Break my shell, p.12
Break My Shell, page 12
Max kissed the side of his head, as if it was Dayton who needed cheering up. “You’re not. You’re helping me out much more than you should have to. You are everything I missed in prison.”
Dayton swallowed. “I’m just there, and you’re doing all the work. I just... I just wish I could help you when you need it. You don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here,” he said, glancing Max in the eyes, and it seemed that the meaning of his words truly sank in.
“Thanks. You are so much more than I expected coming here.” Max gave him a kiss on the lips.
Dayton relaxed into the embrace and rubbed his nose against Max’s. For a moment, it almost felt like he could sense the other heartbeat syncing with his own where their chests touched. “The wedding will be a success. She will pay us, and we can go wherever you want.”
Max stroked Dayton’s back. “I didn’t think she’d get to me like this. She really is the devil.”
Dayton sighed. “Worse. She thinks she’s a nice person.”
Chapter 9
They were so understaffed.
With the wedding party of over two hundred people, Vanessa had been forced to employ additional staff for the occasion, but she did not want to pay for hours spent on training, which meant that Dayton was running around like a headless chicken to help out all the new servers, in addition to his usual duties as a receptionist. And despite her having told Max to stick to the kitchen two weeks ago, tonight she was surprised he wasn’t helping out more and forced him to serve when he wasn’t helping out Kathy. She was the queen of chaos.
At least the food was going down well, and the guests didn’t seem to realize just how much Dayton was improvising to make everything seem perfectly organized.
The bride and groom even insisted on having a photo taken with him, which was actually very nice. Someone took notice of his hard work and dedication. But despite all the compliments about the venue, the food, and even the service, which Dayton coordinated in every way, he was already exhausted with the disarray. And the wedding reception had only begun two hours ago. How was he to remain standing until late in the night?
All the issues were because of the little things Vanessa forgot to take care of despite Dayton having reminded her for what felt like a million times. For example, making an actual notice on the door and on the River Inn’s website that the restaurant was reserved for a private function. Dayton had been forced to send at least ten guests away. Some were understanding and saw that it wasn’t his fault (even though he kind of felt like it was), but some were openly hostile, as if it was he who’d ‘ruined their Saturday night’.
He wished he could have some vodka to calm his nerves, but at work that was out of the question, so he stressed, ran around, and smiled at everyone despite dying on the inside. One of the teenage newcomers quit at some point, complaining about her aching feet, and that left them even more understaffed. So much so that Dayton took over some of the tasks in the kitchen.
It was one big, fat disaster, but Dayton would go down with the ship, because in this night lay the key to his and Max’s freedom. The hotel would earn a lot of money, gain popularity, and Vanessa would finally have cash to pay him for all the overtime.
But the evening sank to a whole new low when he saw three familiar faces at the door. Greg with his friends were like three heads of Hydra. Of course they’d be here to watch the game.
Dayton leaned against the wall, too tired to deal with those three vicious dogs. Couldn’t there be one thing that would not crumble on such an important night?
But when the trio entered through the main doors and made their way toward the restaurant, where at this point one of the guests was making a speech, Dayton knew he had to intervene, no matter how much humiliation it would cost him.
“Good evening,” he said with the same apologetic smile he carried all the previous times when he was forced to turn guests away. Clearly, Greg had not read the information Dayton had put on the door earlier to spare himself at least some of the trouble. “I’m very sorry, but the restaurant is booked for an event tonight,” he said, trying to convince himself they were someone else and that he didn’t need to be so nervous.
Greg frowned and pushed his hands into his pockets. “But there was no notice. Legally speaking, you have to serve us.”
Dayton looked at him, somewhat stunned, then pointed his finger to the short notice he’d written earlier. “It’s on the door.”
“Yeah, but we’d only get to see it on the door once we came here. You should have had an announcement up throughout the week,” Greg said with a scowl, and his friends nodded in silence.
Dayton cringed on the inside. “I’m afraid you would have to talk about this to the owner, and she is not available at the moment. I am very sorry about this inconvenience, but it’s a wedding, and no other guests are allowed,” he said, glancing at the two gorillas at Greg’s sides in hope they had more decency than their leader.
Greg stepped closer, making all of Dayton’s insides clench. “Is this some kind of lame vendetta against us?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking a-about,” said Dayton, reflexively stepping back, as if shoved by Greg’s aura.
“I’m talking about a little thing you don’t want anyone to know about. If you want to keep your job, you’ll find us a place where we can have a fucking beer and burger.”
The carpet was pulled from underneath Dayton’s feet, and he was falling, past the floor, past the cellar, deep into the heat all the way in the center of the earth, where he wished he’d just burn.
He hadn’t been this way his entire life. He used to be confident, and carefree, and really, really loved being around people. But then, one night had been enough to change everything.
“I— Greg, you know I can’t—”
Greg spread his arms, towering over Dayton with his overgrown presence. “Seriously? This place is huge. I’m sure you can find a table for three people. And the kitchen is working for the wedding. Shouldn’t be a problem to serve us on the side.”
Dayton looked back when the wedding guests clapped loudly at the end of the speech, his mouth dry. “M-maybe you could sit in the lobby?”
“Yeah, whatever,” Greg sighed and rolled his eyes at Patrick. Dayton hated them all so much it physically hurt.
He was disgusted with himself because of it, but he would actually enjoy seeing Greg in pain. Broken and reduced to tears. Did this make him a bad person?
He turned around and led them through the lobby, pacing as if he’d just woken up from a bad dream. The air was too hot in his lungs, and he needed to pull on his collar to give a degree of freedom to his throat.
He stumbled, and even though he managed to stay upright, the chuckling behind him sent him into the depths of despair. The tables and sofas in the lobby haven’t been moved, so he gestured at them with emptiness in his brain.
Greg and the other two sat down with self-satisfied grins, and just when Dayton rushed off to get them menus, he noticed them high fiving each other, as if bullying him was some kind of achievement. Dayton could only hope they would eat and leave before Vanessa noticed anything was amiss.
All the menus were stacked behind the reception desk, so he got three and marched back to the uninvited guests. His mind was frying in hot oil from their proximity alone.
Greg took his time reading through the menu with a smug grin, even though Dayton knew that not only him, but all of them would have the beef burger, with no lettuce, extra bacon, extra cheese, and onion rings.
Just as expected, that was exactly what Greg ordered in the end, and only his friend Tim decided to go crazy tonight and have a piece of tomato on the side.
“Will that be all?” asked Dayton, desperately trying to keep his voice from shaking. He was an adult. Why was he constantly paralyzed with fear?
Tim laughed and pointed to two young women who left the restaurant with unlit cigarettes in their hands. Their figure-hugging dresses must have been what caught the idiot’s attention. “I’ll have some of that on the side as well.”
His friends laughed out loud, and Greg punched Tim’s arm. “You dog!”
One of the women looked back and rolled her eyes. “Ew.”
Dayton froze, looking between Tim and her. “I-I am very sorry. This won’t happen again,” he said quickly, repeating the phrase, even though he had no control whatsoever over Tim’s behavior.
Greg pursed his lips. “Easy for you to say. Your dick doesn’t react to pussy.”
Dayton dropped the menus and quickly scooted down to gather them up. Blood pumped through his head so quickly he could hardly hear the conversation.
“This is outrageous,” said the other woman. “Those men should not be allowed here if they can’t control themselves. This is a private party.”
“Party’s in the restaurant, girl, so piss off,” Greg said.
Her friend scowled. “Come on, Elyssa. I don’t wanna listen to those pigs.” She grabbed her friend under the arm and they walked off, back to the restaurant.
Dayton stood up and turned his eyes at the men, completely drained already. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
Tim raised his eyebrows. “You should do your job and get us our burgers. Christ.”
Dayton fled, hugging the menus as if they were the chest-plate of his armor. When he walked into the restaurant, he could not miss the crowd gathered nearby, with the two women from earlier rapidly talking to the other guests. He ignored it and slipped through the door, into the heat of the narrow kitchen.
Max looked up at him from a tray filled with cupcakes. In different circumstances, Dayton might have smiled at the juxtaposition of a man of Max’s size and looks sprinkling edible glitter on frosting, but right now, he was too freaked out.
“What’s up? We’re actually ahead of schedule,” Max said with a smile, and Kathy grumbled something behind him.
Dayton leaned against the wall, breathing rapidly from the stress of it all. “Three local guests refused to go home, and they p-placed an order,” he said, looking down to his toes. He hoped that the men would leave as soon as they ate, and that would be that, but they needed to get their food first, and he wouldn’t know how to prepare it.
Max frowned. “But it’s wedding guests only today. Does Vanessa know?”
Dayton hid his face in his hands, taking in big gulps of air. “No... no...”
Max nodded and put away the tray with cupcakes. “Okay, babe. Calm down. What did they order? We’ll get it done and they’ll be out in no time. Where are they sitting?”
“T-the lobby,” whimpered Dayton, cringing when he noticed Kathy clawing her hands toward the ceiling in the background. Yes, he knew he only came here with more work for her, and she already had her hands full. He deserved it all.
But he still told Max the order. There were no words to describe just how badly he wanted Max to hug him, but if he made that step and let go, he wouldn’t be able to get back there and deal with all the shit thrown at him. So, he stayed composed and walked back into the restaurant.
Each second of the fifteen minutes that followed was nerve-wracking, and finally seeing all three burgers with fries on their plates was such a relief he could cry.
Dayton wanted to put the third plate on his arm like he usually did, but Max grabbed it instead.
“Day, your hands are shaking. I can’t have you drop the plate. Let’s get the food out, and get those guys out, okay?”
Dayton halted, frantically wondering if it was indeed such a good idea, but in the end he decided that Greg would not confront him openly when he was with someone who could actually hit back with greater power. He smiled and nodded, sensing relief spread through his chest. Walking with Max was like basking in his light.
Max moved swiftly down the corridor, and Dayton could only hope that Vanessa was still enjoying her wine, and would never find out about the guests in the lobby.
They walked up to Greg and his friends, and Max gave them a tense smile as he put the plate down on the table.
“Anything else I can get you guys?” Max asked.
Tim grinned, slumping on the sofa in a way that made the denim of his jeans cling to his crotch. Dayton didn’t even want to know why he would be doing that here. Was he hoping the women would be back to wow over his junk? “Yeah, you should have pretty waitresses here. Might make the place more popular.”
Max’s expression didn’t even budge. “I’ll pass that on to the manager.”
Greg laughed and patted Tim on the shoulder. “Come on, at least we’re being served by an actual dude this time.”
Dayton stared at him. Max had not been right about this. He should have stayed behind in the kitchen and let Dayton deal with them. And now Max knew exactly how pathetic Dayton was and what everyone thought about him. This was unbearable.
Max straightened up with a slight frown. “Excuse me?”
Tim laughed and waved his hand dismissively. “What Greg means is that we’re usually served by Dayton, and you know, he’s not much of a… bro. Catch my drift?”
“Yeah, I catch your drift,” Max said, and Dayton didn’t like the tension in the air at all. He should have insisted on bringing out the food himself. Max turned his attention to Greg. “So, what you mean is that my boyfriend is not man enough to serve you fuckin’ burgers?”
There was a moment of silence, which thudded in Dayton’s ears, but in the end, Greg broke into laughter, and his two minions followed suit.
“He’s your boyfriend? Our Gayton?” asked Greg, pointing at Dayton with his thumb, as if he weren’t there. “Dude, what does he have on you?”
And if hearing those words wasn’t humiliating enough, people from the wedding kept passing back and forth through the lobby, making Dayton’s anxiety go through the roof any time they lingered and eavesdropped.
“What did you call him?” Max growled and leaned over the table. He grabbed the burger off Greg’s plate and pushed it straight into his face, making bits and pieces drop down Greg’s T-shirt and into his lap along with the sauces. “Get the fuck out of here, Greg!”
Dayton stepped back, watching the scene play out in slow motion. Greg shot to his feet, fists high, but a punch into the underside of his jaw from Max sent him tumbling over the backrest of the sofa. Tim was next to make a threatening gesture, but he hesitated after watching his informal leader fall.
Greg looked up, fury on his sauce-stained face. “I’ve been coming here for years! Who the fuck do you think you are?” he yelled, and to Dayton’s despair, onlookers were gathering behind his back already, drawn to the drama like bees to pollen.
“Well, you’re not gonna be coming here any more if all you do is disrespect the staff, you shit!” Max kicked the table, making the plates rattle.
Patrick stayed silent, looking between Max and Greg.
“What are you doing? Take this outside if you must. My brother is getting married here,” hissed a young man, pushing to the front of the row of spectators.
“He punched a guest,” said someone from the crowd, and Dayton started slowly falling through the imaginary hole in the floor.
This couldn’t be happening.
No matter how his heart had soared at seeing Greg put in his place, he couldn’t enjoy the feeling, because he knew this whole scene would lead to disaster.
Tim stood up with a scowl. “I’m not leaving before we see the manager.”
Greg was back on his feet as well, even though he had trouble speaking normally after the punch. “Yeah! This is a disgrace.”
“Where is the manager? Are you the manager? What are you doing just standing there?” asked the groom’s brother, approaching Dayton in quick strides.
“I-I am not,” Dayton whispered, licked from head to toe by contemptful glances.
“That’s what you get when you let the fags ‘emancipate’,” hissed Tim, taking a step toward Max.
The two women from earlier gave shocked gasps. “I can’t believe he just said that!” yelled one of them.
The groom’s brother rolled his eyes. “Still doesn’t excuse a fight. If I said something he didn’t like, would he beat me up as well? What the fuck?”
Max turned toward him, and all Dayton wanted to do was drag Max away before Vanessa showed up. “Oh, yeah? What if I called your girlfriend a cheap slut, huh? Would you just stand there like you expect me to?”
“You work here,” hissed the groom’s brother, but he took a cautious step back, his eyes taking in Max’s physique. That was Dayton’s cue to move.
“Max. Just go back to work, okay? I will... deal with this,” he whispered, even though the crowd seemed to close around them. All those people could choke him to death if they stood any closer.
“I’m not going anywhere until these fuckers leave!” Max growled.
“What is all this commotion?” Vanessa’s voice was like a sinkhole opening under Dayton’s feet.
He grabbed Max’s forearm. “Please, leave. Please.”
Max’s gaze softened, but it was too late. Vanessa already pushed through the crowd, giving Greg the courage to step forward, his hands still rubbing off bits of the bun, ketchup, and mustard off his face.
“Your employee punched me. And shoved a burger at my face. Can you believe this?”
Vanessa opened her lips, gasping for breath like a fish thrown out of water. She flushed bright red, and when her gaze zeroed in on Max, Dayton stepped forward.
“It wasn’t his fault,” he said and looked at his hands. It was a mistake, because the moment he saw how badly they trembled, his voice lost its steadiness too.
“What do you mean it wasn’t his fault?” Vanessa screeched.
“I saw him throw a punch!” yelled someone at the back of crowd.
Max scowled. “He was being disrespectful to Dayton, even though we did everything to accommodate them despite the restaurant being closed!”
