SUTTON
“Hey, Sisi. One sec.”I answer the video call and see my sister’s face fill the screen. I set the phone down on my desk and lean back into my office chair. I might be taking the night off to spend with Kelsey, but I still came in to help with prep work before we opened. After our first mishap planning a date years ago, I’m not leaving anything to chance.
“Hey, Sutt. I know you’re probably in the middle of prep for dinner service tonight. You sure you’ve got time?”
I prop my feet up on the desk and inspect my nails. “Took the night off. What’s up?”
“I’ve got good news and bad news. Good news first, all of the RSVPs have come back, which means I’ve got the numbers for entrees so you can start planning that.”
“Just text me the totals and I’ll put together the list for the supplies and we can get the grocery order scheduled.”
“Perfect! So…” A moment passes and my sister’s silly grin grows by the second.
“So… what?” I challenge.
“So, why’d you take the night off?”
I sit up in my chair, steepling my fingers in front of my mouth. “Can’t I just take a night off formyself?”
She gives me that knowing look she saves for calling me and my brothers out on our shit. “Believe me, I wish you would. You need to, but younevertake time off unless it’s to help one of us. So if you’re taking a night off in Jackson, I want to know why.”
I strum my fingers together and smirk. “Oh, this is killing you to not know, isn't it?”
She huffs and rolls her eyes. “You’re impossible. I was just hoping it was something fun like a date, but I know that’s not it because you’ve only been interested in one person for years.”
I hum in amusement. “Interesting.”
I don’t say anything else because I’m enjoying this far too much. It’s a rare treat that I get to tease her. She somehow always knows everything about my brothers’ lives and mine.
She tilts her head and narrows her eyes on me. “No! You’re not...she didn’t…are you serious?!”
Well, shit. That was short lived.
“We’re having dinner tonight.” I cave and give in. Even through the phone screen my little sister can still read me like a book. It probably doesn’t help that I’m grinning like a happy fool because she’s meeting me in less than half an hour. “On that note, I need to start getting ready.”
She claps her hands and practically squeals. “Oh my god, don’t let me keep you. We’ll talk soon. You’re going to have to give me all the details.”
I smirk. “OK. We’ll talk soon. Love you, Sisi.”
She waves into the camera. “Love you too, Sutt.”
I end the call and my phone immediately pings and I swipe to open the message.
Sisi: 49 people
5 vegan guests
7 vegetarian guests, 2 with peanut allergies
12 Poultry/no red meat entrees
25 steak entrees, 3 with sesame allergies and 2 with gluten sensitivities
Well, that’s going to make for a fun night of cooking. Another message comes through and I groan when I read the message.
Sisi: Also don’t hate me, but I forgot the bad news. Can you help find some extra serving and catering staff? I’ve tried to find some extra help, but I think we’re a bartender and at least one server short.
Fuck me. Leave it to my sister to bury the lead and wait until after we talked to give me the bad news. I get it though because she’s very non-confrontational. That doesn’t change the part where I was already stretching myself thin, but adding in that we’re going to be short staffed for the wedding is less than ideal.