P

es. Joe hasn't come out of his office once, so it's been up to Jamm

arly - reruns of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, his favorite show and the reason he named

the counter, trying not to think about the guy who came in tonig

fidence he had, the kind that makes everyone else in the room feel smaller. Not even the wa

take tomorrow off, like he was genuinely worried

that something bad is goin

em. Usually, it's just Joe having private meetings in his office. People slip i

steady one I've had since moving to Chicago, and high school

learn proper Italian. That's the goal - get a q

bar scrubbing at the sticky surface that will never look clean no mat

five years ago, the snacks could probably kill someone, and I'm pretty sur

d I actually take tomorrow off? I need the money, but the way he s

room, it'll be time to go. I make up

start knocking - louder this time.

I call through the door, heart racing.

at me. "On a Friday night? You'

a night off.

Most of us don't compla

m behind me. "If she wants a ni

the whole shift

, no,

nting at us. "Or don't bother coming back at all." Then he slams the d

n usual?" She grabs her big black coat from the hook. "Come on, let's leave t

Her cab's already waiting. "See you

ent. When I open the door, Aria waves

date tonight," I say,

saster. He bro

"You're

met up with Ted from accounting again. Still awful. So me and Mr. Walmart made other plans. I got coffee

have more sex in a week th

an yours. You're out here waiting for Mr.

need to be a

ential. Me and Lamuel

till weird that you nam

ngland? Until we find decent guys, it's just us and the plastic

ro

e and getting nothing while your love

ic

g, "enough about my romanti

still thinking about the stranger from

a teases.

t som

oot up. "And wh

d of guy who never smiles. He asked my name

fee in front of me, smir

le of times,

pointing at me. "Why doesn't that version ever show up a

rent around you. We

lf with me but not wi

act

pril. You should've dragged him into the bat

at's your way of

p of coffee, hiding a grin. "So

thi

u, something def

But you'll say I'm

w till you

.. there wa

are guys every night. Wh

, for st

inch, grinning like a cat. "Go on. Th

it. Short dark hair

suit? Bi

y, smiling in