Chapter Text
FULL TIME COOK NEEDED
$25/hr
‘Stappen’s Stop-in Diner
We’re looking for some who:
Is available MON-SATURDAY, 11AM-8PM
Knows how to work in a kitchen
Gets along with others
Has a can-do attitude
Contact details are listed below, or come see us for an in-person meeting sometime between 5-7PM.
…
Tuesday
After twenty minutes of walking in the sun, I am willing to break into this stupid diner if they are closed.
The building had come into view further down the street, and it’s all I’ve been seeing. Of course it is, there is nothing on this side of town except the road leading out.
Merde… This would’ve been a three minute drive if I had my Ford.
Well, with any luck, it will be a three minute drive soon.
I check my watch. 5:32.
There’s cars in the parking lot, which makes me think they are not just open for two hours. They’re probably open… the whole day. Like I normal restaurant.
Okay, that makes more sense.
As I cross the car park, my eyes catch on a dark blue Chevrolet.
Wow… It’s a real classic. Must be super old. But well kept from what I can see.
I turn back to where I’m walking and look through the front windows instead.
It’s certainly a diner. Like a proper American diner, from some kind of movie or something.
I’ve never been out here before, but it seems to be somewhat popular cause at least a couple of tables are full with families and couples.
Can’t imagine any of them owning that Chevy.
I push the front door open and a bell rings above my head.
“I’ll be right there!” says a voice that I cannot connect to anyone in particular. That is, until a dirt blond guy rushes behind the counter and looks to me expectantly.
“Table for one?” he questions, a smile spreading across his pink lips.
For a moment, my eyes just rake over him.
Mon dieu…
He’s handsome. Very handsome. More handsome than anyone I’ve seen in this town for a while. And he looks so fit in that uniform.
Imagine what he’d look like out of it…
Hah… No, I shouldn’t do that.
Without realising it, a lazy smirk had pulled at my own lips.
“Non,” I respond with a dry chuckle, taking a step closer to the counter and resting my hands on it. “I saw your flier on Dan’s notice board. I wanted to see about that job.”
“Oh,” he sighs, his shoulders relaxing as he turns to search for something.
My gaze wanders down to his ass before I quickly avert it.
Control yourself, Isack. At least a little.
“Did you bring a resume?” he asks once he’s facing me again, a flier in hand.
Oops. Maybe I forgot you needed one of those.
Whatever.
“Non again…” I squint at him for a moment before closing the distance between our faces. “But trust me, I’m exactly what you’re looking for,” I purr softly.
Even though the noise of the room is somewhat loud, I’m sure I hear his breath hitch.
His nose scrunches up slightly as he backs up. He looks cute like that.
“Uh…”
I’ve surprised him, clearly.
I point down at the flier in his hand. “Available all week. ‘Can-do attitude’. Gets along… very well with others. Knows how to cook.” I point at myself. “That’s me.”
He blinks at me before glancing around at the rest of the diner. “…Right.”
After a second or two, he picks up the corded phone. “Let me call just the boss...”
He presses the receiver to his ear.
My attention is drawn to the window at the end of the counter filled with plates. A hand places down another, but I can’t see who’s in the kitchen.
“The job… yeah… yup,” the guy mumbles into the phone, voice flatter than when he was talking to me, “um, not really. Well, like I don’t know… okay… I guess. Okay, I’ll do that.”
He puts the phone down as he looks back at me.
“So basically,” he starts, sliding over the flier face down, “we’ve got our cook, Yuki, until the end of Thursday. Maybe if you could come in early tomorrow and just do like a test-run, then we could have you working by Friday…”
Easy. They must be really desperate for someone.
“And if you could-” His hand slips a pen out of his shirt pocket, resting it on the flier. “Just jot down your details, I think that’s it for now…”
I tilt my head at him. So, we’re gonna be working together pretty soon… “Cool.”
He presses his lips together awkwardly, glancing past me towards the door as the bell rings again. “I’ll be with you guys in a sec,” he cheerfully informs whoever just entered.
I write my name and phone number before sliding it back to him. “One more thing.”
His attention gets pulled back to me as his customer service smile lingers.
“Do I get your name now?” I pout subtly. “Or only tomorrow?”
His eyebrows furrow the tiniest bit. “Um, Liam.”
Liam… that’s a cute name.
“Parfait,” I respond, stepping back towards the door with wink, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Liam.”
Before I can see his reaction, I walk out into the searing sun again for another twenty minutes of walking.