“Those new guys. You know the ones you were worried about …” She trailed off, looking at the tile floor. “Well, they brought friends, and I had to turn them away due to overcrowding. This is what happened after.” She gestured to her face.
Caleb squeezed her shoulder reassuringly, and they began strategizing a plan for better security.
“The budget doesn’t allocate for it,” Ms. Kenzie said simply. “Let’s go. Everyone’s waiting.” She grabbed a tray of food and walked toward the main dining area.
Caleb gave her a look like they were not finished with the conversation. He dropped the subject for the moment, grabbed another tray, and went to his assigned station.
I spotted Lucy and made my way over to her table. “Hi.” I waved at her with my fingertips. “Any new interviews?” I asked, trying to ease the tension, but I was also genuinely interested. I could see Lucy and me being good friends.
“I have a second one on Monday. Fingers crossed for me, okay?” Lucy crossed her index and middle finger, as she bit her lip.
“Of course. I’m sure you’ll get it. What is the job for?” I asked, probably prying.
“Janitor for one of those new buildings on the highway. I like your coat, by the way,” Lucy remarked timidly, swaying a little. She was such a naturally beautiful woman. All she needed was some confidence. She shouldn’t be interviewing for a janitor job when she had model potential. I would know because I worked with many. The difference between most of the models I knew and Lucy was she was a natural beauty. No fillers or outside adjustments needed.
“Janitor? You should be walking the runway, or singing before a huge crowd,” I blurted out, my eyebrows furrowed as I gave Lucy a once-over and saw her tattered sweater. It was a plain gray sweater with holes at the bottom and collar. I didn’t let my gaze linger too long since I didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable.
“You’re crazy,” Lucy said sheepishly, smiling a little at my compliment.
I peered down at the wool coat I had on. Pursing my lips, I solidified my next move.
I unbuttoned the one button I left clasped because I was still a little cold from the outside chill and shrugged myself out of the coat. “Here.” I held out the coat for Lucy to take.
Her eyebrows pinched together, eyeing me like I’d lost it. “I can’t take that.” Lucy shook her head, muttering something too low for me to hear.
“You can and you will,” I said, with a little more conviction. “It will look great on you for your job interview. At the very least you can borrow it, but I do really want you to have it. I have a whole closet filled with clothes I don’t wear anymore. You’rewelcome to them,” I rambled and quickly stopped, realizing I was probably overwhelming the girl.
Lucy narrowed her doe eyes at me as tears welled in them. “Thank you,” she whispered and then proceeded to hug me.
I wrapped my arms around her, righting the coat to hang on her shoulders. “See, it looks better on you then it ever did on me.”
“Are you kidding?” she asked. “You’re gorgeous.”
I waved her off. “There’s lipstick in the pocket. I think it’s your shade.” I brushed her hair out of her face and tucked the loose strands behind her ears. “You’re going to get the job.”
I bit my lip, and before returning to my station, I asked, “Do you have a phone?”
She nodded and pulled out what seemed like a prepaid phone.
“Take my number. You can call or text me anytime. I want to hear how the interview goes.”
“Grace, I can’t repay you. For any of this. It’s just a simple job, barely paying minimum wage,” she said, obviously concerned.
“We’re friends. You don’t have to repay me.” I smiled at her reassuringly.
“Friends,” Lucy said, almost testing the word on her plump lips.
As I went back to work, I peered back to see her smiling and looking at the coat like it was a prized possession.
CHAPTER 31
Caleb
Flour dusted the countertops,and the kitchen filled with the scent of cinnamon and sugar. It should have been a simple, easy night of baking, but watching Grace fumble her way through it was becoming more entertaining by the second.
She stood next to Noelle, arms crossed, her expression full of forced confidence as she nodded at the cookie dough. “Yep, that looks … good.”
Noelle glanced up at her then at me. “She has no idea, does she?”
