Cross laughed, wondering how this would play out and she sent him a disapproving scowl.
“Um, well…” Addison was stumbling over her words, and clearly unsure how to answer. “I just…”
Cross would give her some assistance.
“I took her on the bike, Cleo,” Cross said loud enough that it couldn’t be missed.
Addison’s mouth fell open, and her eyes widened as she stared back at him. It would’ve come out eventually, and he wasn’t looking to hide anything.
“Cross?”
“Yeah,” he said, and Cleo gasped.
“Okay well, I’ll let you go so you guys can eat dinner. But I’ll call you tomorrow. Bye!”
The call ended abruptly, and Addison burst out laughing, veering her gaze to him.
“That was a hard launch.”
He shrugged. “You got a problem with it?”
Her gaze softened. “No.”
“Me either.”
Cross wasn’t sure exactly what was happening between them, but it was something.
Chapter Seventeen
Working at the bar was the perfect distraction from real life. For the past two days, she’d even picked up additional shifts. It gave her purpose and kept her mind off of leaving. This whole adventure had ultimately become a giant mindfuck. Everything she’d thought she’d known and wanted when she’d left her home in Iowa two weeks ago was no longer her reality.
Cross had never said the word “stay.” But he’d given her every reason to think it. So much so, she found herself weighing her options. As much as she’d spent a lot of time with Cleo, it hadn’t been enough. Addison wanted more, and not just with her new friend.It might be doable. She could afford to stay another month at the rental and pay for her apartment. She had the savings for it.Barely, girl.But there were other factors to consider. She’d have to contend with her family. Hannah would be a nightmare. It was the main reason she’d been avoiding her sister’s calls the last few days and only responding via text.
Am I seriously considering this?She broke out of her own thoughts and grabbed the tray of clean glasses. She needed to focus on something else. Like how she was in a dive bar, which felt more like a sweat box.
It seemed she wasn’t the only person with that grievance. Ava walked in from the back, throwing the heavy curtain to the side and stalking toward the bar like a woman on a mission. A pissed off woman. She stopped in front of Barry, glaring.
“You’ve got to get the A/C fixed.”
Preach, sister.
“I got a guy coming.” His flippant response seemed more like a dismissal.
“When?” Ava snapped. “The girls aren’t even bothering with the oil back there. They’ve resorted to using their own sweat. And” —she twisted her lips— “It’s starting to smell.”
Ewww.
“How fucking ungrateful are all of you? I gave you fans.”
Addison couldn’t help herself and burst out laughing. This man was something else.
“And to think some bosses give cash bonuses. Not us, though. We get thoughtful shit like fans because you’re too cheap to get a new A/C unit.”
Addison snorted. “Amen.”
Barry whipped his head, scowling. “No one asked you.”
Ava leaned on the bar, folding her hands. “What would happen if the girls went on strike? Poor working conditions is a valid reason, and the temperature back there tells me they have a solid case. Can you pay your bills solely off the bar alone?”
