Leo (A Sign of Love Novel)(18)

Then I head to my bed, set the alarm for six o'clock and lie down. I fall asleep thinking about Jake.

My alarm goes off and I drag myself up. I feel like I could sleep for the rest of the night. But an hour will have to do for now. I pull on my catering uniform, a pair of black slacks and a white button up shirt that is ironed and hanging in my closet. I fold my half apron neatly and put it in my purse.

I brush my hair out and put it back in the low bun I was wearing earlier. I wash my face and brush my teeth and apply a minimal amount of makeup, but go a little darker on the lipstick. After all, this is an evening party and even though I'm working there, I still think I can dress up my face a little bit.

The event doesn't start until eight, but my boss, Tina, likes us to get there an hour early to help set up and load the trays. I head out right at six fifteen, leaving plenty of time to bus it back downtown. I'll get a ride home from one of the other servers after the event ends.

I enter by the back door of the hotel the event is being held at as Tina has instructed and head to the banquet room and the kitchen beyond.

"Evie!" I hear my name shrieked and grin immediately. I would know Landon's voice anywhere. I look up and there he is, fast-walking towards me through the banquet room, all sashaying hips and waving arms. Landon is hilarious, flamboyantly gay and I love him to death. He picks me up and spins me around yelling, "God, I missed you! It's been WAY too long, Fancy Face! The phone is just no substitute. How the hell have you been?"

I'm laughing out loud as he sets me down. "Hey, you're the one who deserted me," I tease. But then I look over at him seriously as we begin walking towards the kitchen. "How's your mom?"

"I left her complaining vehemently about how the woman who came in to clean her house while she was in the hospital did a piss poor job of it. I think I can safely say that she is just fine."

Landon had traveled back to his hometown in Missouri to help out when his mom's MS landed her in the hospital two months ago. He is an only child and his mom and he are extremely close, she accepts him completely and there is nothing he won't do for her. It's a beautiful thing.

"That's great to hear, Lan," I say. I look up at him and smile, taking in his blond good looks.

"And what has my little Fancy Face been up to while I've been gone?" He asks, opening the double doors to the massive hotel kitchen.

"Oh, you know a little of this, a little of that. Working, reading, running, crushing on a really hot guy." I start to walk away, knowing I'll be pulled back. I'm pulled back.

"What?" he shrieks, and no one does shrieking quite like Landon. Everyone working in the kitchen looks over at us, rolling their eyes before looking back at their tasks.

He grabs my arm and leads me over to a small desk in the corner where there is a sign-in board. I sign my name quickly and turn to Landon saying, "It really is just early. I, uh, ran into him recently and he's a friend of a friend and well, we went on one really great date and he's completely hot and that's really the extent of it." But I just have this gut feeling, you know?" I frown. "Wait, shit, I m not supposed to say that out loud, am I? I've jinxed things now."

Landon is listening to me intently and he is quiet for a minute after I've stopped speaking, one finger on his lips, his hip cocked and gazing thoughtfully at me. Finally, he says, "Listen, Fancy Face. I've known you for almost four years now, and in all that time, I have never once heard you even mention a guy. Or a girl, I would have taken either." I laugh. "So," he goes on, "This is momentous. This is huge. This has made my night. I know you putting yourself out there isn't easy." He looks at me sadly. "And I know you have good reasons for that. But whether or not this turns into anything, swear to you, Evie, I'm just glad to know that you're willing to take a chance."

God, I really love Landon.

"Thanks, Lan," I say, slightly embarrassed.

"And by the way, saying something out loud doesn't jinx it, or else I would be constantly shouting about how donuts go straight to my ass. Damn, I'm addicted to Krispy Kream. Can't stay away."

I laugh loudly.

He smiles that huge Landon smile for me and then says, "Also, I learned something when I was back home. Apparently, I'm a cliché."

I look confused. "What do you mean, a cliché?" I ask.

"You know, a cliché… the boss boinking his secretary, a cliché!"

"Yeah, I know what a cliché is, what do you mean you are one?

"Oh, right. Well, I spent a lot of time at my mom's house while she slept and she reads all these romance novels. So I read several and evidently, it's a thing, the beautiful girl with a gay best friend. It's a cliché. I'm a cliché."

I burst out laughing. "Ah, okay, well, it works. I guess because of my unequalled beauty, I can only hang around men who aren't tempted to molest me hourly. You're my only choice." I wink at him, slapping him on his ass.

Landon laughs too, squealing as I smack him.

An hour later, the kitchen is in full swing. Tina, our boss, a really nice woman in her fifties with a head full of frizzy blond curls and a great laugh, has greeted all of us and is helping load the trays. She owns the catering company, and is a great boss, fair and helpful, with a great, witty sense of humor.