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“Ugh, now I’m kicking myself for not coming out when you were singing,” Lacey groaned. “I might have recognized who it was.”
“It’s not your fault. Didn’t you say you were short-staffed tonight?” I reminded her. “Can I do anything to help?”
Lacey tilted her neck left to right only stopping when each side gave a pop. “Yeah. We are. And no, but thank you.”
I shuddered. “Stop that. You know how much I hate it.” She was one of the few people that knew the real reason why. One of the bookies that was constantly at our house, coming after my parents to force them to pay up, used to pop his knuckles and neck all the time.
“Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” She darted a guilty glance my way. “And I do need to head back to the kitchen.”
I nodded. “I know.” She always hated that we couldn’t hang out for longer. But I understood.
Lacey leaned in and hugged me tight. “Things going okay at Jareth’s?” I texted her after I got settled and sent her pictures of the insanely luxurious bedroom. We chatted almost everyday on the phone or through text.
I nodded.
“Christmas is just under a week and a half away. You know you can bunk with me at my parents if you want and do all the Christmas things together.” A slight grimace crossed her face. Lacey hated that she was living back home with her parents, but after she and her boyfriend broke up she didn’t have a choice.
I leaned into her embrace. “It’s okay. I’m actually hoping that maybe this will be a good thing.”
She raised an eyebrow. “How so?”
When my eyes darted away from her she gasped. “Oh, my God. Did you sleep with him?”
Fire burned my cheeks. “Quiet down. No, of course not. Well, not yet.”
Her eyes widened. “Explain. Now.”
“I’ve decided that this is my last ditch effort to get Jareth to notice me.”
“Hazel, I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He notices.” She’d met him a few times when she’d popped in to go to lunch with me.
“Being attracted to me isn’t enough. I swear he almost kissed me last week when we were putting up Christmas decorations.” It frustrated me that besides the kiss at the Christmas party and his lips running down my neck when we decorated, we hadn't had any repeats or even any almost kisses since I’d started staying at his place.
“Okay,” Lacey pressed her fingertips to her chest. “That’s a lot to unpack. First, I can’t imagine Jareth decorating for any holiday. Which tells me he’s more into you than you think. Second, why didn’t you kiss? And third, are you sure he’s the one you want to be your first?”
The blush staining my cheeks that had retreated, fired up even hotter than before. This time it trailed down my neck and over my chest. “Once he got over his initial hesitation it was fun. There’s more to him than people realize. And why didn’t we kiss? Maybe ask Jareth that.” I harrumphed in frustration. “It’s like the Christmas party all over again. He still thinks he’s beyond redemption and should stay clear of me. And yes. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but you know I’ve had feelings for him for years.”
“Won’t it screw up your boss-employee relationship?” She raised an eyebrow.
I shrugged. “I don’t think it would change anything for him either way.”
Lacey leaned against the bar, giving me a knowing look. “Maybe not for him, but surely it would for you.”
“I need to take that chance, Lacey. I have to go all in to try to get him to see that we’d be perfect together.”
One of the kitchen staff yelled out to Lacey that they were getting backed up.
“Damn it. I have to go, but we are not done with this conversation. All right?” She pointed at me as she stood.
I nodded.
“And text me when you get home,” she added.
“Yes, Mom.” I added with a grin.
“Love you, Zelly. Make good decisions, okay.” She gave me a quick hug.
“I will. Love you, too.” I called out after her as she hurried away.
