Someone Like You Read Free

You need to
    keep your energy up if you want to last your shift.” She shut up when she realized he
    was right. She didn’t want to acknowledge she still had four hours to go. Four hours in
    this heat, her ankles already swollen. Four hours of waiting for customers and listening
    to their moaning when they discovered the air con’s issue. Sighing, she grabbed two tall
    glasses and filled them up with tea and ice cubes. She handed one to Nick and kept
    hers in her free hand. “Sit down.” He motioned to the bench opposite him but she shook
    her head.
    “No, thanks. I’m fine standing up.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Come on, I won’t bite. And put some sugar in that drink.
    You’ll need the kick it’ll give you.”
    “Yes, Dad,” she snapped back but he merely smiled, amused by her surprising
    show of bravado.
    “Better?” he asked minutes later.
    She was still standing but at least she’d nearly drunk the whole glass. “Yeah,
    thanks. I should go now.”
    “Go where?” She gestured towards the kitchen where you could hear the muted
    sounds of a daytime soap opera. “Why don’t you sit down and share this ice cream with
    me instead?”
    She looked up then, eyes wide. “I couldn’t do that!”
    Nick frowned. “Why not?”
    12
    “You’re a customer! It’s your food, you paid for it. It’s just…no.”
    “But it’s too much for me and you’ve been eyeing it for a while now. Come on,
    live a little.” He spooned some melting vanilla ice cream and brought it to her face.
    “No, thank you.” Her voice was rough, too rough.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing.” She stepped away from the booth. Her ankles felt as if they were twice
    their size, and she swore she could feel sweat running down her back. Hell! She took
    one step before the world whirled around her.
    “Leah? Leah!”
    Hands propped her up, a hard chest a sudden pillow for her heavy head. “Hey.”
    “You’re dizzy. Have you eaten anything today?”
    “Sure.” One tomato and one apple. She was sticking to her diet, the incessant
    jabs having taken their toll. She’d always sworn she’d never diet because of what
    people thought and look at her: two months in Florida and she was already cracking
    under the pressure.
    “Drunk a lot?”
    “Sure.” Water. It was refreshing and nourishing, well only if you didn’t eat
    anything with it. Water could fill you up, yes it could.
    “Can you open your eyes?”
    “Oh.” She blinked, not having realized she’d closed them in the first place.
    “Thanks. I’m fine now.”
    Nick stared at her then swore under his breath. “No, you’re not. Stay here.”
    13
    She watched as he slid behind the counter and knocked on the kitchen door.
    Hushed voices were the only thing she could hear, but a few minutes later he was back
    and he had her purse in one hand. “What?”
    “You’re coming with me. Come on, babe, let’s get out of here.”
    She let him push her out of the door, his arm suddenly wrapped around her
    waist. “Where are we going?”
    “I’m taking you home.”
    “You are?” Wow, she was out of it all right. This looked more and more like a
    great dream. “To do what?”
    Nick stilled beside her. “You’re in no shape to work. I thought you’d feel better at
    home. Am I wrong?” She shrugged, the movement sending her forward. Nick’s hold on
    her broke her fall but it was good they were already at his car. “Get in. I’ll drive you.”
    “Okay.” She couldn’t think of anything else to say so she let him boost her up and
    settled into the passenger seat.
    “Where do you live?”
    “Uhm?” She blinked her eyes open. “Did I fall asleep?”
    “Maybe. Are you sure you’re okay, Leah? Maybe you should go see a doctor.”
    “No, I’m fine. I’m just fine.” She brushed her eyes with her hands. “I don’t live far.
    It’s down one block then to the right.”
    “Okay, let me know where I can park.”
    She nodded and looked out the window. She hadn’t driven