All the air felt like it had left the room with John, and I stood there, unable to move or breathe.

Kirby wandered behind the bar, saying hello to the regulars before leaning over the counter on her elbows. “I didn’t think that rush would ever let up.” She picked at the corner of a menu and then sighed. “Hey, I’m talking to you. Are you going to tell me what you haven’t told me?”

“Not today,” I said, snapping back to the present.

Kirby pouted. “So, do you like him? Because … you’re being you but different. You always act weird when a guy tries to pursue you, but you’re not running this one off.”

“Who?” I asked, my voice higher than I wanted.

Kirby rolled her eyes. “Taylor, stupid.”

“Yeah. Why is that?” Hannah asked. “What’s with the weirdness when it comes to guys?”

I glowered at her. “Go check your tables.”

“Yes, ma’am,” she said, turning on her heels.

“I’m serious,” Kirby said. “I thought you were just pissed at your parents. Until recently, I didn’t realize that you also hated men, and then Taylor happened.”

“I don’t hate men.”

I stole a glance at Taylor. He did the same to me, so I looked away for a moment. With a small smile lingering on his face, he was talking to his crew again.

“I like men. I just don’t have time for them.”

“No,” she said, scratching at a speck on the counter, “it’s something else.” She grabbed a clean cloth and a spray bottle, and she headed to the main dining area to bus tables.

“Order up!” Chuck yelled, startling me.

I brought a round tray to the window before loading it with the hotshot crew’s entrees.

“You okay, kiddo?” Chuck asked.

“I got it,” I said, fitting one edge into the crook of my neck as I centered my palm beneath the tray.

“That’s not what I meant,” Chuck said.

“I know,” I called back as I walked away.

The boys were chatting when I approached them, and three pairs of eyes lit up when they recognized the tray of food was theirs.

“Wrap,” I said, placing it in front of Dalton.

“Crepe,” I said, lowering it to the table before Zeke.

“Denver omelet with jalapenos.”

Taylor reached out, and I handed his plate to him.

“The plate is warm,” I warned.

“Doesn’t bother me,” Taylor said with a half smile. Just as I turned, he touched my elbow. “I am capable of just hanging out as friends, you know.”

I shot him a dubious look. “I’m a waitress in a popular tourist town. You think I haven’t heard that before? That I haven’t heard it all before? Listen, you’re nice. I like you guys. But I don’t need any more friends, especially temporary ones.”