I rolled my eyes, accustomed to Jet and his flirting. “I have one more song DJ Smoke wants me to do if you want to join in. Are you guys good?” I asked looking at their beer bottles to see if they needed a refill.
“I need a soda,” D said.
“What do you want, Matt? It's on me,” Kill asked the new guy.
“Slick, this is Matt, Bambi’s brother. The one I was telling you about.”
Matt smiled at me, reaching out his hand so I could shake it. I glanced over at Ryan to see her watching everything going on at the boy's table.
“Hi, Matt. What can I get you?” I asked, pulling my hand back.
He looked me up and down, his smile hitching up an extra notch. Kill went rigid in his seat when he saw Matt's perusal. “Hi, Slick?” he drawled.
“My name's Faith. Killer here thinks I need a nickname,” I explained, nudging Kill with my shoulder. Even though Matt was incredibly good looking, he had nothing on Kill.
“I'll walk up with you,” Matt said, letting go of Bambi, who was shooting me death glares.
I was stuck. I couldn't very well blurt out I was in a weird relationship with Kill. We walked off, and I could feel Kill staring at me the whole time.
Ryan seemed to be busy, so we waited at the end of the bar. Her eyes widened when she saw who was next to me. When I glanced over at Matt, I realized he seemed to be just as taken with Ryan. She twisted the bar rag in her hands, and I wondered if she was picturing Bambi's neck, as she made her way toward us.
“Hey, Ryan. This is Bambi’s brother, Matt. He's in town just for tonight. Matt, this is Ryan, the greatest bartender in the world.”
They stood staring at each other, and I wasn't sure they heard a word I said. I felt like an outsider, given the intensity of their reaction. Matt pulled his wits together first and reached out to shake Ryan’s hand, flashing her a seductive smile.
When their palms touched, both of them gasped. I could imagine the electricity they felt when they finally connected; it was the same feeling I got when I touched Kill.
I walked away unnoticed. When I passed Jessie, I informed her our little hardened-heart Ryan was smitten. We watched them from afar, giggling.
Ryan handled the bar effortlessly, like always, but kept glancing at Matt. He stared at her unabashedly.
“I think you lost your friend,” I told Kill, pointing over at the bar. The boys' eyes followed my finger. They laughed at the look on Matt's face as he watched Ryan's every move.
“Where’s my soda?” D asked, noticing my empty hands.
“Oops, I forgot. Hold on; I'll be right back.” I went back to the bar and ordered D’s soda. I had to hide a smile over seeing how flustered Ryan was acting. She valiantly tried to ignore Matt as he stood at the end of the bar, but judging by her stolen glances, she was failing miserably.
Ryan turned and scowled at Matt, and a laugh slipped out of my mouth. She flipped me off before turning around abruptly to get my orders ready. Her response made me laugh harder.
Jessie stood next to me while we watched Bambi try to talk to Matt. He kept glancing at Ryan, and I was sure he had no idea what Bambi was yammering on about.
“I’ve never seen her like this,” Jessie whispered in my ear.
“I know; it's kind of funny to see her all tripped up,” I whispered back.
I straightened when Ryan came back to fill my tray, not wanting to garner her wrath.
“Thanks, Faith,” D said when he took his soda.
"Sorry it took so long."
“So, Ryan wants to slob Matt’s knob, huh?” Jet asked, making me stare at him in shock.
I kept telling myself that I needed to get used to Jet’s vulgar outbursts, but he continued to surprise me. DJ Smoke called my name over the microphone, and I was grateful for the escape. I took off my apron and handed it to Kill.
DJ Smoke smiled, showing off the gap between his teeth. His black hair was slicked back as usual, and his eyes shone with excitement as he made my introduction to the new customers, while the regulars cheered for me.
Jet jumped onstage behind me, and we did a pretty good rendition of Stone Sour'sImperfect.Jet surprised me again at how he could switch from vulgar to professional at his leisure.
