New Fic-Wishful thinking -15

Two weeks later, I was no closer to making my two remaining wishes. I was just too busy to concentrate on what my genie could do for me.

Determined to carve out a theatrical life independent of Rob's, I'd gone to two auditions. One was for a production of Anna Karenina. When I found out it was a children's theater production, I left. I couldn't imagine how they were going to stage the tempestuous affair, much less the train wreck of an ending.

By contrast, the other show was Alice in Wonderland. I quickly discovered, though, that the director wanted to build an adult audience for the classic—and he was going to do that by having us all perform in the nude. I ducked out before the Red Queen could shout, "Off with his head!"

So much for my flourishing independent theater career.

At least business at the restaurant was busier than ever. As Rob had predicted, David Golden's review was a rave.

Dad wasted no time hiring extra staff, all actors. I knew most of the folks, but one guy was new to me: Drew Myers. Drew's tousled hair was dark blond, brightened by perfect golden streaks. His dark brown eyes sparked with green highlights. He was gorgeous, and funny, and easy to be around.

And he was dumb.

He forgot half his orders before he got a chance to write them down. He auctioned off food at the tables, not even attempting to remember who had requested what. He was zealous about keeping glasses full, but he regularly topped off diet pop with regular, and vice versa.

I quickly realized that Drew wasn't going to last in Mephisto's hectic atmosphere. But he was fun to look at, while he stuck around.

I wish that I could have written off Carmen Rodriguez as easily.

Carmen's thick black hair and creamy complexion made heads turn. Her lilting Venezuelan accent cajoled customers into supplementing their orders; she sold more appetizers and desserts than the rest of us combined. She wore her jeans tight and her T-shirts tighter, and she made sure that she reached across male customers' tables early and often. As if to prove that the universe is never fair in distributing its gifts, Carmen was a genius as well. She had a master's degree from Yale Drama.

All of which I could have ignored. After all, Carmen was just a coworker. She'd stay at Mephisto's for a while, and then she'd land a starring role in some blockbuster play.

Or so I thought. Until I stepped into the kitchen after one particularly long night spent correcting Drew's countless mistakes. Until I saw the freezer door standing open in the kitchen. Until I saw a sundae bowl sitting on the counter.

Until I heard Rob say, "I know it sounds terrible, Carmen. But you have to try it! Strawberry and pineapple sauce over coffee ice cream. Bananas, but no nuts. And lots of fresh whipped cream."