Tessa's little mind-nudge effectively scared the shit out of him, despite how used to the sensation he should have been by now. The burnt pan he'd been inspecting dropped abruptly to the ground with a loud clang, though he made no motion to pick it up within the next few seconds of recovery, or before he made his way back to the stove to get her settled up with dinner. When he was finished cooking he did manage to pick it up to simply swing it toward the sink, letting it land in the basin with another clang.
Sliding through the swinging door again, he saw the busboy kid scamper out of his way, looking more than a little ashamed of himself, which was definitely alright with John. The dining area itself was mostly empty, with a few people enjoying their infinite coffee refills and chattering with themselves in the few booths along the window. There were only two waitresses on at this hour, Nessa and Belinda, all three members of the Chow family generally retiring right after the dinner rush so they could spend some time together.
And then there was Tess, sitting pretty as a picture on one of the worn stools at the counter. With his free hand John tugged off his apron and tossed it ahead of him, watching it drop onto the counter top beside her before setting her plate down in front of her. Club sandwich, french fries, extra pickle. He sat down a second, smaller plate that he'd been cradling in the crook of his arm with an extra side of french fries doused in gravy with a pickle, in the spot beside her and sat down. "Don't read that shit. It'll rot your brain."
"Didn't you just get back from break, Johnny?" Belinda cooed at him as she set Tessa's chocolate milkshake, then moved to pour him a glass of orange juice.
"What, you think the kitchen'll explode without me in there? Again?" John replied in much the same manner, nodding thanks to her as she set down his drink.