Excerpt PG
Later on in the day, I was making my way to the john when
I noticed Alex sitting down in George's office looking
over some papers. I was on my way out of the place since
my shift was over and my hot night with Zena was in the
next hour.
When we exchanged glances, he waved his hand at
me. "Jimmy, hey, can you step inside a moment, please?"
I exhaled before going into the small space and closed the
door behind me. I had been in George's office a little too
many times for my taste so needless to say, when I went in
I was a little nervous about talking to the new boss to be
in here.
Still, I thought this to be the perfect time to let Mr.
Seidling know my boat doesn't float that way. Once I got
in, I sat in the wooden chair in front of the desk.
"Hey, Jimmy. I was just looking over some things and it
seems like you're in need of a raise my friend. How could
you just let George stiff you all these years?" Alex shook
his head while still glancing at the large sheet of paper.
I cocked an eyebrow. He was definitely right about this
observation.
Okay, maybe he ain't so bad after all.
I ran my hand though my brown mane. "Well, I need the
job and um...well, I make okay money, or..."
"No you don't, Jimmy," he interrupted. "At the last
restaurant I managed, the top cook was making twenty-two
bucks an hour. The owner felt it was necessary to pay him
well because he kept the customers happy. Not to mention,
he was quick, polite..."
I cut him off. "Wait, did you just say twenty-two
dollars, an hour?"
Alex chuckled, "Yeah man. You're only making fourteen.
Dude, seriously, you're getting robbed, yeah. I'll make
sure I let George know he should raise you up to at least
eighteen effective immediately."
My eyes bulged when he said that number. I was trying
to keep my excitement in but I couldn't help it. All the
things I could do with making eighteen dollars an hour. A
new car, a better apartment than the rat hole I was
staying in, and damn, some better clothes. I may be a cook
but I like to look good when I step out with the ladies.
"Gods Jimmy, I cannot believe George mimics the guy on
that cartoon, what's his name?" He looked up at the
ceiling and snapped his fingers.
I laughed when I thought of my favorite show other than
Sportscenter. "Spongebob and you're talking about
Krabs...he's a tight wad."
Alex giggled and placed the papers on the furniture in
front of him. He locked his eyes with mine, making me a
tad uncomfortable. "That show is hilarious."
We shared a laugh and even though we seemed to be
getting along great I had to remember why I was here.
Man, I did come in here to tell him something...oh
yeah...
I nodded, "Yep, it's full of laughs. Hey...um Alex...I
was uh, noticing the eye you were giving me earlier."
Alex raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Yeah?"
Suddenly, I froze. As much as I wanted to tell him to
stop staring me down like a piece of meat, I thought twice
about how to phrase it, especially since the guy told me
that he'd be telling George to give me a four dollar
raise. I sighed. "Um, yeah dude, was there a reason why
you were looking at me like that?"
Alex smacked his lips together and rolled his eyes. "Oh
Jimmy let's not play games here. You know I was checkin'
you out and don't tell me that you don't go that way
because I really don't care that you do. Besides, it's
nothing wrong with looking. Just because I'm taking a
gander at your tight fitting jeans to go along with the
snug, black tee shirt that you have on, it doesn't
necessarily mean I want you."
I leaned back in my chair and turned up my lip. "Oh
yeah, then what would you call it?" I crossed my legs. I
had to hear this.
"Well Jimmy consider this, when you look at a tasty
dish that catches your eye on a menu does that mean you
have to order it? And, in your terms, being the macho
heterosexual that you are, do you go after every girl you
see walking by? Maybe you do. Let's just stick to the
first example, yeah?"
This guy's a card.
It was true what he was saying but then after he
completed his sentence, I wondered why he didn't want
me. "Well damn, why don't you find me attractive?"
"Oh Jimmy, I didn't say that. I just don't see why I
should order you at this time. There are plenty of obvious
reasons. The most important being that you're so fucking
manly it hurts. I can tell just by the way you walked in
here that you're trying way too hard to be a man." Alex
leaned back in his chair with a smug look on his face.
"What? That doesn't make any sense." I stuffed my hands
in my pockets and looked at him sideways.
"Fuck Jimmy, when we were in the kitchen you weren't
wearing any mitts or using a towel to get hot buns out of
the oven. Why? Because you think it might show you as
weak. You're probably one of those who watches sports
shows, drinks beer, and puts your hand down your pants
while scratching your balls with your legs wide open, just
because you think that's manly." He put his hands up,
signaling quotes. "Ugh, I know you're your type, Jimmy
LaCosta. The name fits you too, Italian American, yeah?"
What the fuck, why did he just read me like a book?