Eyes on Us Book 3

WILLOW

It was close to ten o’clock at night when we got a bit of a rush. The hostess had a wait because we just didn’t have enough tables or people to effectively deal with the customers.

I just followed Hunter and watched and tried to pick up what he was doing. I haven’t taken any orders yet, just watched and helped him take dirty dishes to the back. I was okay with that for today.

I was helping Hunter make drinks when one of the other servers, a tall brunette who was so pretty, came over with a huge smile.

I put the drinks on the plate, and waited for instruction from Hunter, but all of a sudden he was in no hurry. I figured out instantly what was going on.

“Guys, guys, what I’m about to tell you…you just can’t react.” The server’s name was Carrie, she was very funny and very dramatic. She’s new to the Swift Shack too.

She just started in the last month, according to Hunter. He had a lot to say about her; I think he has a little crush on her.

“We swear we won’t react,” Hunter says for the both of us. Carrie looks at me.

“I’ll be so unresponsive that I will have you thinking you didn’t even say something.” That makes Carrie smile.

“Perfect.” She moves her hair from her right side to her left and then takes a deep breath. “Three members from Vagabond are currently being seated in your section.”

I had to force myself not to react. Hunter didn’t even move or make a sound either.

“Well, say something!” she finally says after a few seconds of awkward silence between us.

“That’s not something uncommon. One of the Flanagan cousins lives in the gated part of town. I’ve met them multiple times before,” Hunter says it so nonchalantly.

Carrie is unsatisfied with his answer so she turns to me.

“I only know like two of their songs, but it’s still very exciting.” Her smile widens with my words.

I honestly couldn’t name a current single of theirs or even remember their names. But the fact that famous musicians were in this bar restaurant was exciting, I couldn’t deny that.

“You need to let her take the drink order,” Carrie says to Hunter like she’s just said something brilliant.

“Oh, no way.” He’s grabbing the drinks for the table we kind of forgot about. “She’s not ready yet.”

I could feel the anxiety creeping up on me just at the thought of having to do that, like what if they asked me a question about their drinks menu?

It’s only been a few hours; I could only name the grilled cheese as an entrée and water.

“Drinks are the hardest thing to mess up, plus if you say they come in here often, then they’re going to know what they want.”

Hunter looks into my green eyes. His face is serious. I know he doesn’t want to get in trouble if I mess up or make the customers angry.

“You want to try?” I nod my head reluctantly. As much as I didn’t want to, it would help me feel more comfortable faster.

“You’ll be next to me, right?” I know I won’t be able to do it solo.

“Of course.” If he was next to me then he’d be able to answer any questions they had that I didn’t know the answer to.

“Then I’m down to try.”

“All right, let’s go.” The first thing we do is drop the drinks off at our table at the bar; they already had food coming out soon and the bartender would be bringing that out once it’s ready from the kitchen.

Then Hunter leads the way to a group of three. They looked so out of place here; they were dressed in mostly black with some color, not much.

People are staring at them for obvious reasons, but they hardly seem to notice. They all seem to be in deep conversation.

As we approach the table, I take them in with my eyes. I sort of recognize their faces from the tabloids. The Flanagan cousins Hunter had mentioned weren’t here, it was the three other band members.

The keyboardist, the bassist, and the drummer. I didn’t know their names, and they looked similar. I knew the whole band was actually family; they were all cousins from the same side of the family, I believe.

The oldest-looking one there has a wedding ring on, and he is just paying attention to his phone. He has the sides of his head shaved, and the top of his head is just wild. He is wearing a band T-shirt from The Ramones.

The guy next to him is very muscular, but not so ripped, just very fit, and he has a few tattoos on his arms. He is wearing a plain black T-shirt and he has a short haircut.

The last guy is a redhead, and has a white T-shirt on with a black leather jacket. I can tell he had blue eyes because he is staring at me with them.

His buddy has a few tattoos, but this guy has a full sleeve, and I can see some peeking through his white shirt.

Hunter gives me a nudge as we approach the table, bringing me out of my trance. I immediately straighten my back and take a deep breath in.

“What’s up, guys? My name is Willow, and I’ll be one of your servers tonight. What can I get you guys to drink?”

All three of them look at me. “Can we get a pitcher?” the oldest one asks.

I start writing down “pitcher” in the notebook I was given. “Pitcher of what?” I ask. It gets a little quiet and I look at them, and they seem dumbfounded.

Before I can even look at Hunter for help, the second guy answers me. “Of beer, sweetheart.” He says it as if it’s something obvious I should know. I feel my cheeks turn red with embarrassment.

“Oh, sorry about that. Of course. We will be right back with that.” I try to smile, but I just want to cry. That was so embarrassing.

I quickly walk over to the bar with Hunter behind me.

“You really have never served before,” Hunter says as he is trying not to laugh.

My misery was his amusement. I had made a big fool of myself in front of famous rock stars, and honestly, I deserved being made fun of.

“That obvious, huh?” He walks behind the bar and starts filling up the pitcher—with beer. “You’re taking the rest of their order, right?”

My confidence had been shot down. I would rather just watch for the rest of the night. I didn’t want to embarrass myself further; I had done enough.

“Yes, but I decided that anytime we pass by their table you’re going to check on them and ask them how their food is and if they want any refills.” I nod. I had to learn eventually.

Hunter hands me three glass cups, and I follow him. I set the cups in front of three guys, and the second guy has a smirk on his face.

“My name’s Hunter. I’ll be your second server. Are you guys ready to order, or would you like more time?” he asks as he sets down the pitcher of beer.

“I want her to take our order if that’s all right?” the second guy says, nodding toward me as I’ve taken a few steps back.

“Kieran,” the redhead says under his breath. I guess that’s the second guy’s name. Kieran doesn’t hear him though or chooses to ignore him.

Hunter looks at me then looks at them. “It’s her first day. She’s just shadowing me tonight, so it’s not an option.”

“Well, who better to practice on than us? We’re very nice guys,” Kieran says with a smile on his face. He looked amused.

Did this guy just want to see me fail? I’m pretty sure the answer was yes.

Hunter just shrugs and steps aside to let me start taking their order. I hoped he would also be taking their order behind me just in case I missed something.

“What can we get for you?” I ask him. I pull out my little notebook.

“Well, I’d like a bacon cheeseburger, no mayo, no tomato, medium well done with a large side of fries.” I quickly try to write it down but the older guy starts to rattle off his order as well before I can even finish.

“I’ll take the steak, medium rare, with a side of mashed potato, and steamed vegetables.” I am ready for the third guy to start reading his order to me, but he doesn’t say anything until I stop writing.

I look up at him. “And you, sir?” He is staring at me quite intensely with his really nice blue eyes.

“I’ll get the bacon grilled cheese with a side of fries, please and thank you,” he says it slowly.

His order is the easiest to write. I think he was just taking pity on me, but whatever, I needed it and I was going to take it.

“All right, we will start this right away.” I smile the best I can and walk away to the computer where we have to enter it.

“Let me see what you wrote,” Hunter asks before we enter it in. I hand him my notebook.

He quickly scans over it.

“Perfect. My only comment is that you should definitely write less; what you write only has to make sense to you. Instead of writing out bacon cheeseburger, just write bcb for short. It’ll make it way easier to take the orders quickly.”

I nod. “Okay, thanks.” He then continues to show me how to put in the order myself. I feel a little more confident. Hopefully my confidence will grow more as the rest of the night goes on.