Page 33 of Moonlight Hearts

Dwayne grunt-nodded.“Good.Everyone here’s aware we will be closed this coming Monday?”

Kasey’s snakes writhed.“Yes!No work!”

Dwayne pointed his chin at Kasey.“You see?That’s the reaction, kid.You emulate that.”

“Yeah, yeah.I get it.Hooray for time off.”

“Aww, boss, we’ll miss you on the late shift,” Kasey said.

Dwayne huffed.“Calling him boss now?”

Kasey flipped three pancakes in quick succession.“Always did.You’re the great-boss.Or uber-boss?One of those.Amory’s the regular boss.The all-around boss.”

“Yeah, right.You two have fun.I’m out.”

And off he went, leaving through the front and stopping by the counter to introduce himself to Thaeros.I heard them talking, but it was too loud in the kitchen for me to catch the entire conversation, not that I wanted to eavesdrop.I just wanted to get a sense of whether Thaeros simply didn’t like me or if he was on the rude side with everyone.He probably wasn’t like that with Soyer, but then again Soyer had that reputation he was so proud of.It didn’t encourage anyone being rude to him.

Either way, for the time being, I had to focus on the onions.It became increasingly difficult to see, but I wasn’t going to give up.

Just when I thought I’d gotten somewhat proficient at chopping things, Kasey had suggested I take a break while he made quick work of some veg.I was glad, and I took the opportunity to wash my face in the staff bathroom.In there, with the door locked, I pulled out my phone and took a photo of myself in the mirror to send to Soyer, and along with it texted him:

Rough day.

His answer came fast.

WTF, what happened?Are you all right?Ben?

It probably wasn’t funny, but the reaction still made me smile.

Calm down

I was just helping out in the kitchen, chopping onions.

I think I learned something about chopping onions.

The fuck are you doing in the kitchen?

Your new manager got here, they wanted to work, I didn’t have anything to do, helped Kasey in the kitchen.

??

Did just leaving not occur to you?Rhetorical, I know it didn’t.

You can leave though, let Thaeros take over.

Typical Soyer right there, but he wasn’t going to get me to slack off.

He doesn’t have a uniform, and I have to tell Rae they got a raise.Don’t you want me to bring you cherry pie later?

I waited for a few seconds before sending the text, wondering whether I should ask about where he’d found Thaeros, about whether he was sure Thaeros would be okay working here.But I didn’t.Both Dwayne and Soyer had told me to show the new person what it was like to work here.That made them my responsibility.

I’m always looking forward to you bringing me pie, but keep in mind that to-go exists.

But I won’t argue with you, my heart.I’m just saying it’s an option.

Not really, and I’ll save a slice for you, how about that?

I have been looking forward to that all afternoon.And to seeing you.