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“I appreciate your honesty about your past and your lack of experience,” I said to Magnolia.
“I’m a fast learner,” she said, as if she needed to keep selling me on hiring her. I was sure she was, and honesty was one of my top desired traits in hiring someone. That’s something I’d picked up from Loretta and Dotty, who both ran their own businesses. Besides, I knew Dotty trusted Magnolia, and that was good enough for me.
“As far as I’m concerned, you’re hired,” I said.
“Oh!” Magnolia beamed and wiggled on the stool. “Thank you, Ava. Yes! When can I start?”
“Anytime you’re able. Want to come in tomorrow evening for a little training? Sunday? If you could be up to speed by the time I leave Wednesday—”
“Tomorrow evening’s good,” she said. “Oh, yay! Can I hug you?”
Laughing, feeling like she and I could become friends, I said, “Of course,” and we leaned toward each other from our stools and hugged.
“I don’t want to break up a lady hug,” a male voice said behind us.
We pulled out of our awkward hug.
“Hello,” he said, looking from Magnolia to me. “Sorry to interrupt, but Magnolia, there’s a pool tournament tonight at the Fly by Night. Teams of two. You interested in partnering up?”
“What’s the prize?” she asked, raising a perfect brow.
“Five hundred bucks.”
“Apiece?” she asked, and he laughed.
“This is the Fly. You know better. Two fifty doesn’t suck though.”
“Two fifty does not suck. Ava, this is Kemp Essex. He’s a pool shark.”
“As is Magnolia,” Kemp said. “She beat me last month in a singles tournament. Next time I’ll get her.”
“Good thing you want to be on the same side tonight,” I said, grinning.
“That five hundred is almost guaranteed to be ours. What do you think, Mags?”
“I think you’re right. Let’s do it.”
“Sweet. Starts at eight. I’ll let you ladies get back to it. See you at the Fly.”
“Good friend of yours?” I asked when the guy was gone.
Magnolia laughed slyly. “Let’s just say a new friend since I started paying attention to the pool tournaments. He’s a good guy, and more importantly, good at pool. I don’t suppose you’d come too? For moral support?”
I hesitated.
“I know you want to work, but Loretta and Deshon have the desk, right?”
“They do.”
“When was the last time you went out for fun?”
“About 2018,” I said, only half kidding. I should’ve said no, but I’d gotten so much accomplished today, and I deserved to relax for a couple of hours. More importantly, going to the Fly by Night would prevent me from having to spend the quiet evening in the cottage.
“Why not?” I said. I checked my watch and saw it was quarter till eight. “Let’s get our butts to the Fly.”
Chapter9
Cash
