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Chapter Ten
“I’m sorry,” Tino said. “I am. I wish I had something to offer you, but I can’t, not in this economy. Now, when your leg is all fixed and you can be back to normal, come see me and we’ll work it out.” Tino patted my shoulder in a placating way that made me want to vomit. He rushed to the bar, sending a round of shots around for the college kids he still thought were his friends but who were blatantly just there for free nightly shots.
“He’s not sorry,” Grace said, putting down the busboy container of dishes on the counter beside me. “How are you holding up?”
I shrugged. “I’m already going a little crazy. I don’t have income now, so I’m a total mooch off my parents. And my ankle is broken. All of that on top of all the stuff I tried to escape from New York, and to be honest, I’ve been better. Way better.” I leaned on the counter. Grace walked away, returning a few minutes later with a glass of the cheap wine Tino served. I eyed it, shrugged, and took a sip.
“It’ll get better. You should thank Tino. He did you a favor by forcing you to take this time away from here. Tillie, we all know this isn’t your forever. This will give you the time and space you need to re-evaluate.”
“What’s there to re-evaluate?” I asked. “Everything’s just a mess.” I hated being the down-in-the-dumps girl. Still, with everything that happened, I barely remembered that once chipper, optimistic girl I used to be.
“It can’t stay a mess forever. You’re smart, and you did run a successful business for all those years. That’s no small feat. Look at Tino. He’s still grasping at straws after all these years. So New York City and the economy dealt you a blow. That doesn’t mean you have to be done forever.”
My heart wanted to listen to Grace’s pep talk and believe her. But my head told me my bank account couldn’t really support the dream, and neither could my waning resolve. I wasn’t a twentysomething with my head in the clouds anymore, that magical faith that only comes before the real world kicks you down.
“Now, more importantly, did you-know-who show up?” Her eyes sparkled at the mere mention of Leo. I sat up straighter, looking to my left and right to make sure no one was listening, which immediately felt ridiculous because who would associate me with a popstar anyway?
“He did.”
Grace emitted a squeal at least three decibels too high. “Tell me everything.”
“Well, we just watched some soap operas. He did bring roses. But that was it. It was just a kind gesture.”
“A man of that status brings you roses, and it was just a kind gesture? Are you out of your mind? Listen, Tino, although a jerk, really is doing you a favor. In addition to working on your next business move, you could take the next couple months to savor every second of your time with...L.” She looked around, too, as if the codename wasn’t enough. It felt like we were in a seriously bad spy movie suddenly.
“Grace, there is no time with L. He’s just being kind. I mean, honestly, why does everyone think there’s going to be this torrid love affair between us? We’re not even close to being the same. And even if someone like L were interested in me, I’m certainly not interested in relationships after...well, you know.”
“Tillie, do you have eyes? Have you seen the way he looks at you?”
“He looks at everyone like that.”
She laughed. “Listen, I don’t know what your next career move is, but it shouldn’t be anything with detective work.”
“At this rate, I can’t even keep a restaurant job, so I don’t think there are any worries there.”
“Oh stop, you’re being too hard on yourself,” Grace began. But then the bells on the door to Tino’s tinkled, and Tino came rushing out from behind the bar.
“There you are, Lilly! I was starting to worry. Welcome, welcome. It’s so nice to meet you. We’re so glad to have you here, especially with your experience.”
Grace and I turned to look at the brunette walking through the door. She wore the Tino’s uniform and bright red lipstick that accented her perfectly lush lips. She smiled.
“Let’s get started,” Lilly said with a sultry voice.
My stomach sank. It had only been a day. One single day...and my replacement already walked through the door.
Grace stared in silence and then looked at me, waving a hand. “I can tell she’s not going to be any good. Don’t worry. She’ll be gone before you get back.”
We turned just then to see Lilly, my replacement, jump right into the fray as if she were born for the job. As if on cue, the line dance music started playing a few minutes into her shift. She dashed to the stage spot and performed the dance better than I ever could. Grace sat the dance out, ducking behind the bar when Tino walked by. She re-emerged to watch Lilly, the new girl, expertly make her way through the performance.
