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“Oh?” This came from Sophia.
Nodding, I look back at her. “Yeah. Ben and I—he’s been running the floor tonight. The man bun guy—we’re over in the first phase, building three.”
“The Thor guy,” Sophia says, and I watch her look at Emina with a silly grin. Do they have a thing for Ben?
But it’s Emina who blushes, and I think maybe it’s just her that has a thing for my roommate.
“He’s single,” I add, helpfully.
Even through blushing, Emina looks me straight in the eye. “Are you?”
I hear a thump before the brunette gasps, her eyes shooting from me to Sophia.
Chuckling, I nod. “I am.” I glance toward Sophia, just through the sides of my eyes, before looking back at her friend. “Not always easy to find the right person in a city like this, you know?”
“Gosh, do we know,” she answers, with a roll of her eyes. “The men here can be pigs.” Emina reaches out and puts her hand on my forearm, but I don’t take it in a sexual way. “I’m sure you’re different.”
“Not to toot my own horn,” I start, looking at Emina, but then looking at Sophia, “I am. We’re not all bastards.” I don’t know how much she remembers from Thursday night, but I stand by my word on that subject. “Well, ladies. It was good seeing you both again. I’m going to hit the head and then stuff my face with food before I’m needed back on the floor. Have fun tonight. But be safe.”
“We will, Jake the Bartender,” Emina says, at the same time Sophia replies, “Thank you. We will.”
I don’t reallyhaveto go to the bathroom, but I have the break, may as well use it. I take a piss, wash my hands, and head back, telling myself the entire time that Iwill not look in Sophia’s direction, even though I literally have to walk next to her table to get back to the front.
But I can’t help myself.
Once again, when I look toward her, she looks up and locks eyes with mine.
Going for it, I grin at her and give her a wink as I head to the front then back to the office.
I’m stuffing my face with a third slice of pizza when my phone goes off in my hand. I’ve been playing a numbers game called Join Blocks. It’s a pretty stupid game but it keeps me entertained when in the quiet office, away from the hustle of the pub.
Looking at the notification, I notice it’s a text from an unknown number. Frowning, I open it fully.
What time do you work until?
I’m debating whether or not I should answer or mark it as spam, when a second text comes through.
-Soph
I toss the rest of the uneaten slice on a paper plate in front of me, wiping my hand hurriedly on my jeans, and text her back.Close tonight.
After hitting enter, I type out another message.I have off Monday though if you want to do something
The message goes from sending, to delivered, to read. I wait a moment to see if she’ll text back right away, and sure enough, three bubbles pop up as she starts a reply.
Unfortunately, the bubbles go away and don’t come back.
Sighing, I put my phone to sleep, finish my pizza, and head back to work.
* * *
The night has beencrazy yet fun—but it doesn’t take away from the fact I’m ready for two to hit. The kitchen closed at ten, but there are still hours of fun to be had...
He thought sarcastically, I think, pouring another round of Guinness for a high top of four guys. “Four up,” I say, placing the glasses on a tray. Ben and Saint are on the floor while I mostly man the bar by myself. Cash is doing a bit of both, wherever he’s needed most at any given time. We’ll have the four of us until midnight, when Ben gets to head home. Cash is out at one, and Saint and I will close up together an hour later.
I turn my back from the waiting beers, moving down the bar to help one of my parties of three at the other end. After getting them settled, I move to the register to close out a tab, but have to wait for Cash to finish.
After typing onto the flat screen, the cash drawer pops open and Cash removes a few bills, dropping them into the communal tip jar at the same time he pushes the drawer closed.
