The Art of Wag Read Free Page A

many angry-looking scribbles on the table layout. Sometimes she added colorful happy doodles to the wall chart, but the skull and crossbones was definitely not Tracy’s work. Great. “I don’t know what Jenny’s problem is. It’s not like I get creative with the table rotation. You get the two-top when it’s open. You get the four-top when the slowpoke campers finally turn over and get out of here. And it wasn’t my fault that the huge guy from Topeka couldn’t fit in that booth.” That had certainly been a difficult conversation.
    Lou wagged his spoon at her again. “She thinks you skipped her on purpose.”
    “I can see it’s going to be a very long evening. Maybe I’ll double-up Jenny’s tables and see how she does.”
    “Now you’re just being mean. You know she’ll yell at you.”
    “She’s going to scream at me anyway, but at least she’ll be more tired and have more tips in her pocket, right?”
    Lou waved his spoon in a shooing motion. “Go on. Get outta here. You got stuff to do.”
    Tracy grabbed a cloth so she could wipe down tables, and then she reached out and gave the gruff older man a hug. “You know you love me. Thanks for giving me the heads-up.”
    Later, Tracy was standing at the hostess stand rolling silverware into napkins when Larry Lowell walked in. Was he stalking her? He hung around her hostess stand all the time when the restaurant was open, but this was new. Bordering on creepy. She looked down at the reservation book. “Hi Larry. I have your reservation for your usual table at 6:30, but you’re a little early. We’re not open yet.” She tried to look extra busy by laying some silverware rolls into a star design on the end table next to her. Maybe he’d go away.
    Larry clasped his hands together in front of him. “I wanted to talk to you before anyone else is here.” He looked like he was praying to the gods of Italian food.
    Tracy plastered on her best customer-service smile. “Do you want to change your reservation? Or are you bringing someone with you tonight? I’d be happy to help you if there’s a surprise for someone special.”
    Larry’s hands tightened, causing his knuckles to turn white. “Well. Yes. Actually, it’s something I’ve wanted to ask you for a very long time, but I think you may consider it somewhat forward.”
    “Forward?” Who used the word forward? Was Larry trapped in the 1800s or something?
    “My law school reunion is coming up. It’s a rather important occasion and I was hoping you would be able to attend with me.”
    Tracy put down the roll of silverware she was holding and took a step back from the hostess stand. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.” Not on a bet.
    “It’s in Los Angeles; I’d pay for everything. You’d have your own spacious room at the event hotel. And free meals. It could be an enjoyable vacation. You work very hard and I’m sure you could use a bit of a holiday.”
    Larry wasn’t wrong that she needed a vacation, but there was no way she was going to La-La Land with him. “You’re right, I could use a break, but I am already going to be taking a class, so I really can’t take any more time off right now.”
    Larry dropped his hands and gazed down at his loafers. “Are you sure?”
    “Yes. I’m sorry. I thought you had a girlfriend, anyway. The woman with the big curly hair?”
    Larry looked back up at her. “That didn’t work out. She said I was too much of a lawyer.”
    “But you are a lawyer.”
    “I know.” He shook his head. “It was a confusing conversation. But in the end, we agreed to terminate our relationship.”
    Tracy picked up another roll of silverware and added it to her star design. “I’m very sorry to hear that. But right now, I really need to get back to work. I have a lot of tables to set up before we open.”
    “I think I’ll just cancel my reservation for tonight.” Larry stepped back, away from her. “I have something I need to do.”
    Tracy looked down at