Page 30 of Moonlight Hearts

I really wished Soyer were here.“I don’t really think we’re boring, but yes.We serve food and we take care of our patrons.”

“I didn’t mean to offend you.I recognized the cook.He used to work elsewhere.”

“Kasey?He’s a sous chef, actually.”I remembered how Kasey had asked me something along those same lines and relaxed minutely.“No, we’re just a diner.Just food.”No…murder.

“But no cocktails?”

“We’re a family diner.”

“Some families enjoy cocktails.I don’t judge.”

“No cocktails.”

“Hmm.”He looked at me, blinking lashes so long that I wondered whether they were real.“You’re different from how I thought you’d be.”

“Excuse me?”

“I mean that as a compliment.Most people like me.You don’t.You don’t need to worry though.Speaking strictly, in the metaphorical sense, I’m not going to burn this place to the ground.”He shrugged.“Even if you insist on the uniform.I can show you, if you want, take over this shift for you.If you’re okay with me not wearing a uniform, that is.”

I had no illusions about being the best at reading other people, but after working at the Moonlight for as long as I had, I liked to think I was at least decent in most situations.Yet Thaeros stumped me.I had no idea if he hated me, if he hated being here, or if he was trying to be nice.I wished Jenny or Rosa were here.I wanted to get Dwayne, but I was the manager, and he had told me to show Thaeros everything they needed to know.

“You’ll have to memorize the menu first.”

“The one on your home page?I did that.”They leaned back against the bench, looking bored.“Just show me how your billing system works.”

“Billing—we use a notepad and the register.The card reader is in Dwayne’s office.”

“A notepad?Like, paper?”

I pulled mine out of my apron.“Yup.Old school.”

“Oh, fuck me.Fine.Pen and paper.Fine.”He turned his attention to the saltshaker, tapping it with his pretty nail.It needed to be refilled, and it bugged me that he seemed to have noticed before I had.

They didn’t look the least bit thrilled about the prospect of getting to work though.I wouldn’t have minded a slight upgrade in the payment area as well, but it was what it was.He was also the new guy, and it wasn’t like anyone was forcing him to work here.

I smiled at him like Rosa had taught me to do with difficult customers.“I understand if this isn’t what you expected.If you’d rather not take the job, I’m sure we can find someone else.”

“Can you fire me?Oh, that would be nice.”He sighed.“Amory, I don’t think you can fire me.”

I had no idea what his deal was, and I didn’t want to judge him, I really didn’t.I would be the first person to admit that the way a person acted wasn’t always how they were.I didn’t know what Thaeros had going on at home, in his life, but he was going to be responsible for the diner, Dwayne’s diner, and the people working here, our regulars.

I kept up the difficult customer smile.“You haven’t even started yet.Really, I don’t think anyone would want to force you, Thaeros.”

He leaned forward, going into intense eye contact all over again.

“Could you get me a pen and a notepad?Maybe an apron?Please?Give me a chance, at least.”

A chance.Dwayne had given me a chance too.More than that, in fact.I owed it to him to pay it forward, maybe owed it to myself too.

“Okay, fine.But you’ll have to check with Ant and Levi about their tables.”

He nodded.“Sure.Works for me.”

He stood and fluffed his hair, running both hands through it before making his way behind the counter.

It wasn’t confidence-inspiring at all, but at least I was here, and if this really didn’t work out, I’d tell Soyer when he came in later.Thaeros could have his chance until then.

I headed through to the back and knocked on Dwayne’s door.