Read Online On the Rocks (Pub Fiction Book 2) by Gillian Jones - Free Book Online
Authors: Gillian Jones
Tags: Fiction
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don’t know, Levi. I brought a sandwich, it’s back in the staffroom. I can just eat here and meet you in, like, what—forty-five minutes?”
“You’re coming for lunch with me, Scrappy. Don’t give me a hard time. Besides, it’ll be my treat and will give us a chance to get to know each other a little better. I do like to take the time to get to know my staff. I treated Shelby to a coffee next door the other day, too, so think of it as a getting-to-know-you employment opportunity.” With that, he smiled, and I hated the feeling in the pit of my stomach from Levi having given another girl his attention.
Saluting him, I ran back and grabbed my purse because there was no way I was letting him pay.
Walking into Sal’s Diner, my senses were immediately put on overdrive. The scent of frying beef and the grease from the fresh-cut fires infiltrated my nostrils, and caused my stomach to growl so loudly I think everyone in the vicinity could hear it. The décor was your typical 50’s-style diner, with old movie memorabilia scattered throughout. Each booth and table were adorned with jukeboxes and I couldn’t wait to see if they actually worked.
I saw Levi looking a bit anxious as I took in the place, as if he was worried I’d be disappointed eating here.
“It’s so cool in here,” I said. “How have I missed this place?” I know how, lack of money to waste on eating out and the demands of being a full-time student and mom. Yep, that’ll do it.
We grabbed a booth by the window and I immediately started flipping through the songs on the jukebox. “Here,” Levi placed a quarter on the table. “You can choose two and I’ll choose the third. Better pick good ones, Braunwyn, this is a test.”
I paused, staring at him for a second, his easiness unexpected. I went to thank him but the server interrupted me, so I just nodded and turned back to the list.
“What will it be, Levi?” she asked.
I looked back over. “I take it you come here often.”
“Oh, honey, this boy has been coming here since the day the sold sign went up on the building. It’s just nice seeing him bring another human with him today—rather than just his laptop. I’m always telling him to go get himself a good girl to share my burgers with. I swear, the only other people Levi ever brings around are his brother and his lovely mother.”
“Enough, Sal, thanks. We’re ready to order,” Levi pretended to scold her, and tried to hide his embarrassment.
“Oh, you’re ‘Sal’?” I blurted, feeling stupid, already knowing the answer to the question.
“Yeah, I figured it would be fun to mess people up. Sal is short for Sally,” she beamed and I told her how I could relate with my nickname being Braun.
“I just experienced that with your pal, Levi, here. He thought I was a guy when I came in for my interview.”
Sal nodded her head in his direction, and muttered something about getting with the times and I couldn’t help but giggle a bit. In the end, I told her to surprise me with her favourite burger, as long as it had cheese on it, and a Coke.
I overheard her whisper in Levi’s ear, “I like her already,” before she walked away. I smiled and I dropped the quarter in the jukebox, having found my two song choices.
“So, you’re local, right?” Levi asked, just as the music to “Tequila” by The Champs came blasting out the tiny speakers at our table.
“Get it? I chose ‘Tequila’ cause you—well, we—work at a bar.” I giggled at how corny I was but I have to admit it felt good to loosen up a bit, to be silly. To begin to be myself.
If Levi thought I was weird or lame he didn’t let on at all. “I love this song, but don’t you dare tell anyone, ’cause I’ll deny, deny, deny. I could lose cool points for admitting to such things.”
He dumped a bunch of quarters from his front pocket onto the red-and-white tabletop.
“Let’s play a little game. Shall we?” He raised his eyebrows mischievously before
“You’re coming for lunch with me, Scrappy. Don’t give me a hard time. Besides, it’ll be my treat and will give us a chance to get to know each other a little better. I do like to take the time to get to know my staff. I treated Shelby to a coffee next door the other day, too, so think of it as a getting-to-know-you employment opportunity.” With that, he smiled, and I hated the feeling in the pit of my stomach from Levi having given another girl his attention.
Saluting him, I ran back and grabbed my purse because there was no way I was letting him pay.
Walking into Sal’s Diner, my senses were immediately put on overdrive. The scent of frying beef and the grease from the fresh-cut fires infiltrated my nostrils, and caused my stomach to growl so loudly I think everyone in the vicinity could hear it. The décor was your typical 50’s-style diner, with old movie memorabilia scattered throughout. Each booth and table were adorned with jukeboxes and I couldn’t wait to see if they actually worked.
I saw Levi looking a bit anxious as I took in the place, as if he was worried I’d be disappointed eating here.
“It’s so cool in here,” I said. “How have I missed this place?” I know how, lack of money to waste on eating out and the demands of being a full-time student and mom. Yep, that’ll do it.
We grabbed a booth by the window and I immediately started flipping through the songs on the jukebox. “Here,” Levi placed a quarter on the table. “You can choose two and I’ll choose the third. Better pick good ones, Braunwyn, this is a test.”
I paused, staring at him for a second, his easiness unexpected. I went to thank him but the server interrupted me, so I just nodded and turned back to the list.
“What will it be, Levi?” she asked.
I looked back over. “I take it you come here often.”
“Oh, honey, this boy has been coming here since the day the sold sign went up on the building. It’s just nice seeing him bring another human with him today—rather than just his laptop. I’m always telling him to go get himself a good girl to share my burgers with. I swear, the only other people Levi ever brings around are his brother and his lovely mother.”
“Enough, Sal, thanks. We’re ready to order,” Levi pretended to scold her, and tried to hide his embarrassment.
“Oh, you’re ‘Sal’?” I blurted, feeling stupid, already knowing the answer to the question.
“Yeah, I figured it would be fun to mess people up. Sal is short for Sally,” she beamed and I told her how I could relate with my nickname being Braun.
“I just experienced that with your pal, Levi, here. He thought I was a guy when I came in for my interview.”
Sal nodded her head in his direction, and muttered something about getting with the times and I couldn’t help but giggle a bit. In the end, I told her to surprise me with her favourite burger, as long as it had cheese on it, and a Coke.
I overheard her whisper in Levi’s ear, “I like her already,” before she walked away. I smiled and I dropped the quarter in the jukebox, having found my two song choices.
“So, you’re local, right?” Levi asked, just as the music to “Tequila” by The Champs came blasting out the tiny speakers at our table.
“Get it? I chose ‘Tequila’ cause you—well, we—work at a bar.” I giggled at how corny I was but I have to admit it felt good to loosen up a bit, to be silly. To begin to be myself.
If Levi thought I was weird or lame he didn’t let on at all. “I love this song, but don’t you dare tell anyone, ’cause I’ll deny, deny, deny. I could lose cool points for admitting to such things.”
He dumped a bunch of quarters from his front pocket onto the red-and-white tabletop.
“Let’s play a little game. Shall we?” He raised his eyebrows mischievously before
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