t eat enough. Either he or Pam made sure they ate a full meal whenever they worked. Often sending them home at the end of their shifts with “doggie bags.” Considering all she’d eaten since leaving last night was two bowls of cereal, he was probably right.
Mind made up, Patience stopped by the kitchen and grabbed a banana from the bowl by the door, while waving to Tony.
“I made your favorite for dinner. Make sure you come and get some,” he called after her.
That stopped her in her tracks. “You made lasagna?”
“Sure did. I figured it would be a good meal with all this snow.”
Patience gave him a huge grin. “I’ll be back later. Save me a slice.”
“I’ve already got some set aside for you and Livie.”
Of course he did. He took care of all of them like they were family. She would miss this when she started her residency in the fall. If she and Livie didn’t end up in the same place, she’d miss her most of all. They might as well be sisters with how close they’d grown. No time for worrying about it now, though. She had a job to do for the next six hours. After devouring the banana, she tossed the peel and headed out into the dining room.
A few more people had come in and Charity and Sky were busy waiting tables. Pam was still alone behind the bar.
“Where do you want me?” Patience asked as she stopped at the bar.
“You can take the Pool Room and overflow in the main area until Sky leaves. Murphy is deploying tomorrow, so she wants to spend some time with him tonight.”
“I’ll cover her tables. Let me know when she’s leaving.”
Pam nodded, and Patience headed toward the sound of pool balls.
Two tables were being used, one was being used by a group of Navy guys she hadn’t seen before. They were easy to pick out with their short haircuts. Quinn and Doc were at the other one. Patience wondered if he’d be mad at how she’d jumped out of thetruck and run inside. The need to get away from him had been overwhelming. If he didn’t like it, too bad for him.
Walking up to the other table first, she pulled out her pad. “Hi there. I’ll be your server. My name is Patience. Can I get you anything from the kitchen or bar?”
“Hey baby. Aren’t you the pretty one?” one of them said.
“Patience? What kind of name is that?” another remarked.
She barely held back a rude retort and just responded with, “myname.” Ignoring the pickup line from the first jerk, she turned to the other two, who hadn’t answered yet.
“Do you need refills?” Noticing the mostly empty pitcher, she directed her question at the guys playing the game and turned her back on the other two, who were watching.
“Yeah, another pitcher of Michelob Ultra and whatever these assholes want from the kitchen.”
She’d been about to ask about menu items when she smelled sour beer breath and the heat of someone almost leaning against her back. Before she could react, she felt his touch.
