“What do you guys want?” I ask.
“What were you talkin’ about with that guy?” Tommy answers my question with a question of his own.
“It’s none of your business.”
Tommy’s face lights up with a big smile. “You’re just tryin’ to make me jealous, aren’t you? You naughty little thing you.”
I sigh and give them a look that should tell them I’m not in the mood to mess around with them. But they both chuckle and elbow each other in the sides like they’re clever.
“She’s a clever one,” Dutch chimes in. “Knows exactly how to get us revved up.”
“Fallon, why don’t you come home with me tonight?” Tommy asks.
“What do you want to drink?” I ask, folding my arms over my chest, my level of irritation growing by the second.
“She don’t want to go home with you,” Dutch jumps in. “Not when she can come home with me. Am I right, Fallon?”
“Look, if you guys don’t order a drink, you’re gonna have to leave,” I grumble. “The bar is for patrons only.”
Tommy sighs. “How long we been comin’ in here?”
“Too long.”
“We’re what you’d call regulars, right?”
“I suppose.”
“Then I think you should speak to us with a little more respect, huh?” Tommy says.
“Yeah, considering us regulars are the ones payin’ your paycheck.”
I shake my head, doing my best to keep my temper in check. Blowing up at these two clowns isn’t going to do me any good. Especially since Mary has already warned me about my temper. She’s of the school of thought that the customer is always right. I’m not. The customers are sometimes absolute assholes who take way too many liberties with me they have no right taking. But Mary will side with these cretins every single time. If I didn’t need the job as much as I do, I’d tell her to get stuffed. But sadly, I need the gig. And the money is usually pretty good, so I have little choice but to grin and bear it since I have a powerful need to eat once in a while and I’d like to earn enough that I’m able to go back to SFAI and finish out my education.
“What can I get you to drink, guys?” I ask again. “I’m serious. I’m not in the mood for your shit tonight, all right?”
They both grin like it’s a challenge. I want to scream and throw them out, but I know doing that will only cost me my job. It would be really nice to have a boss who had my back.
“What’s it going to take to get you to go out with me, Fallon?” Tommy asks.
“You mean aside from a lobotomy and a complete lack of taste and judgment?”
He chuckles. “I love that fire in you, girl. I got to be honest here and tell you that it’s a complete turn-on. I mean it now. I’m sittin’ here with a total hard-on for you.”
“That’s enough.”
I look over and see the guy at the end of the bar looking our way. His jaw muscles are flexing, and his eyes are narrowed. Tommy and Dutch look over at him, the smiles slipping off their faces. They stare at the newcomer with undisguised irritation.
“Maybe you should mind your own business,” Tommy says.
“Yeah,” Dutch chimes in. “Keep your nose out of our business.”
“Leave the lady alone,” the stranger says, his voice low and tight. “She’s said she’s not interested in a hundred different ways. Do you not speak English? Or are you just too stupid to understand?”
Tommy and Dutch are on their feet in an instant, their faces darkening. The stranger sighs and gets to his feet as well. He rolls his neck then starts to walk around the bar toward them.
“Hey, guys,” I call. “Let’s not do this, all right? There’s no need for this. No harm done.”
“I’m tired of listening to them disrespect you,” he says, never taking his eyes off the pair of meatheads.
