“This is a family-friendly establishment, and we do not say fuck!” Phaedra said, practically yelling the last part. “Come back when you get some manners, Dwayne!” She turned. “You know what? Not even then!” She looked to Taylor. “Take the trash out, kid.”

Taylor crossed his arms, glowering. Dwayne didn’t put up a fight. Instead, he walked out, ashamed.

Phaedra faced the rest of the café with a bright smile. “Does anyone need anything?”

Most people shook their heads. The author and assistant sat silently, looking so gleeful that I thought they would break into applause at any moment.

I retreated to the bar.

Kirby followed me. “Whoa. Shit, that was hot,” she said, turning her back to the side of the room where Taylor was. “Are you rethinking your plan to kick him to the curb before he’s even on it?”

“Yes,” I said, making the worst Cherry Coke ever. I took the cup around the bar and marched it over to him before setting it hard onto his table.

Taylor looked amused, which only made me angrier.

“I need to cancel tonight,” I said.

“Did you forget about a prior engagement?” he asked.

I blinked. “No.”

“Family emergency that can wait until you’re off work?”

I frowned. “No.”

“Then why are you canceling?”

“Because you’re a bully.”

He touched his chest. “I’m a bully?”

“Yes,” I said through my teeth, trying to keep my voice down. “You can’t just manhandle our customers like that.”

“I just did.” He leaned back, too pleased with himself. “Didn’t you hear your boss? She told me to.”

I snarled my lip, disgusted. “And you enjoyed it. Because you’re a bully. I don’t go out with bullies.”

“Great.”

“Great?” My voice rose an octave.

“You heard me.” Taylor crossed his arms, the polar opposite of annoyed, offended, or angry.

I had hoped my public rejection would rob him of that smug smile. “Then why are you smiling?”

He touched his thumb to his nose, the muscles in his arm flexing as he did so. “I think you’ll change your mind.”

I took a step and kept my voice low as I said, “Not even if I wanted to, and at this point, I certainly do not.” I spun around and minded my tables.

The pace picked up as the afternoon wore on, and when it was time to check on Taylor’s table, I noticed he was gone, a twenty-dollar bill left behind. I held it up. He’d only ordered the crappy Cherry Coke, so he’d left a seventeen-dollar tip.

I swallowed back my surprise and appreciation and shoved the money into my apron before clearing his table. I took the cup to Hector and then washed my hands.

“Do you think maybe you were a little harsh?” Chuck asked.

“With who?” I asked.

“You know who.”