“Hey Dustin!” Sophie called to him.

“Morning, Sophie!” He waved politely. “Lock this door behind me,” he insisted before closing the door.

“Yes, sir.” Mel chuckled before flipping the lock. He was becoming a regular occurrence in Mel’s life and Sophie was happy she was finally interested in a well-rounded guy.

“You look like hell,” Mel said as she turned on Sophie. “Did you sleep at all?” Mel hung up her purse on the hook by the door. Most of Mel’s daily things were now in Sophie’s apartment. She had been staying with Sophie since the night Corbin came to the club. She alternated between sleeping on Sophie’s sofa to making Sophie share her bed. “Hello, Sophie?” Mel tilted her head. “Earth to Sophie.”

“I didn’t sleep…but I think I am now. I just haven’t realized it yet. I was working on Mom’s dress all night.”

“Wow! Did you ever. Looking at that dress makes me want to get married.” Mel looked closely at the lacework.

“Bed now?” Sophie asked.

“Yes. I’m tired from shaking my awesome booty.” Mel laughed.

As soon as Sophie placed her head on the pillow she felt herself drifting.

“Sophie?” Mel whispered. “I put my notice in tonight.” Sophie opened her eyes and smiled. “I want to do better for myself.”

“I’m proud of you. What are you going to do?”

“Get a job where I get to keep my clothes on.” Mel giggled.

“Good start.” Sophie smiled and closed her eyes.

“Thank you for making me want to do better for myself.”

“You deserve the best.”

***

When Sophie arrived at the restaurant later that afternoon she readied herself for the supper rush that would soon fill the restaurant. She had slept the entire morning with Mel curled up beside her. When they both woke up they ate leftover pizza while Mel scanned the “Help Wanted” ads in the paper. She had found a couple she was interested in and was eager to start the process. Sophie wondered if Dustin had anything to do with her new outlook. Their phone calls had become a regular thing and Mel seemed quite taken with him. Mel excitedly told Sophie that Dustin had been accepted into the police force and he was starting his training next month. Her eyes always lit up when she spoke of him. Sophie hoped with all her heart that this new road would lead to Mel’s happiness. At least her outlook on police officers was bound to change if she was dating one.

Sophie’s customers covered everything from families with small children to groups of rowdy men, drinking their fill of beer and watching the game on the televisions that were suspended from the ceiling. The restaurant was large and consisted of a bar section and a dining room where the families normally gravitated. Though, on busy nights people took seats wherever they could get them and the bar crowd normally spilled over into the dining section. Sophie was normally in the bar area; she had her regular customers that usually requested her and Friday nights brought many familiar faces.

Sophie took the order from a group of regulars. All four of them were married but that didn’t stop them from their playful flirting. Sophie smiled and played along. They came almost every Friday night and Sophie knew all of them by name. When she turned from their table to enter their order, Sophie caught sight of Ashton leaning against the bar. She stopped in her tracks at the unexpected sight of him staring shamelessly at her.

Megan leaned over the bar, drawing Ashton’s attention. Sophie was grateful for his distraction and headed back toward the kitchen. She had an awkward conversation with Megan earlier in regards to not wanting to date her brother, Jack. She found herself dancing around the truth when Megan insisted on digging into the matter. Somehow the conversation always steered toward Ashton and she couldn’t help the guilt that swirled within her. She could tell Megan had her suspicions but how could Sophie possibly go about explaining the chaos between Ashton and her? She felt it better just to pretend there was nothing to talk about.

Sophie tried to busy herself and ignore Ashton but she kept meeting his gaze across the crowded restaurant. He stood out in the sea of people with his height and piercing beauty. His intense blue eyes could literally make anyone swoon. When things died down and he wasn’t showing any signs of leaving any time soon, Sophie decided to confront him.

“Why are you here?” Sophie leaned over his shoulder. She couldn’t help but appreciate how his T-shirt hung over his muscled back. She watched the other women around the bar discreetly steal glances at him, their eyes hungry for what a man like him could do to them.

“I needed a drink,” he stated simply. He leaned his body back into her. She didn’t know if it was intentional or not but she didn’t move away.

“No Marilyn tonight?” Sophie teased.

“No, she got a little upset when I called her by someone else’s name last night while things were heating up,” he said. How easily it seemed he could shrug off women. Reality check!

“Too many to keep track of, huh? I feel so bad for you,” Sophie said.

“No, just hung up on one in particular. Unfinished business, you know.”

“Hey, Sam.” Sophie cut off Ashton’s words as Sam approached them from the inside of the bar. Sophie greeted him warmly. Sam had been true to his word and hadn’t pressured her into giving him an answer to his request to spend time together. She had told him she needed time and he was being very giving. Sophie couldn’t help but notice that Sam’s smile fell from his lips when he surveyed what was happening between Sophie and Ashton.

“This is Margaret’s grandson, Ashton,” Sophie introduced. “Ashton, this is Sam, he’s the manager here.”

“Ah…Sam. I have heard so much about you. In fact, Sophie tells me she has quite the crush on you. Did you know that she painted a picture of you?” Ashton spoke with evil intent.

“Ashton!” Sophie cried out, horrified. “Sam…I didn’t paint a picture of you. He’s joking. That would be creepy.” Her face burned with embarrassment.

“She did, I saw it. Sophie has been dying to ask you out but she’s just too nervous. We should all go out after her shift. What do you think, Sam? It would be a good way to break the ice.”

Sam looked completely lost for words but a smile pulled at his lips with the offer.

“It can be a double date. You and Sophie and me and…” Ashton looked around the bar. When he noticed Megan approach, he reached over and grabbed her. “Megan.”

The biggest smile Sophie had ever seen exploded across Megan’s face. “What’s going on?” She tried to talk through her smile and the words sounded awkward.

“The four of us are going out on a double date after work.” Ashton declared. Sophie could see Megan melt into his hold.

“I don’t think this is a good idea.” Sophie shuffled her feet nervously. “You probably have plans.” She offered Sam an out.

“No, I think it would be nice,” Sam encouraged.

“Great.” Sophie tried to seem happy for his sake. She was angry, embarrassed, and a number of other things.

“It’s so adorable how nervous you are,” Ashton pressed. She felt anger heat her skin.

“I have to get back to work,” Sophie excused herself, biting her lip so hard she tasted blood. For the rest of the shift Sam kept watching her and it made her uncomfortable. Ducking into the kitchen, she pulled her phone out of her purse.

Sophie: I can’t believe you did that! So mad right now.

Ashton: Just helping out…I know you have a crush on him. You can thank me later. I have something in mind.

Sophie: Never. And I don’t have a crush on him.

Ashton: Stop denying your feelings…oh right…you don’t have any.