Read Online Coma (Paranormal Romance) by Lilly Mance - Free Book Online

then joined them at the table. Today was no
different.
    “Hi gang, what will it be?” They recited
their orders, and before I went to get them, I whispered: “Today I
get my first paycheck,” and winked. Their eyes watered. I was the
first from our group to get a job, so it was kind of our group's
baby. Maya made a few silent claps with tips of her fingers. There
was one more table to serve, and then I had to meet the manager.
Excitement boiled in me.
    I approached my last table. A large,
overweight man was sitting there, his butt cheeks spilling on each
side of the chair. Poor chair made squeaking sounds as he wiggled
in his seat. His shirt was having a hard time keeping all its
buttons in place. I prayed to God that they would hold on till I
got his order. I'd hate to be in his proximity when that thing
burst.
    “Hi, may I take your order, sir?” He lifted
his gaze from the menu, and a set of two small, squinting eyes met
mine. A cold stare sent a chill down my neck.
    “Three specials, and make 'em bigger than the
last time,” he growled, and returned his gaze back on the menu.
    On my way to the kitchen, I saw Jake getting
out of manager's office, tucking his paycheck in his back pocket.
As he did so, his white shirt spread, revealing a hairy navel. Our
gazes met, and he nodded. I did the same, shaking of the image of
his navel from my mind.
    House specials were lined up on the counter,
so I took three of them and went back to serve the obese gentleman.
I arranged them in front of him in a triangle shape. He took one
glimpse at the plates, and started yelling:
    “What the hell is this?! I told you to make
'em bigger!” He pushed all three of them off the table. Plates came
crashing down, sending pieces of food all over the floor, and I
jerked back, hugging my tray.
    “Is there a problem, sir” I heard Jake's
voice behind my back, but I was too afraid to leave my gaze from
the angry man. Jake put his hands protectively over my shoulders. I
was thankful for the gesture; it made me feel safer.
    “You call these meals? These are kid sized,”
the man continued to yell.
    “Calm down, sir,” Jake continued in a steady
voice. “It's none of my business what you think of our portions,
they're sized for normal people. But it is my business if you take
it out on this innocent girl.” Jake pushed me behind him. I was
surprised to see that my entire body could hide behind his
back.
    “Are you saying I'm not normal?!” The man was
all red in his face, breathing heavily. “I'll sue your ass!”
    “Sure you will,” Jake's voice remained calm.
“Do I need to call the police, or would you like to take it outside
with someone your own size?” Jake's fists clenched, and there was
no doubt in my mind he would use the obese man as a punching
bag.
    The man mumbled something, and went for the
door, but Jake grabbed his shirt from the back, stopping him in
place. Shirt buttons burst, revealing a hideous ball of meat, and
hitting glass windows.
    “Aren't you forgetting something?” Jake
growled. Fear spread over obese man's face. “You were about to pay
and leave this lovely girl a fat tip.” The man nodded, sweat
beads rolling down his forehead. He pulled a fistful of cash from
his pocket, and put it in Jake's hand, then wobbled out the door.
Jake turned around, and said: “Here you go, kid,” handing me the
cash.
    “Thank you,” was all I could say. I felt so
small, but safe. This paternal side of Jake made me reconsider my
view of him. He patted my head, and said:
    “If anything like this happens, someone will
always get me to sort it out. Just make sure you don't get hurt
until I come.” I nodded and gulped. “It doesn't happen often, you
don't have to be afraid.” I smiled with relief, and for the first
time, Jake pulled something similar to a genuine smile. Not quite,
but close enough. Guess his face was not cut out for smiling.
    “Are you okay?” Brad stood up as soon as I
came to our table, and pulled