Toxic: Logan's Story (Torn #4)(75)

“He what? That *! I’m so sorry, Claire,” Junie said.

I looked up to see her brown eyes had filled with anger.

“Don’t apologize. There’s nothing you or anyone could have done to stop him. We both knew it was coming.”

“You could call in and report him though. I mean, he’s still getting paid for this month even though you’re eighteen.”

“And then what happens if Child Protective Services decide Tammy and Rick aren’t suitable foster parents? Shelly, Kevin, and Jerimiah would be pulled and possibly put into a house that could be ten times worse. Rick’s an ass, but he’d never hurt them. I won’t be the reason they’re sent to a horrible home,” I said as I stared at her.

She sighed. “Fine, I see your point, but it’s still not right. What are you going to do?”

I shrugged. “I have no clue. I guess I’ll just keep saving my tips until I can afford a place to stay. My car is fine for now since it’s summer, but I’ll have to find somewhere to stay before winter hits.”

“I wish you could stay with me, but I have no room,” she said, clearly upset over the fact that she couldn’t help me.

“Don’t worry about it, Junie. I’ll be fine. I just need you to promise me that this doesn’t leave the two of us. I don’t want anyone to know what’s going on with me. It’s embarrassing.”

“Claire…” She bit her lip.

“Junie, please,” I begged.

“Fine. I won’t say anything. I just wish I could help you somehow.”

“Don’t worry about it. Just focus on taking caring of your kiddos. They need you more than I do.”

She gave me a weak smile before walking over to a family that had just walked in. I watched as she led them to a table and handed them menus. I smiled as I watched the mom pick her baby up out of the portable car seat and cradle the baby in her arms. A wave of sadness swept over me as I thought of all the things I’d missed out on with my own mother. I just hoped that this baby would have a better life than I had.

The rest of the morning went by quickly. By the end of my shift, I was dragging. Once my last table was cleared, I walked into the back room and grabbed my purse. I headed out to the front and waved at Sarah, the waitress taking over my tables. She waved back before turning her attention to the two guys she was waiting on.

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

My feet screamed at me to run away, but I couldn’t do that to Rob. 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 I 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 her tables as well as mine. 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 I knew kept away several potential customers, but we were constantly busy with families. Most of them had tipped well, and I ended the day with almost one-hundred dollars in tips. I smiled when I realized I would be eating something besides artery-clogging hamburgers 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.”

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

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

The tables were clean, the condiments and shakers were filled up, and the floor was mopped, so 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.

When I glanced up from my salad, I noticed two guys watching me from a few tables over. Both of them were good-looking from what I could tell. They were around my age, so they were probably students at West Virginia University. Morgantown was a college town through and through, and the streets were 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 they had been 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.