An Unexpected Hunger Read Online Free PDF

“What’s that you’re wearing?”
    It was only a couple of days ago since Mia offered me the waitressing job. I was strategically steering clear of telling mom since I knew a lecture was pretty much guaranteed.
    “I got a job,” I said, looking down at my shirt to make sure it was still clean. “Waiting tables.” I braced myself for what was to come next.
    “Waiting tables?” she cried. “You?”
    I shrugged my shoulders and nodded my head. “At the Mug.”
    “That bar they’re always dragging your brother out of? I didn’t even know they served food there.”
    “If you can call it that…” I muttered.
    She shook her head, making her disappointment evident. “Why don’t you try finding another cooking job…or maybe try going back to school. There’s no future in waiting-”
    “ I went to school, remember? Culinary? For two years?” I said, a little to forcefully. What I didn’t tell her was that I wasn’t ready to go behind the line yet. The thought alone was anxiety inducing. I was hoping this waitressing job would help ease me back into the kitchen.
    She gave me a roll of the eyes , but didn’t push it any further. She mumbled something about ambition and moving on, but I zoned her out when my brother’s name popped up on my cell phone screen.
    “Where you at?” I asked Nick, looking down at my watch. “I have to be there in like ten minutes.”
    “I’m gonna’ be late,” he muttered, out of breath.
    “What? How late?”
    “Thirty minutes maybe? I’m still on campus.”
    I slammed by hand down on the table, causing the fruit in the bowl to jump. “Thirty minutes? Nick! It’s my first day! I can’t be late on my first day!”
    “Relax,” he said. “I’ll call Mia and let her know.”
    I hung up the phone, cursing under my breath. I should have known better than to trust my brother to actually follow through with something.
    “What’s the matter?” mom asked, sending another carrot to its demise in the juicer.
    “I don’t have a ride to work.”
    “Well, I can take you,” she said, a little surprised that I didn’t ask.
    I let out a heavy breath, knowing that it was my only option. “Fine,” I said, putting my bowl in the sink. “I’ll wait for you in the car.”
    * * *
    I took one sip of the cup mom handed me and moaned with exaggerated enthusiasm.
    “Mmm,” I said, closing my eyes. “Nothing like cold carrot juice first thing in the morning.”
    It actually didn’t taste as bad as it looked , but I would never admit it to her.
    I walked into the empty Mug, holding a thermos full of my mother’s special blend of carrot, celery, and blueberry juice. It was only ten in the morning and Mia was already behind the bar.
    “Don’t you ever go home?” I asked as I sat down on one of the stools.
    She laughed. “Only when Ricky lets me.”
    “I can’t imagine having a brother as a boss.”
    She shrugged. “I’ve worked for worse.”
    A few minutes later, Casey came strolling through the door, her apron hanging over her shoulder.
    “Hey Case,” Mia said. “You remember Alexa , right?”
    Casey offered me a quick smile. “Yeah sure, Nick’s sister. I hear you’re my new trainee.”
    I nodded my head. “Yeah, I’ve never waitressed before so I’m afraid you have your work cut out for you.”
    “Don’t worry about it,” she chuckled. “Just keep your hair back and your boobs out , and you’ll do fine.”
    * * *
    I stared at the clock perched above the giant Corona poster that hung above the bar. Two more hours until closing and my feet were counting down every minute. I didn’t think twice about agreeing to do a double shift when things picked up around dinner time. It took a few hours, but I finally got into the routine of grabbing drinks from the bar, taking orders, and remembering the ketchup. The tips were pretty decent, and after a while I had accumulated a nice stack of cash in my apron.
    Casey took about thirty minutes to explain all the job