SWNOVELS Chapter 9 ~ All Of The Above?
Delilah’s POV ~
I was scheduled to open the diner all this week. I didn’t mind.. because it allowed me to be home by three. I love working here.. and Delaney has been giving me more and more responsibilities.. Which is something else I don’t mind. It allows her to be home with her kids. The girls are nearly four.. and the boys are both in school.
Being Luna.. and club Queen are each full time jobs.. so, helping her run the diner.. after everything she and Venom have done for me… it’s the least I can do.
I have been helping Beau.. well.. Geek.. get all the technology set up at the clubhouse in the afternoons, as well. I love all things technological.. and am a quick study. Gizmo has even started teaching me binary coding and I’ve been able to hack a few computer systems around town.
I accidentally hacked the mayor’s computer.. and thought I was going to get into some serious trouble.. but Axe laughed and told me good job. To prove he was proud of my mistake.. they still maintain the hack.
I had just completed prepping for the lunch crowd.. which is always busy.. the school kids meet up here instead of the cafeteria.. and they are pigs.. I sigh.. “Harry.. hell’s coming.. carried on the shoulders of all this year’s seniors. May as well don our hazmat suits now.” He laughed and says “It’s the same.. every year, punkin!”
I had just finished prepping water pitchers with ice and water.. and placing them on the tables. It saves time.. but these kids act like pouring it into their own glasses is too strenuous.
The door dings and the horde pushed in.. literally. They fight to see who can get through the door first. I roll my eyes.. “Just sit anywhere.. help yourselves to some water.. and we will come by for your orders in a few minutes.”
I walked over to Megan and Kathy.. my servers for today.. abd whispered “Shall we pray?” And they both giggled.. I stepped to the back of the house and let Harry know it was time. I grinned “Let me know if the weeds are getting too high.. I’ll hop on the line.”
Within a few minutes, we had all the orders pushed through and Harry was flipping burgers.. and frying chicken tenders and French fries. Megan was throwing together chef’s salads.
Everything was running like a well oiled machine.. until the first monkey wrench.. there is always two or three every lunch rush..
I could hear yelling from the front of the house.. and Kathy maintaining her temper.. speaking quietly. Kathy is a forty year old divorcee’ raising two teenagers. She can ordinarily handle lunch trouble.
The door dinged.. Maddox.. or MadDog.. and Hunter came in. I had been hanging back at the register.. watching the diners. I smiled at the guys and waved them over.. “Counter or table?” Maddox smiled “Is our usual table available?”
I giggled “Of course.. Delaney has it roped off.. Your very own VIP section. Just the two of you, today?” Hunter shook his head no “We are meeting another president.. Renegade from IronSkulls.”
I nodded “Let me get y’all something to drink.. and I will bring your guests over when they arrive. Soda.. or coffee, today?” Maddox grinned “Coffee! Caffeinate me, baby!” I walked off.. shaking my head.
I was headed to the coffee machine.. when Kathy stopped me.. looking flustered and covered in… ketchup? “Tell me that is ketchup.. because if it’s blood.. somebody’s leaving headless.”
She laughed.. but was wringing her hands “Table four wants the manager.. and before you go over there.. I may or may not have wasted an entire pitcher of water.. over someone’s head.”
I cracked up.. “You must have had a good reason. Stop fretting.. I will ban all of table four.. before I reprimanded you.”
I walked past table four.. carrying a pot of coffee.. and two cups.. a kid yelled “Hey you! We want to see the manager! Now!” I smiled and told him “The manager will be with you shortly.. Please lower your voice.. so others might enjoy their meal.”
I walked over and poured coffee for Maddox and Hunter.. smiling, I told them “I won’t put your orders in.. when your friends arrive and know what they want.. the usual, I’m assuming?”
They nodded as I walked away to deal with table four. I smiled and asked “Now.. what seems to be the problem today?” The yelling kid snarked “I want to see the manager!” I grinned “You’re looking at her, kid.” Ahh.. Irony.. he’s probably the same age as me.. but I have definitely lived harder.. so I have little patience for self entitled spoiled little rich kids.
He demanded “I want that waitress fired.” I asked “How’s it feel to want? What did my server do that could possibly warrant termination?”
He sneered “She spilled water on me.. on purpose.” I laughed “Pouring a pitcher over your head would usually be a deliberate act.. yes.” He yelled “Then fire her!” I said “Lower your voice! And.. umm.. let me think.. No! What did you do to her? And don’t bother lying.. I can.. and will.. watch my security video!”
Just then, two big biker types walked in.. I looked at loudmouth and said “Take a moment.. Gather your thoughts. I will be right back.”
I walked over and asked the bikers to follow me.. as I walked them back to Maddox’s table.. one of the men pinched my ass.. on reflex.. I throat punched him. Maddox and Hunter busted out laughing.. then MadDog growled “Never touch her again, Renegade! Don’t come into my territory and disrespect our women.” I smiled and went back to table four.. in a pissed off state of mind.. now.
I said “Well? Why did my server pour water on you?” He told me “I was opening a ketchup packet.. it got on her a little bit.” I looked down at the table.. seven.. I counted them.. seven ketchup packets.. all looking like they had been smashed with a fist. Which explained why poor Kathy was covered in that shit.. I responded “Obviously.. you believe I am stupid.. when in reality.. you’re the ignorant ass at this table. The evidence of what you did.. is laying right in front of you. As well as the evidence all over Kathy’s uniform. So. Here’s my solution for rectifying this whole situation.. You will apologize to my server.. until you do, you won’t be allowed back in here.”
He yelled “Do you know who you’re dealing with!? I’m the captain of the football team! I will make sure not one of us kids ever eats here again.” I laughed and leaned down “I bet you.. I can take the hit! You kids pad my till by a buck fifty, at best.. I’ll survive it.”
He stood and stormed to the door and I smiled “Have a nice day!” As all his little friends left the table. I told Kathy to clean up the mess.. and went over to take Maddox’s table’s order.
Renegade apologized “I’m sorry, Miss. It’s a habit to pinch a pat a sweet butt in greeting where we come from.” I sneered “First.. I am not a Sweet Butt. I don’t appreciate being touched in such a way.. nor do I tolerate it. Where the fuck do you come from, anyway? The fucking Middle Ages?”
Hunter barked out a laugh “We told you, Renegade.. Queen’s adopted daughter lives by the same creed.. ‘Fuck around and find out’.. and she is as strong a fighter as Queen herself.” I grinned and winked at Hunter. High praise, indeed.
I took their orders and went to help Harry prepare it. He asked “Do you think we are going to be so lucky? No more unruly.. ungrateful Neanderthal teenagers at lunch?” I laughed so hard at that “If the Goddess is smiling on us! It would be a blessing!”
I delivered the food to the bikers.. and went about cleaning the diner from lunch. I smiled at Kathy “Why don’t you head on home, honey.. I will pay you the full day. You’ve had a hell of a day!” She asked if I was sure and I nodded. She thanked me.. then turned back “You’ll have to find someone to cover for me.. I am scheduled until five” I grinned at her “It’s taken care of.. Now go home.. Shower off the ketchup.. put your feet up. Relax. Watch a movie.. read a book.. take a nap.” She waved her fingers over her shoulder..giggling, as she walked out…”Or all of the above?”