Page 37 of Die for You

“Don’t make us beg, Rory,” Knox calls to my back.

Against my better judgment, I halt in the doorway to face them. “Beg for what?”

“For you,” Finn says simply.

Their eyes are glued to me like I’m the only person in existence. For once, a small part of me basks in their attention. “Maybe I want men who will beg for me.”

“Good luck gettingtips with that attitude.” Leah, my insufferable coworker, fixes me with her usual smug smile. “Or staying employed.”

I sweep the empty plates and cups in the bus tub with a chaotic clatter. As much as I hate to ever agree with Leah Can-Suck-My-Dick Cummings, she’s probably right that I won’t stay employed long with my attitude. And I sure as hell don’t plan on changing my attitude anytime soon, no matter how much I need this job. Some people need to be told to their faces that they’re assholes.

“Maybe customers should know by now that you don’t fuck with the people who handle your food.”

Leah snorts. “So spit in their soup. But if you’re a bitch, you can kiss your tip goodbye.”

She nods to my table, which is noticeably devoid of cash.

Once upon a time, people actually used to call me sweet. Quiet, polite, evenfriendly.

No one who knows me now would probably have a single nice word to say.

Now I’m the dog who’s been kicked so many times, she growls whenever someone gets too close. She’ll bite your fucking hand off if she has to.

This is how I stay safe.

All of my tables are empty. To be fair, the restaurant is usually pretty dead. Another reason why my job security here istenuous at best. But it’s impossible to ignore that Leah has three tables of happy customers, most of them regulars. When we work shifts together, she walks away with a hundred fifty dollars in her pocket—two hundred if she gets a few horny middle-aged men at her tables—and I’m lucky to scrape together fifty bucks. She knows how to flash a fake smile when she needs to.

When I was with Jeremiah, I used to be able to do the same. Smile when I had to. Keep the peace. Walk on eggshells. But I can’t bring myself to do that anymore.

I vowed to stop living that way when I left Jeremiah. I can’t go back.

I’ll stay here until I’m fired. Then my next job should probably be something that doesn’t involve human interaction.

Before Leah can catch me, I check my phone. A missed call from Barb and another voicemail. I swipe away the notifications and delete the voicemail without listening to it, then block her number. I have no desire to hear anything that woman has to say to me.

The familiar clang of the bell against the door spikes my anxiety. Good old classical conditioning.

“Yours!” Leah calls to me as she heads for the kitchen to collect appetizers for one of her tables.

I sigh, but a glance at one of the beaming faces standing in the doorway fills me with relief.

“Hey, Aurora!” Sienna rushes forward to hug me.

At her side, Juliet is her usual displeased, pursing her lips as she takes in the unimpressive surroundings of wobbly wooden tables, tile floors, and minimal, outdated decor.

“How did you guys know I was here?” I ask them. Juliet quirks a pierced brow at me like I should already know the answer. “Right. My stalkers.”

Whatdon’tFinn, Knox, and Damien know about me? I should just count my blessings that they sent Sienna and Juliethere and haven’t shown up themselves to scowl at every male customer and coworker who interacts with me.

“The guys told us we could find you here,” Sienna confirms. “We thought maybe you could hang out after your shift is over. Girls’ night!”

Sounds like they don’t plan on eating here. That’s for the best. I would’ve had to warn them that I don’t even take my lunch breaks here—I head across the street to the bistro with a reputation for bad burritos and food poisoning.

I have no idea what agirls’ nightentails, but I’m sure it’ll be better than my plans to rewatch a comfort show and pass out by nine. “Um. Sure. My shift’s over in ten.”

Sienna brightens. “Awesome! We were thinking maybe you might want to come with us to the Sigma Chi party on Saturday too?”

“You know I’m not a charity case, right?” I offer her a genuine smile to let her know that even if they’re only inviting me out to be nice or as some kind of favor to the Devils, I appreciate it.