Chapter 6:
I climb down the stairs after a quick shower and slipping into my black jeans and white shirt with the Merlotte's insignia on the left breast.
"Good morning!" Sookie says from her seat at the table, watching the news while sipping her coffee. "I left your breakfast and coffee on the counter."
"Thanks!" I say as I grab it off the counter and claim my seat across from her. "How'd you sleep?"
"Good, you?"
"I slept ok; Eric didn't leave until three in the morning." I say with a sigh, remembering that I never got to call Ryan.
Sookie laughs, "Why so late?"
"He said he wanted to 'get to know me' among other things." I say and take a sip of my coffee. "I told him he was spoiled."
"How'd that go over?"
"He kissed me." Embarrassment fills my cheeks and Sookie laughs. "He said that I will give into him eventually."
"Typical Eric."
"I think he has a thing for telepaths and telepaths don't have a thing for Eric."
"I think you're right. I also think it's because he can't glamour us"
"I mean, he's cute, but I would hate to give into him and then he gets bored and drops me like the other women that 'take him up on his offers'."
"I know what you mean, I'm glad Bill isn't like that. I miss him so much."
"We're going to bring him back, Sookie. No doubt about it."
She gives a weak smile, "Thanks Zoey, I hope you're right."
"I am right." I say, confidently, "I'm always right."
"Are you sure you and Eric wouldn't work out?"
We laugh at that for a minute and finish our breakfast and go to Merlotte's to start our shift.
The afternoon shift, like Sam said, was light. Just the usual people coming in on there lunch break for a chicken basket or hamburger.
Leave it to Sam Merlotte to hire every crazy that comes into town. The lady I'm serving thinks as I ask her for her order. Apparently, she remembers me from my first night here.
"God, people are so rude." I mutter to myself as I walk off to turn in the order.
"Tell me about it, sugar." The tall, dark cook says to me, obviously noticing that I was a little upset. "I'm Lafayette."
"I'm Zoey, it's my first day."
"Well, welcome to the family, Zoey. Where are you from?"
"Georgia, I'm staying with Sookie for a bit."
"That Sookie, she sure is a sweetheart." He sets the order on the pick-up window with a smile.
"Oh, I know! And thanks!" I take the food and bring it to the table and make my rounds to my other tables and then sit down to text Ryan. It doesn't take long for him to text back. He tells me that everyone is doing ok, he's cool with the plan and he will let everyone know.
Once I finish up my quick text message conversation with my brother, I check my tables and do what I need to do. Before I know it, my shift is over,
"Ready to go?" Sookie asks as she walks up to me, pulling her coat over her shoulders.
"Just about; I just need to get my stuff and talk to Sam about the next couple of days."
"She talked to me about it." Sam says, leaning against the wall. "You guys have to be careful. Please call me if you need me." He says as he walks over and hands me my stuff.
"We will, Sam. Plus Zoey has friends that are shifters and are prepared for this sort of thing."
"Really?"
"Yeah, too much Call of Duty Zombie Mode will do that too you." I say with a slight smile, reminiscing about those days. "We even read the survival guides."
Sam just shook his head and laughs. "I didn't know such books existed."
"I'll bring one back for you."
"Okay, thanks, Zoe." If you make it back
"No problem. And we will be back." I say and put my hand on his shoulder.
He blushes, obviously embarrassed that I heard him think that. "I know…Oh and if you need somewhere to live once you get back, I rent out small houses for cheap."
"I'll talk to you about it once we get back."
"No need to rush, Zoe. I enjoy having you at my house." Sookie says, and I can tell she means it.
"Thanks, I enjoy staying with you, but I know you and Bill will have a lot of catching up to do."
We say our goodbyes to Sam and go back to Sookie's place to have a somewhat peaceful night watching zombie movies.