Page 152 of The Bluffing Game

It strikes me that Rosie is so much less guarded than Sage is, and I’m sure that’s because she is the younger sibling. I recognize the same lack of worry in her that I see in Lucia. And I sense the same protective spirit in Sage that I have in myself.

“Hey, Mom. Yes, we’re here in beautiful California. Guess what? We got jobs already. Yes, Sage is right here. Sure.” She pauses, and her eyes seek Sage. “Hey, Sage. Mom wants to⁠—”

“Did you say you needed to have me learn something at the bar?” Sage speaks over her sister, and the glint in her eyes practically begs me to help her.

“I don’t—oh, yes, I think I remember. Can you come with me, please, Sage?”

“Yes, I suppose so.” She lets out a long, deep sigh, like she didn’t just practically beg me to give her an excuse to not talk to her mom.

“If you’re⁠—”

“I can come. I do want to keep my job.” She looks over at Rosie and shrugs. “Tell Mom I’ll have to speak to her later.” She jumps up out of her seat. “Okay, show me, boss. What do I need to learn at the bar?”

I hide my smile. If I didn’t know the truth, I’d think I had something to show her at the bar and that I just forgot. She’s that good of an actress that she has me doubting my own mind.

As I walk by one of the potted plants, I notice the soil is dry and stop to grab the hose hidden behind some stones.

“Do you mind if I just water these first? These plants cost me a lot of money, and I’ll be damned if I let them die from thirst in this hot sun.”

“Sure, go ahead. I don’t mind. Do you want me to water them for you?” She reaches over and delicately strokes one of the monstera leaves. “This is beautiful. I’ve never seen these leaves with white in them before.”

“This is a Thai Constellation monstera,” I explain with a smile. “It has a lot of variegation in the leaves. Though my personal favorite is the Albo. But you have to be careful if they have too many white leaves.”

“Oh, wow.” She looks at me in surprise and watches me water the monsteras. “You’re into plants?”

“It may shock you, but yes. You should see my house. I actually have a greenhouse.”

“That’s cool. I love plants, though I don’t have a green thumb.”

“I’d say it’s expensive, even more than cool.”

I turn off the water, and we head inside to the restaurant, then to the bar.

Jimmy “The Fish” is standing there, wiping down glasses with a white rag. He looks up, then past me to Sage, and raises an eyebrow. He knows I normally don’t like anyone hired without my vetting, but I’ve decided to give Sage and Rosie a chance.

“Sage, that there is Jimmy. He’s the bartender here. He works three to four nights a week. On the days and nights he’s off, you guys will cover the bar.”

“Oh, okay.” Sage looks surprised but still waves to Jimmy. “Nice to meet you, Jimmy.”

“It’s Jimmy the Fish.” He grunts and goes back to cleaning the glasses.

“Did he say Jimmy the Fish?” Sage looks at me with an astounded expression. “That’s his nickname?”

“Something like that.” The smell of something delicious wafts out from the kitchen, and I rub my stomach. “Gracie’s cooking up something good.”

“Why is his name Jimmy the Fish? Does he have a lot of fish?” Sage asks me as we walk to the front of the restaurant to the large bay window. “He doesn’t look like the sort of guy who would have a goldfish or anything.” She grins.

“What? Are you saying an older man in his sixties, with a buzz cut and a bunch of tattoos and rippling muscles, can’t have a goldfish?” I peer at her with a bland expression. “Really?”

“I mean …” She shrugs. “He doesn’t seem the most personable, so maybe his best friend is a goldfish.”

“Ha-ha.” I laugh. “Jimmy’s all right. He’s just not one for communication or small talk.”

“Then the job of bartender suits him perfectly,” she says with a straight face.

Once again, I smile. I love her quick wit and sarcasm. It’s effortless, and yet she’s always spot-on.

“He looks like he was in the Mafia or something,” she says, shrugging. “I guess I’m stereotyping, but I’ve seen The Godfather and Goodfellas.” She giggles. “He’d fit right in with the made men in those families.”