"You're kidding. You're the only guy I know who likes to hear the bad news first."
"Well, I guess Iama realist."
"Pessimist is more like it. Well, here's the bad news. I'm down two waitresses at theOrchid."
"Holy cow. How did that happen?"
"Well, one of the floor waitresses has broken her leg. Cherise has gone to see her at the hospital."
"Oh heck. And the other?"
"She quit. Says she's got a baby on the way."
"Typical," I said. "Well, can't be helped, I suppose. She actually quit?"
"Yeah, Marla. You know, the wine pro? Her boyfriend's Arnie Arlington. Runs that fancy cocktail bar on Lexington?"
"Right. I thought so. So, who do we know who can serve tables and knows a bit about wine?"
"Well, I'm coming to the good news. I saw a lady today who'd be absolutely perfect for this job. Only, she doesn't seem too keen to come and work for me after that business on the stairs this afternoon."
I groaned. "You mean Lola, don't you."
"That's the one. Hey, 'Lex?"
"Yeah?"
"I know this ain't my business, but, uh...what's up with you and her?"
"What do you mean?" I said.
"Well, like I said, it ain't my business. But, it seemed like she was scared of you or something. Like she knew you. Never had someone just run out of a job interview like that before. Like I said, she was real good with everything."
I suppressed a growl. I didn't want to lie. But then again, I couldn't exactly tell him the truth, either.
"It's no big deal. We had a run-in a few years back. Anyway, Lola doesn't really like me."
"What? Is she your ex-girlfriend or something?"
"No, no," I said. "Nothing like that."
"Worked somewhere before? Skipped out on you or something?"
"It's not that," I said. "I met her. On vacation. And she, uh...let's just say, she has a firm dislike of me."
"Well, is there any way you could get her to un-dislike you? We're open for lunch tomorrow but I don't think I can get someone down to trial in time. Plus, she's good, man. Like I said. I think she's got potential."
"Zeke..." I sighed.
"Come on, tough guy. Don't tell me the man who can benchpress 500lbs is scared of calling up a girl to ask about a job?"
"Okay. Fine. Have it your way."
"You're the champ. Speak later, I gotta close."
"Have a good night, Zeke. I'll see you next week."
"You too, buddy. Hey, you wanna watch Monday Night Football or something this week? Feels like it's been ages since I saw you anywhere but the Blue."
"I wish I could. But it's been a while since I took a look at any of my stocks and bonds. Think I'm gonna be pretty busy."
"Figures."
"Take care, buddy."
"You too, man."
I put the phone down, and braced myself for what was coming.
Zeke had texted me Lola's phone number, along with a silly emoji. I called it, and felt my body tense.
Two rings. Three rings. Nothing.
Then, the receiver clicked.
"Hello?""Lola? Is that you?"
"Alex?" I heard a rustling sound, as though she was running over to the other side of a room.
"How did you get this number?"
"Uh, Zeke gave it to me. He wanted me to speak to you."
"About what, Alex? And why did you storm out this afternoon?"
"I didn't storm..." I snarled. And then, I took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry about the way our meeting ended," I said, suppressing my anger. "But the truth is, Zeke thinks you'd be great for the job atThe Blue Orchid."
"I don't think I can."
"Zeke says-"
"I don't care what Zeke thinks. What I care about is you, Alex. You're the issue. Not Zeke."
I frowned, and looked down. I was practically clenching my fist, trying to rein in my temper.
"Lola, it's a great job."
"And?"
"And the salary's good."
"You think the money is the issue?"
"No. But if it is, we can talk about that."
"How would you feel, seeing me every day?"
I knew what Lola meant. We hadn't discussed it openly, but neither of us could deny the force of attraction between us. I'd missed her. Had she missed me too?
And then, it hit me.
How Lola must have felt, when I didn't respond to her all those years ago. When I paid her off to keep quiet, when I ignored her request for help. I felt crushed. I thought I'd been feeling guilty about sleeping with a young girl on vacation all those years. But what I was really guilty about was ignoring her. I took a deep breath.
"I know that what I did was wrong," I said, in as even and measured a tone as I could muster. "But I want to make it right. I want to show you that there's more to me than that. I know I ran off on you. But this job's going to be the perfect chance to-"
"-If the next word that comes out of your mouth is 'reconnect,' I swear..."
I cleared my throat. For someone who hated me, Lola sure was good at reading my mind.