Moments in Time 02 - Moment Of Truth Read Online Free PDF Page A

filled the room. Laughter bubbled up from deep in my chest.
    “What’s so funny?” Tanner asked, wiping my chest with a small towel.
    “I’m ready for a nap.”
    Tanner snorted and gave me a shove toward the edge of the bed. “Hit the shower, then we eat. You need sustenance if you’re gonna survive this summer.”

Chapter Seven
    WALKING INTO Dorothy’s for the first time was like walking into a new school on the first day. Only weirder. Most of the servers and busboys seemed to already know each other. At least three girls made beelines for Tanner, giggling and hugging him hello like he was their long-lost best friend. Manicured hands flitted over his arms as they giggled and asked how his year had been. I hung back and watched.
    I’d seen the restaurant online, and Tanner had described it, but in person it was overwhelming. The entire place was done in black and white. Not just the two colors but all the shades of gray as well. And not just the floor, walls, and ceilings—everything. Black tablecloths, white napkins, black-and-white chairs. Enormous framed black-and-white photographs lined the walls. It was like stepping into the opening of The Wizard of Oz . If Tanner’s shirt hadn’t still been bright blue, I’d have wondered if it was all an optical illusion.
    “Okay, kiddies, listen up….” A woman with a booming voice swept into the room, clipboard in her hand. “Come on, I don’t have all day.”
    Tanner rolled his eyes as she snapped her fingers. He leaned close and whispered, “That would be Dorothy.”
    I’d spoken with Dorothy on the phone after Tanner had asked her if there would be an opening for me at the restaurant. Cell service didn’t do her justice. She was loud, imposing, and a sea of colors. Shocking red hair with blonde streaks that made it look like a sunset. Blue-and-purple swirly summer dress. Nails painted every color of the rainbow.
    “Where are my newbies? Collin? Jason? Sarah?”
    I hadn’t expected for my name to be one of the first orders of business. “Here.”
    She motioned me forward with an impatient wave of her hand. I headed to the front of the group along with a guy and a girl who both looked as hesitant as I felt. “Okay, gang, Collin and Jason are our new servers. Make them feel welcome, get them acclimated. Sarah will be in the kitchen. She’ll be plating the apps and desserts and prepping all your setup. Be nice to her. You’ll need her to like you when you’re in the weeds and forgot to order someone’s smoked salmon.”
    I scanned the group as Dorothy kept talking, detailing how specials would be announced, how black was the only option for pants, how lateness wouldn’t be tolerated. It was a lot to take in but didn’t sound too terribly different from working at Gino’s. I was used to big crowds. I knew how to deal with customers. Besides, Tanner had said he’d show me the ropes.
    “One more thing,” Dorothy said. “A few changes in the lineup. The downside of hiring Manhattan’s beautiful people to work for you is that sometimes they get better offers. Scotty and Marie will not be joining us this summer, so I’ve done some juggling. Jane, you’re going to be playing hostess three nights a week. And Tanner, you’re going to Oz.”
    Shit.
    Oz was the club next door to Dorothy’s. The two establishments were separated by a winding yellow brick path and a sea of flowers I was guessing were supposed to look like poppies. Tanner said Oz was one of the island’s premier hot spots and was one of the wildest clubs on the island, apart from the bars in The Pines and Cherry Grove, Fire Island’s two gay towns. He’d said we’d hang out at Oz after my birthday. He’d only been twenty-one for a month and a half, and I wouldn’t turn for another three weeks.
    He shot me a glance and shrugged. I wondered what he’d be doing there. I didn’t even know if they served food.
    “Collin, Jason, let’s get you settled with the menu. You’ve got a lot