Chapter 8

“THEO, YOU CAN’T GO INTO work, you just got knocked out!” Lana’s voice squeaks, her voice always squeaks when she’s nervous or upset.

“Babe, I’m fine.” I rest my hands on her shoulders. “I’ve gotta make more money, and since the night’s already been ruined, you can relax with your book or put on your show, and I’ll be back soon. I don’t have to do dishes when I get called in.”

“But…” Lana brushes her hand over my eye. “I’m so sorry, Theo.” She rests her head on my chest.

“Sorry for what?” I shake my head. She can be so ridiculous sometimes.

“I should have gone with Shaina when she went to find Alex.” She wraps her arms around me. “I put you in an uncomfortable position, and I’m just really sorry.”

“Baby.” I cup her face in my hands and gently push her back enough to see her eyes. They’re big and misty, and her bottom lip is curled under in a pout.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.” I tuck her hair behind her ear. “And I don’t care if I don’t know how to fight, I’m never gonna let anyone hurt you, even if it means me getting hurt.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” she whines.

“Would you do anything you could to protect me?” I ask, already knowing her answer.

She nods.

I swipe a tear off her cheek with my thumb. “Then let me do everything I can to protect you.” I assure her, “I’m really okay, it looks worse than it is.”

She doesn’t look like she believes me, but she also doesn’t look like she’s going to cry either. “You have to go to work?” She looks at me, all big eyed.

I nod and kiss the top of her head.

“You know we could use the money.” I cradle her head in my hands.

She nods, but she’s still not happy.

“It’s just…” She sighs. “You’re hurt, because of me. I just want to make sure you’re okay.” She’s so hard on herself sometimes.

I wrap her in my arms and ignore the ache in my wrist. “I wanted to protect you,” I say firmly. “I wanted to do that for you, because it makes me happy, okay?” I kiss her nose. “So if it makes me happy, you want me to do it, right?” I place a kiss on her left eye.

She nods, her eyes still on mine.

“Then, it’s not your fault at all.” I kiss her other eye. “Okay?”

“Alright.” She sighs but turns a small smile on me, tiptoeing to press a kiss to my nose. “But take it easy tonight, please.”

“That I can do.” I give her another squeeze before letting her go.

Worry put tiny creases between her eyebrows, but she’s smiling. Everything is okay if she’s smiling. “Have a nice night.” She waves to me. “I’ll see you at three.”

“I’ll see you at three.” I peck a final kiss onto her lips before heading out and to the right. Lana loves this apartment because it’s on the bottom floor and right at the front, so it’s like we have a house.

***

I rush in through the doors. The parking lot is slammed, the restaurant is crowded, and my hand and face are aching.

“Theo!” Matt looks relieved to see me. “Good man, good man.” He points at his eye. “Who gave you the shiner?”

“Some guy at the club was coming onto Lana and wouldn’t back off.” I shrug it off like it’s no big deal, like I didn’t need Alex to come save both of us.

“She alright?” Matt stops his rushing around, looking genuinely concerned. He’s a good guy, and usually a fair boss, unless he’s this crowded and has this many call offs.

“Yeah, she’s fine. The guy was just drunk and trying to dance with her, and she turned him down.” I shrug as I hang the apron over me and tie it.

“Yeah, she’s a sweet girl.” Matt shakes his head. “It’s a shame people can’t just mind their own business.”

“Yeah,” I agree. “So where do you need me?”

“You’re serving station three,” he barks the orders out. Back to boss mode.

“Got it.”

I balance the tray on my opposite hand because my right hand has a sharp pain in it, but my left hand isn’t as balanced, so I can’t even carry half of what I’m used to carrying.

“You okay?” Matt asks me as I head out to deliver the food to the right table.

“Yeah, I’m good.” I don’t stop because I’m as bad a liar as Lana. Normally he might ask me again, but he’s swamped here, and he can’t afford to lose any hands, even if I only have one to offer.

“Alrighty, guys.” I carefully lower the tray to the table. “Sorry for the long wait,” I apologize as I set out the plates.

“Oh, that’s alright dear.” The elderly woman pats my hand, looking at my eye.

“Is there anything else I can get for you?” I ask politely.

“Oh, no.” The older man waves me off. “Thank you, this is just fine.” He smiles at his wife, and I can’t help but think of the park—how happy it made Lana to watch the older couples dance together. Still enjoying each other after years of being together.

“Alright I’ll come check on you in a bit. Let me know if there’s anything else you need.” I depart from that table and run back to grab the next tray for the neighboring table.

I run back out, the ache in my hand getting harder to ignore. I push through, weaving around other servers, and dodging customers.

“So, sorry about the wait,” I apologize immediately. It’s a group of girls, friends judging by the sound of their laughter. They look like they’re maybe in their thirties.

“How are you ladies doing this evening?”

“Fantastic!” The redhead giggles, sounding a little tipsy.

“Alright, love to hear that.” I set their plates out.

“You are cute.” The redhead and her friends laugh.

“Yeah,” the brunette agrees. “You should be out with your girlfriend on a night like this.” She sounds a little bit more together than the others.

“Oh, I was out with my girl and our friends just before I was called in.” I laugh it off, wincing when I bump my wrist against the table.

“What happened to your eye?” The redhead asks, slurring her words a bit.

I stifle a laugh. “A guy at the club came onto my girlfriend and wouldn’t back off, so I hit him, he hit me.” I shrug.

“Poor baby.” The redhead grabs my arm. Not the one with the hurt wrist, thankfully.

“You stood up for your girlfriend!” The redhead is being loud. “That’s so sweet.”

“Are you okay?” There’s a darker brunette that doesn’t look like she’s had anything to drink.

“Yeah, it hurt more when my head hit the ground,” I joke. I don’t remember hitting the ground.

“That looks pretty nasty.” The darker brunette scrutinizes me.

“You must love her. You don’t even seem angry about it.” The redhead sounds a few sips past tipsy but still sincere.

“Oh yeah.” I laugh at that. “She’s amazing. I love everything about her.”

“That’s so sweet.” The redhead giggles.

“What’s her name, doll?” The brunette leans across the table.

“Lana.” I try not to laugh at the redhead slumping against the table and giggling.

The brunette’s eyes are soft. “That’s a pretty name, got a picture?”

“Of course.” If only they knew how many pictures I have of her. I take my phone out and show them the one as my screensaver. It’s one of my favorites. She’s wearing this white lacy top that ends at her ribcage and these flowy matching shorts. She’s got this bright red lipstick on and a flower tiara thing on her head. She looks like some kind of mother nature personification.

“You two are adorable.” The darker brunette snatches my phone away and examines it. Her features soften, and she hands it back to me.

“Thank you.” I take a step back from the table. “Is there anything else I can get you?”

“No, thank you.” They smile politely.

“Alright, I’ll let you ladies eat, and I’ll be back to check on you soon.”

They call a thank you after me, but I’ve wasted enough time. I run back and grab the next tray