“Okay,” Ava said.
“I was wondering if you still had a job opening?” she asked.
“What’s your name.”
“Oh, it’s Harlow Erickson. I’m nineteen years old, and I would really love to work here.”
Ava frowned and looked at Harlow. The woman was beautiful. She had thick, gorgeous, brown hair. Her arms were decorated in ink.
“Crap, I messed up. I left it too late, didn’t I?” Harlow asked.
“It’s not that. Honestly. You’re the first person to apply.”
“Does that mean I have the job?” Harlow asked.
“You’re a vegan.”
“So?”
“I bake with non-vegan products. Butter, eggs, cheeses, meat.”
“I can still serve, right?” Harlow asked. “You bake. I serve. I don’t mind. I just don’t want to eat it.” She smiled.
Ava found her charming in a strange way.
“Er, I’m not sure how this is going to work. You see, I’m pregnant.”
“Congratulations. I totally love babies.” Harlow rubbed at her stomach. “I bet she or he is going to be a cutie.”
Ava laughed, she just couldn’t help herself. “Are you like this all the time?”
“Oh, you mean, hyper, talk too much, and generally weird? Yeah, I’m like it all the time.” She shrugged. “The curse of living with six brothers who are all assholes. They’re not, but you get the drill. Believe me, you have to learn to stand out.”
“I really don’t know.”
“Please, I won’t let it interfere with selling. I’d like to learn as much as I can so I can also implement some of the skills within my own baking.”
“You bake?” Ava asked.
“Yeah. I happen to love being in the kitchen. My mom went a little bitchy when I told her I was vegan. She refused to cook for me, so I fed myself until she realized I can eat as good as anyone else.”
Ava was intrigued.
“You’re curious.”
“I don’t know how you can bake without, you know, milk, cream, eggs, butter.”
Harlow laughed. “A lot of people think that way. I’ve adapted. Believe me. I’m happier for it.”
“You’re hired,” Ava said. She didn’t even know why she said it. Asking for a vegan to work with her seemed like the biggest mistake of her life. She had never considered baking anything for a vegan.
Harlow let out a scream. “Hell, yes, I’m so excited. You’re the best, Ava.” Before she knew what was happening, she was pulled into the young woman’s arms. “I will be the best assistant you’ve ever had. I promise.” Next, she was kissed on the cheek.
Her enthusiasm was infectious.
“I’ve got to clean up.”
“How about I start today? I love to clean. I can clean anything. Honestly.”
“Okay, why not.”
For the next two hours, she showed Harlow around the small shop, teaching her how to clean certain items, washing everything down, keeping it sanitary. All the while, Harlow filled in the silent spots, talking about everything and nothing. She’d never known a woman to talk so much.
By the time they were finished, Ava was so tired, but Harlow looked wired.
“Do you want to have dinner with me at the diner?” Harlow asked.
“You can eat at the diner?”
“Yep. It’s not hard to do.”
“But, your diet?”
Harlow blew out a raspberry. “It’s not important. I know what I can eat. Come on, my treat for making me have a really awesome day.”
Ava smiled. “Sure. I’d love to.”
They walked together toward the diner. She followed behind Harlow who found a seat for them in the crowded diner.
“Can I ask you something?” Ava asked.
“Sure thing.”
“Did Smokey put you up to this?”
“The MC dude?”
“Yeah.”
Harlow frowned. “Put me up to what?”
“Coming and asking for a job. Trying to be my friend.”
“Oh, no, absolutely not. I know Smokey, but we’re not close.” She wrinkled her nose. “One of my brothers is a member of the club.”
Ava froze. “He is? Who?”
“He goes by Big Dick. He’s the eldest son. Believe it or not, his real name is George.” Harlow rolled her eyes. “Is that a problem? I saw the MC sign thing, but I’m not part of the club. I rarely see my brother. He stops by for the occasional holiday, but other than that, we rarely see him.”
“It’s fine. Just a surprise.”
Harlow shrugged. “He looks scary with all of his tattoos and muscles and stuff, but he’s a giant softie.”
Their food came out.
“And you don’t know Smokey?”
“I know him. Said a few words to him when I was a kid. Nothing else. Why?”
“I didn’t know if he’d put you up to coming and seeing me, and you know…”
“Is Smokey the baby daddy?”
Ava cringed.
Harlow chuckled. “Oh, my, I didn’t even think that old bastard had any feelings. The way people talk to him, it’s like he’s a robot or something. Holy shit. So he does walk and talk like a man?”
Ava forced a smile, but she felt her cheeks start to ache from the action.
“I’m sorry. That wasn’t polite of me to say so, was it?”
“It’s fine.”
Harlow looked past her shoulder. “Speak of the devil and he appears.”
Ava glanced behind her to see Smokey, Brick, Big Dick, Kinky, and a couple of the other brothers enter the diner.
Silence fell on the room for all of five seconds before everything started up.
Ava spun around and sat, looking at Harlow.
“He does know he’s the baby daddy, right?”
“He knows.”
“Is this a good thing?”
Ava shrugged and tensed up as Smokey put his hand on the back of her chair.
“What are you doing here, squirt?” Big Dick asked.
“I’m eating, or going to be eating with my new boss, asshole. You can carry on. We don’t need you here,” Harlow said.
Big Dick laughed.
“New boss?” Smokey asked.
“I hired her.” Ava didn’t dare look at him.
“Yep, I’m the new blushing assistant at Ava’s. I’m so excited.”
“You know she’s a vegan, right?” Big Dick asked.
“Yes, she knows,” Harlow said before she got a chance to respond. “It’s not a big deal.”
“It is. She bakes actual food.”
“Vegan cooking is actual food. Ugh, you’re such a jerk face. Fuck off.”
“I’ll tell Mom about your language.”
“It would actually require you to be around to tell Mom. I’m surprised you even know what I look like.” Harlow covered her face. “You’re so embarrassing. Please, go away.”
Big Dick laughed. “Hi, Ava.”
“Hi,” she said but didn’t look at them.
No one spoke, and the silence between them became awkward.
“We’re getting a table,” Smokey said. “How are you feeling?”