Fallen Fourth Down (Fallen Crest #4) (31 page)

Our boss, Bob, came barreling out of his office and headed straight for me. “Claire, I need a favor,” he said when he stopped in front of me.

“Sure. What’s up?” I asked.

“I hate to ask you this, but can you work the evening shift, too? Stacey just called off. I’d ask Junie, but I know she has to pick her boys up from the sitter.”

My feet screamed at me to run away, but I couldn’t do that to Bob. Plus, I needed the extra money.

“Of course I’ll stay.” I smiled at him.

“Thank you. I owe you one, Claire. Don’t think that I haven’t noticed how hard you’ve been working lately.”

I nodded. “I try. I’d better go put my purse away and head back out onto the floor before Sarah gets overrun.”

He nodded before turning and walking back into his office. I hurried to the back room and shoved my purse in my locker. After making a quick stop in the restroom, I walked out onto the floor. Sarah was running back and forth, trying to take care of my new tables as well as hers. I gave her an apologetic smile before heading to my side.

By the time my second shift was over, I could barely walk. It was a Friday night, and we’d been especially busy. The diner didn’t serve alcohol, which kept away several potential customers, but we were constantly busy with families. Most of them would tip well, and I ended the day with almost a hundred dollars in tips. I smiled when I realized I would be eating something besides an artery-clogging hamburger when I left. I might even splurge on a salad.

“I’m beat,” Sarah said as we wiped down all the tables. “I don’t know how you’re still standing. You’ve been here since we opened.”

“Sheer will and determination. Plus, I made a ton of tips today.”

“Nice. Go buy yourself something pretty.” She high-fived me as she walked by.

I laughed and smacked her on the butt with my towel.

Once the tables were clean, the condiments and shakers filled up, and the floor mopped, I walked to the back room and grabbed my purse. After shoving my cash inside, I told everyone good night and headed out to my car.

I drove across town to Denny’s and ordered the salad I’d been desperately craving. I even ordered a Coke instead of water. I was a splurging fool tonight.

I glanced up from my salad and noticed two guys watching me from a few tables over. Both of them were good-looking, and they appeared to be around my age. I guessed they were probably students at West Virginia University. Morgantown was a college town through and through, and the streets were usually crawling with kids. I assumed that these two were local since most of the students had packed up and headed home for summer vacation.

One of them noticed me staring, and he gave me a smile that sent my heart racing into overdrive. Suddenly embarrassed by my gawking, I looked away and used my blonde hair as a shield between them and me.

I’d had a few dates in high school but nothing to get excited over. I wasn’t a virgin—I’d lost that to Scott Marks my junior year—but I definitely wasn’t skilled when it came to the opposite sex. One time in the backseat of Scott’s dad’s Ford truck didn’t really teach me everything I needed to know. Or anything I needed to know, really.

I quickly ate my food and paid my bill without looking over at the guys’ table again. My life was a disaster as it was. Adding a guy would only complicate things more.

I walked out to my car and unlocked the door before climbing inside. Once the doors were locked again, I started the engine and pulled away from the lot.

I couldn’t help but grin as I remembered the guy’s smile. From what I could tell, he’d been cute. His dark brown hair was shaggy, but it wasn’t so long that it looked messy. His arms were toned, probably from playing football or basketball. Those were the only two sports people really cared about around here, and football was the favorite. Once football season hit, that was what everyone would talk about. I wasn’t a big fan of sports, but even I cheered for the Mountaineers.

I drove back to the restaurant and parked, trying not to think about the cute guy or his smile. I yawned and reclined my seat. Yeah, there was no way in hell I could think about boys right now.