“We all do,” Mia says.
“But today was not good.”
“Two dine-and-dashers, one waiter who showed up drunk,” Riley says. “What else?”
“I had a sous chef walk out on me,” Mia says with a frown. “She said it wasn’t fair that I threw the steak she overcooked on the floor.”
“Gordon Ramsay has nothing on you in the mean department,” I reply, shaking my head. “You made her cry.”
“She’s an idiot,” Mia mumbles. “Is it wrong that I expect my staff to be competent? Our menu isn’t cheap, and people come here to eat the food they order, the way they order it. And screwing it up is expensive.”
“You’re not wrong,” Riley replies. “But maybe you could be . . . gentler.”
“Fuck that.”
“Or not,” I say with a laugh.
“What happened in here tonight?” Riley asks.
“Oh, you didn’t know?”
“No.”
I do something I’ve never done before and guzzle my wine, then turn to my friends. “Grace didn’t show up again. This is the third time, if I count the night she called out with the sick kid.”
“Does she always use the kid as an excuse?” Riley asks.
“She didn’t use any excuse tonight. She just didn’t show.”
“Ugh,” Mia says, rolling her eyes. “Fire her already.”
“She’s a single mom,” I reply. “I can’t just fire her.”
“Mia’s right, Kat. She calls out more than she’s here. I love that you care enough to want to give her a shot at making it right, but it seems to me that she isn’t trying very hard.”
I let out a gusty sigh and nod. “I know. I’ll call her tomorrow and have Cami put her last check in the mail. Which means I have to hire someone, and I hate that process more than I hate brussels sprouts.”
“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with brussels sprouts,” Mia says defensively, making us all chuckle. “What else happened?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
“To make you like this? No,” Riley replies.
“Sam came in.” I walk back around the bar to refill my glass, top theirs off as well, and wait for them to yell.
But they don’t. They just stare at me.
“What?” I finally demand.
“What the hell?” Mia finally says. “Who cares if he came in? You haven’t seen him in two years.”
“And he was a jackass.”
“I know. I don’t give a shit about Sam.” And that’s the God’s truth. I’ve barely even thought of him since we broke up two years ago. I don’t want him. I’m in a happy relationship. “There’s no reason for him to put me in a bad mood, but you add all of the other shitty things up from today, and put him on top of it . . . it just pissed me off.”
“Is this the first time he’s been in since we opened?” Mia asks.
“That I’m aware of,” I reply with a nod.
“What did he say?” Riley asks.
“Just ‘Hi, Kat. Nice place.’ And then he sat down at that table over there with some chick. They didn’t have dinner, they just had a couple drinks and left. I should probably disinfect the table.”
“Are you seriously hung up on that douche canoe?” Mia asks.
“Fuck no,” I reply. “I was just surprised to see him walk in, and I was by myself, so I was running around like crazy. It was a busy night.”
“I’ll never complain about busy nights,” Riley says, clinking her glass to mine.
“Just threw me, that’s all.”
“I get it,” Mia says. “I think it must be a full moon or Venus is in the house of the rising sun or some shit.”
“I agree,” Riley says. “I’m out of here.”
“Me too,” Mia says. “And I know this will shock the shit out of you, but I think I’ll take tomorrow off.”
“I’m sorry, what?” I reply, surprised.
“I need a day,” Mia says with a shrug. “I only take one a month.”
“And you should take more than that,” I reply. We snap the lights out on our way to the front door.
“Let me give you a ride home,” Mia says.
“Thanks.” I smile and climb into her car. “I don’t usually mind the walk, but damn, I’m tired.”
“But not sleepy,” she guesses correctly.
“Not sleepy.”
We’re quiet on the short drive to my building. When she parks, she turns to me and surprises me again by pulling me in for a hug. Mia’s not the touchy-feely type.
“Are you okay, Mia?”
“Yeah. I’m just out of sorts.” She pulls back and smiles. “And sometimes even blackhearted bitches like me need a hug.”
“You’re not blackhearted or a bitch,” I reply immediately. “You’re amazing, and some people just don’t get you.”
“Well, thanks for getting me.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks for the ride.”
I wave as I walk into the building and feel my shoulders sag in the elevator. It’s been a long damn day. I trudge down my hall to the door, walk inside, and stop in my tracks.
“Hi there, Red.”
“Hi.”
Mac is waiting for me with a glass of wine in his hand and a smile on his handsome face. He crosses to me and presses his lips to mine in a sweet kiss, then takes my hand.