Twisted Perfection

left side tables one through six. The right side is a harder morning crowd. A lot of regulars. Don’t want to throw you to the dogs just yet.”
    “Thanks,” I replied.
    “No problem. I want you to stick around. We can’t keep good help.”

    I managed to only forget only one thing and it was the apple butter for table three’s toast. Luckily, they had been good with the slip up and still tipped me twenty percent. Not bad. In Dallas you rarely saw twenty percent tips from men over sixty. I was about to cash out and end my shift when Violet came in smiling.
    “You got a hot table. Three of the fab four are sitting at their regular table, number two. Woods isn’t with them so they’ll flirt and Grant’s there today so enjoy. They are so yummy to look at. I gotta run. My tables are clear and Jimmy will be here for the lunch shift.”
    She bounded out the door and I was stuck there looking out toward the dining room. I wasn’t ready to face Grant or any of them just yet. Last night was still too fresh.
    I wanted to run again. I had to stop this. I grabbed my tray and pitcher of ice water and made my way out to them. Thad, Grant, and Jace were all talking and not paying any attention to me approaching Good.
    Grant’s eyes lifted to meet my gaze and he smiled that slow sexy smirk thing he had going on. “I’m real glad to see you here this morning,” he replied.
    He knew. Crap. Did they all know?
    “It’s my job,” I replied. “What can I get y’all to drink?”
    “You sure make that uniform look good,” Thad replied leaning forward with his gaze on my chest and not my face.
    “Shut up,” Grant said and shot him a disgusted look. “I want some coffee, black.”
    “Coffee for me too but I need two creams and a sugar,” Jace replied.
    “A tall glass of milk,” Thad said.
    “Put it in a damn bottle because he’s acting like he needs one,” Jace said, rolling his eyes.
    “I’ll be a baby if she wants me to, a big ‘ol titty baby,” Thad replied with a wink.
    “You’re an ass.” Jace shook his head.
    I didn’t wait for any more comments. I headed back to the kitchen to fix their drinks. I was positive that Thad was not someone I wanted to mess around with. He was cute but I had a feeling he could get annoying.
    When I got back out to their table Woods had joined them. I kept my smile polite and served the other guys their drinks.
    “Mr. Kerrington, what can I get for you sir?”
    I managed to look at him as I asked but I didn’t miss Grant’s eyebrows shooting up.
“Coffee black, please.” He barely glanced at me as he said it and went back to talking to Jace.
    “Are the rest of you ready to order?”
    Grant leaned forward and I was thankful to have someone to focus my eyes on. I felt silly trying not to look in Woods’ direction.
    “I don’t know about them but I’m starving,” he replied. “Bring me a burger; medium, loaded, and have Juan put that special sauce on it.”
    “Same thing for me,” Thad piped up.
    I forced my attention in the direction of Jace and Woods. Jace looked at me. “Bethy made me a late breakfast so I’m good with the coffee.”
    The thought of looking at Woods made my stomach hurt. I hated feeling awkward around him now. But he was my boss. So, I held my fake smile and looked his way. “And for you?”
    Woods finally met my gaze but only briefly. “Nothing thanks, I have a lunch date.”
    With his fiancée, no doubt. I nodded and headed for the kitchen.
    “I so want to tap that,” Thad said as I walked away.
    “Shut up,” Grant snapped.
    When I brought Woods coffee I managed to get away without any more interaction with him.
    Jimmy sauntered in and I breathed a sigh of relief.
    “Jimmy, I will give you half my tips today if you change sections with me right now.”
    Jimmy cocked one of his perfectly plucked eyebrows and stared at me like I was crazy. “Girl, I’m not taking half your tips. What’s wrong with the section you’re in?”
I didn’t want to tell him about Woods. I thought about it a second then said, “Those guys make me nervous and I don’t like waiting on Mr. Kerrington. Please,” I finished with a final plea.
    He rolled his eyes and tied on his apron. “Fine. We can change sides but I got one through seven. You get eight through fourteen. You’re still new and need to earn more tables.”
    I nodded. “Of course, thank you.”
    “I think I’m gonna like you. About time Woods hired another server I like working