Cat POV
"Valentine! How's table five!" My boss, Christina yelled at me. Lovingly of course.
"Five's good! Waiting on seven's food!" I chimed back.
C'mon…this is taking too long. Seven should have been eating 5 minutes ago. Good thing it's a group of retirees.
Otherwise I'd be getting an earful right now.
I like retirees. They're especially chill and understand that I can't make everything run smoothly. I always do my best, but—
"JUAN!" I yell.
He's cutting into my tip.
I catch the eye of Christina, who quickly pops into step towards me.
"What's the holdup Juan?" She yells.
Juan spouts off rapid Spanish and the sizzling increases over the din.
"I can help out if you want. Apologize for the wait." She offered.
"What'd he say?"
"The meat only cooks when it wants to."
What?
"That makes no sense."
"Yeah. You taking up my offer?"
I glance at Allie, the hostess signaling for me.
"Yeah, I got a new one. Be right back." I said, walking away. "Thank you!"
"Ok! No problem!"
"You got a new one on four. He's a cutie too."
Ooh! That always is good!
"Great! Four you say?"
"Yeah. Good luck." She smiled, turning to check her phone.
I sauntered off to table four, picking up silverware and my pink notepad Robbie bought me. It's not the standard one that I'm supposed to wear, but Christina approved it after looking at it.
She thought it was cute.
I smiled softly as I approached table four.
Looks like Allie was right about the boy. He's a brunette with narrow shoulders. But he's got a muscular build. Not too big, just right.
Quite a cutie.
"Hi, I'm Cat, and I'll be—"
"Hey sunshine. What a surprise, bumping into you here…" He joked, a smirk crossing his features
ROBBIE!
"Robbie!" I smile, lowering my voice but smiling wide for him.
"Things going well?"
"It's good. What do you want to drink?"
"I'll have my regular." He smiled.
Dr. Pepper. He loves the taste. That's what he keeps at home. I like Coke, that's my favorite soda.
"Ok! You ready to order or want to wait on that?" I asked, trying not to let my happiness break thru my professional façade.
Façade. Hehe.
Funny word.
"I'll go ahead and wait."
"Ok! Be right back!" I smiled, turning to see Christina flag me down.
"Great timing…" She mumbled as we grabbed seven's food.
"Ok…sorry about the wait." I said quietly, grabbing the fajita plate. "Who had the fajitas?"
A lady in the back put her hand up.
I dashed around and placed it in front of her as Christina started divvying the food.
"Careful, it's very hot." I warned.
"Ok, looks great." She said as I grabbed a steak and placed in front of her husband.
"Anybody need anything else?"
"Can I have hot sauce?" someone with a steak asked.
"Sure." I smiled. "Anything else?"
Nothing.
Great.
"Ok! I'll be right back with your hot sauce." I smiled, grabbing my little stand and tray and walked back to the kitchen.
Why would you put hot sauce on a steak? I don't eat steak but…EW!
"She's ruining that steak." Christina commented when we reached the safety of the loud kitchen.
"Agreed. Ironic that's what the holdup was." I said, grabbing a large cup and making Robbie's Dr. Pepper.
"Don't forget to check on five." Christina reminded me, as I grabbed a straw, even though he doesn't like straws.
Company policy. They have some contract that we have to grab one. If they don't want it, we throw it away. Which hurts because I don't like being wasteful.
"Hey. Sorry about the wait." I said quietly, placing Robbie's drink in front of him with straw. I already told him about the straw escapade before, so he discreetly pushed it to the side.
"No prob, I saw you take care of them. I figured you had other stuff to do."
"But still. Not cool."
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine Cat." He smiled at me.
He's trying to give me a bit of a break.
That's what he did last time he ate here while I was working.
He's so sweet.
"Ok. What would you like?" I asked, trying to put some pep into my voice.
I am kind of tired.
"I'll have the number five, medium rare please."
"French fries?"
"Yes please." He smiled.
"Ok." I said, bending down to get his menu.
"It might take a bit. The cook is being difficult today." I whispered.
"Ok. Don't worry. I'll be fine."
"I'll get it here as soon as I can." I promised.
"Take your time."
I reluctantly walked back to table five, where I'm pretty sure I annoyed them just by doing my job. Not my fault, it is my job.
One #5, medium rare
Fries (XL)
I pinned the order sheet onto the spinner and sent it back to the kitchen.
"What did you think of table four?" Allie smiled at me.
"He's alright. Nice biceps."
Very nice biceps.
"I might go see if he wants my number." She mused.
No!
"What? Why is it such a bad idea?"
Did I say that aloud?
CRAP!
"Huh? Did I say something?"
"Yeah." Allie looked at me suspiciously. "You yelped 'NO!'. Why?"
"Uhh…"
If I lie she gives him her number.
If I tell the truth, she'll descend on him and gush her compliments.
"That's my boyfriend." I cringe.
"What? Really? That's awesome! Did he come to see you?"
"Yeah."
Time for me to check if he needs a refill. Nice timing.
"That's so sweet!"
"Yeah, I guess." I mumbled, walking away and to his table.
"Refill?" I asked, causing him to look up from his phone, where he had the app pearBook open.
"Sure."
I grabbed his glass, refilled it and walked right back.
I'm really trying to repress my smile. I don't think I'm having much luck though.
"Need anything else?" I asked, as he looked up again.
"Nope. I'm good." He smiled at me.
"Ok. Let me know if you need something."
Five time.
"Everything going good over here?" I smiled. Enthusiastic nodding and smiles sent me onto table seven.
Finally…they're ready for the ticket. I hate teenagers. They don't know how to tip. Or be respectful.
I know whenever Robbie and I go out I always make sure he tips at least 15%. Preferably more, because usually you have at least one table per day that shortchanges you.
"Whew." I sigh, getting back to the foyer off of the kitchen.
"Your boyfriend's food is almost ready. I can cover for you if you want to talk for a minute or two." Christina offered, looking over in his general direction.
"That would be really nice. Thanks." I smiled at her.
"That means you cover the 6:30 to 7 rush."
Phoo.
"Can I cover later?" I asked, trying to avoid that rush. It's always torture. The worst of the worst, and everyone picks up an extra table.
Obviously somebody bailed.
"Nope. I need you for the rush."
"Ok, fine…" I said, grabbing his burger and fries.
"Need help?"
"Nope." I said, grabbing a tray along with some ketchup and walked towards table four.
Bum bum bum.
I get to sit with him while he eats!
EEEEEEPPP!
"Hey, it's hot, be careful." I smiled, placing his food in front of him and sidling into the booth across from him.
"Thanks…you on break?" He asked, grabbing the salt.
He loves salt on his fries. Good thing he works out, it's very unhealthy.
"Kind of…my manager is letting me sit with you." I smiled, stealing one of his fries.
They look delicious,
He smiled briefly before taking a bite.
"Mmm. My compliments to the difficult chef." He said quietly.
"Hehe."
He's hilarious.
"Glad you like it." I smiled, snatching another fry.
"So, things going ok today? Any lousy tippers?"
"Nope…just the usual monotony. You know how it is. What have you been up to?" I asked.
God these fries are great. At this rate I'll have to put in another order for him if I keep eating them.
Good luck in stopping me. If he tries I might bite his finger. Lovingly of course.
"Nothing really. Took Lizzie to tumbling and bumped into Trina and Cannon."
"Oh! How are they?" I asked excitedly. I haven't seen them in forever.
"Great, Cannon still has the blonde hair." He smiled.
"Really? Wow. Wonder where in the family he gets it?"
"Probably the dad." He said flatly, taking another big bite.
Damn.
I totally didn't think of that.
Poor Trina. Hopefully she still doesn't remember the father. Otherwise cute little Cannon might…
I don't want to think about that anymore.
"Anything else?" I asked, diverting the conversation from those dangerous waters.
"Nah, not really. Taking Lizzie home and picking up a lawn mower for Mom and Dad."
"Just your average Saturday." I monotoned, causing him to laugh.
"Just another boring weekend. When do you get off?" He smiled at me.
"After 7 now, Christina bossed me into staying for the dinner rush." I frowned.
"You can't get out of it?"
"Nope."
"Well, that'll reduce the tip."
"Robbie!" I said, half mad.
That's my money he's pocketing! That's not fair!
"What? Your tip will be at home, no skin off your back." He said, taking another bite.
Oh.
"But my tip is supposed to go to everyone."
"And it will be, just not as big as it would have been if I included your share." He said placidly.
"You don't have to, the money is going to you anyway." I admitted.
That was the whole point of working here. I have to pay him back for him covering for me all those times.
"It's more the principle instead of the methodology sweetheart."
"If you say so…" I concede.
I don't want this to blow up, so I'll just bring it up later.
"I say so. Promise." He smiled at me.
He has such a nice, sincere smile. It always makes me want to smile.
"Thanks for eating with me sweetheart. I appreciate it."
There's that smile again.
"No problem…want to do it again after I get off work?" I asked.
"Sounds like a plan. That was good by the way."
"Good. I'm glad." I smiled back.
…
I don't want him to leave…he made my day just by showing up. And then turned my gloomy outlook into a awesome day.
Phoo.
"See you at home?" He asked, moving his plate to the side.
"Yeah, can we practice the lines for rehearsal on Monday later too?" I asked.
"Sure." He said, handing me his credit card and pushing some bills towards me.
The dreaded short tip.
"I'll go take care of this."
I popped up and walked to the back.
Table five is gone. I think my share there went down…oh well.
I know I have a big tip coming to me.
"You guys are cute." Allie smiled, as I ran his credit card and put the bills under the till.
"Thanks." I said, as his ticket ran.
"Here you go." Allie smiled, handing me two or three of the special chocolate mints that we give out to 'special' guests.
"Thanks." I smiled, taking them and heading back to Robbie.
"Sign please." I said, extending the receipt and pen. He took them, and I surreptitiously placed the mints to his left.
"Gift from the hostess?" He asked, not looking up.
"Yep."
"I'll be sure to thank her." He said, handing back the receipt.
I quickly kissed him on the lips and smiled. "Thanks for making my day."
"Any time…you know that. I'll catch you later." He smiled, standing.
I walked him to the door. The only downside was the Christina followed us most of the way.
The second Robbie was out of earshot she snipped "That's a $50 fine. You know the rules."
No PDA while on duty.
"Fine…it's not like you're gonna make me regret it or anything." I said.
This is kind of payback for when she got busted kissing up her boyfriend and she said flippantly 'I don't regret it'.
"True. It's not like I can take it away or anything. But you just got two new tables." She frowned at me.
Break's over I guess.
"On in captain."
I picked up five or six menus and started towards my new tables.
Buzz Buzz.
New text message.
I powered thru the intro to both tables, which have a combo of seven people. Not too bad I guess.
Allie had a cloudy look in her eye as I discreetly checked my phone while waiting for the drinks to fill up.
"Add $50 to your tip. Fine be damned. I'll kiss you where I want thank you very much :). Love you sunshine.-Robbie"
Take that Christina.
I have Robbie.
I don't care who your stupid boyfriend is, no WAY he's as amazing as Robbie is.