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I nod. “I do, and I might take you up on your offer to come back when I’m done.”
“I hope you do,” he says softly, and I drag in one more breath before I turn for the door. When I have my hand on the handle, he calls out, “Elora?” I turn to look at him. “Regardless of where you land, I hope you’ll keep in touch.”
“I will.” I open the door and step out of his office, closing it behind me. I stand there unmoving for a couple of minutes and pull myself together. After one last deep breath, I go in search of Beth.
With my feet aching and my back sore from cleaning rooms all day and running drinks all evening, I lean against the bar and look over at Roman. An hour into my shift, he showed up and ordered a soda from the bar before taking up his seat in the back of the room, where he’s been sitting alone all night with his computer and phone. I’ve gone over a couple of times to replace the water he switched to after the Coke he had, but he barely spared me a glance, even though I swear I’ve felt him watching me more than once.
When I see a pretty blonde leave the table she’s sitting at with her group of friends and walk toward him, I wait and watch. Every woman who has been brave enough to approach him tonight has left his table looking crestfallen. I haven’t seen the interactions, only the aftermath, so I’ve been curious about what the heck puts that expression on their faces.
“Last call!” Colleen shouts over the music playing from the speakers overhead, and I lose sight of Roman and the girl as the counter is swarmed by people wanting to get one last drink before the bar is closed.
I begin taking orders at the bar since Beth is working the floor. She told me today while we were cleaning rooms that she’s always been a server, and it shows. I haven’t seen her fumble once, and Colleen realized the same and called me behind the bar when she noticed Beth could handle the floor on her own.
“Elora.”
“Yeah?” I look over at Colleen as I open beers and fill drink orders.
“I’m going to miss you, girl.” My lips part in disbelief. I know Ernest said she mentioned to him that I’ve been doing a great job, but I truly thought she only tolerated me. Maybe she actually likes me.
“Same,” I get out, and she shakes her head before focusing back on the customer in front of her.
Before long, Colleen, Beth, and I have filled every last order, so we start the process of shutting down the bar, and with the three of us working in sync, things take less time than normal. By the time we’re done, the bar is empty of customers—including Roman, who left without me even seeing him go.
“So, how do you feel?” I ask Beth while tossing my apron into the bucket under the sink, a bucket I pointed out to her earlier so she would know she has to come pick it up in the mornings before going to the housekeeping room.
“Tired.” She smiles.
“Yeah.” I laugh, glancing over at Colleen when she calls out to the two of us. Walking over to her, I accept the cash she hands me and shove it into my pocket, watching Beth do the same with the money Collen passes her.
“Is there anything else I need to do?” Beth asks, glancing around the empty bar.
“No, you girls can go,” Colleen tells her, sounding distracted as she walks toward the back room.
“Okay, night,” she calls, and Colleen waves her off without a reply.
“I don’t think she likes me much,” Beth says softly as we walk toward the door together, and I laugh.
“Her bark is worse than her bite,” I assure her. “I’ve been here for five months and had no idea she even liked me until tonight.”
“Good to know.” She smiles as we step outside, where a good-looking man with hair almost as light as hers is waiting.
“Hey.” He smiles at Beth, and she walks toward him, falling into his spread arms.
“James, this is Elora. Elora, my husband James,” she introduces as she curls into his side.
“Nice to meet you,” I offer him a smile.
“You too,” he replies before he kisses the top of her head. “You ready to get home?”
“Yes.” She yawns, then looks at me. “Night, Elora.”
“Good night. See you tomorrow morning.” I watch the two of them walk off to the parking lot; then I start toward my room.
Halfway down the sidewalk, I stumble when I see a tall figure wearing a black hoodie and shorts walking in my direction through the shadows of the trees. I wrap my hand around my keys in my pocket, and my heart beats wildly against my rib cage until I realize that the man approaching me is Roman. “You scared me.” I let out a breath.
“Sorry.” He gives me a half smile as I close the distance between us. “Did you have a good night?”
“Yeah, it was busy.”
