'Yeah!' I replied, trying to sound chipper. I put the hotbag back on the shelf and then hustled toward the front of the restaurant without making eye contact with her.
Mario was cleaning tables at the far end of the serving floor, singing along to the radio as usual. I put the money belt by the register and tried to slip quietly back into the kitchen, but he saw me. 'Hey, P! Come to Gio's? The whole crew is coming out tonight, gonna be epic!' he yelled.
'Can't tonight,' I yelled back, and I saw him slump in disappointment. Mario looked at me skeptically but then shrugged. 'Yeah,' I said, and went back through to the kitchen. I was relieved to see that Stacy wasn't there-just Jason, who waved to me from behind the dishwasher.
