The third floor is for private parties I know that, and the fourth floor is his office, but the fifth and sixth I have no idea, but now I kind of want to know because she got excited about serving up there.
I wonder if it pays more, because if it does I don’t care what's there, I’ll take the job if it’s only to serve the drinks. So, I’m not sure why I can’t be up there, I laughed at myself and thought it would be a VIP sex club, but threw that idea out, because if it was, I’m sure I would have heard about it by now.
I tug the apron around my waist and begin wiping down the bar, the smell of lemon-scented cleaner already familiar in my nose. There are members of the staff getting the tables ready, and I turn to Josie and smile.
“Well at least my shift is with you,” Josie jokes, as she wraps an arm around my shoulder. “For a newbie, I love that you can keep up with me.”
“Works always better when you like the people around you.” She raises her brows at me.
“And who do you not like? You tell me, I’ll tell you a few I don’t like.” I have to laugh because I think we all know the ones she doesn’t like.
“I don’t even know everyone who works here. I only know the ones who work behind the bar.” I continue lining the liquor bottles along the back shelf, I glance up at the mirror across the bar.
Since coming back here, and seeing Hayden I’ve been crying myself to sleep, just like I did years ago. Now I’m crying because I miss him. I feel his lips on mine even now.
I lean on the counter, exhaling, letting my head dip for a second, just thinking about Hayden kissing me again.
“You okay?” Josie asks.
“Yeah, school was long this week.” I smile and she starts nodding.
“Glad I’m out of college. So, you have a boyfriend yet?” She starts wiping the counter. “You must have one, you’re gorgeous.”
“No, no boyfriend.” I walk away to the other side of the bar to clean up, not wanting her to ask any more questions, I havea feeling she’s good at reading people. One more question from her, I’m sure she'll be able to find out everything between me and Hayden.
I look over my shoulder when I hear a voice coming closer and I smile at Lincoln and Mr. Cain.
“Olivia, two whiskeys.” Lincoln asks, and I give him a nod. Getting their drinks ready, I hear them talking about a meeting with the boys tonight. “When is he doing it?” Lincoln asks.
“Here you go.” I place their drinks down, and Mr. Cain watches me for a moment. The man is intense. “Would you like anything else?” I ask because he’s staring at me a little longer, and he smiles, and shakes his head and continues talking to Lincoln as they walk away.
He really is a man of few words, which makes me wonder if he has a woman in his life? Since I’ve worked here, I’ve not really seen much of him, he’s not out of the office, and I’ve never seen any woman around him, but if anyone's going to know it's Josie.
“Mr. Cain, is he married?” I ask her, and she looks at him and Lincoln walking up the stairs to his office.
“No, his girlfriend, though, is the complete opposite to him, she’s talkative, smiley, colorful,” she stops and starts laughing. “And you can see Mr. Cain is none of them, but one thing he is, and I can say it because I’ve worked here long enough. Mr. Cain looks after his staff.” She walks away when another staff member calls for her, and I get back to getting ready for a busy night.
Hoping it’s busy enough that I don’t have a second to think about Hayden, and his lips on mine.
Twenty-One
Hayden
Court - 17 years old.
The room feels too cold. Or maybe it's me.
I sit here, suit jacket tight around my shoulders, my collar choking me like it knows what’s coming before I do. I can't hear much, just the dull hum of voices and papers shuffling. Everything’s a blur. This is the day I’ve been dreading; verdict day.
Yet, all I can think is she’s not here.
She should be here. If she’s going to ruin my life and fucking end it, she should have the goddamn decency to look me in the eye while she does it.
My lawyer leans close, voice low, calm, the kind of calm you get trained for, not the kind you actually feel.
“She’s not going to testify. Again. I’m going to bring it up. The judge won’t like it, but he has to acknowledge it.”
I nod once, but it’s hollow. Useless. This court has already decided what it wants from me. The moment Olivia’s lawyer said she can’t face me because it’s too hard for her, they made their choice about my life.
