Page 10 of Dirty Reads

He stared at me like it was my fault. “What the fuck?”

“Dunno. Don’t care. Pour me a Bud for table nine. Guy drank half a glass of that shit. I’m gonna comp the table. Actually, give me three Buds.”

“Got it.”

I peered over the bar. Katie looked like she was waving an F-16 onto an aircraft carrier. I glanced over my shoulder, saw no one, then pointed to myself.

She nodded. “Hey Jess. Guy at seventeen asked for you by name.”

I grinned. “Me?”

“You’re the only Jess.”

“Sweet. Thanks.”

I dropped off the three beers. “Sorry about all that. Your food and the beers are on the house. Here’s one for each of you.”

Comb over raised his glass, as did his two friends. I smiled in return. “Again, I’m sorry. Next time you come in, ask for me. Name’s Jess.”

“Thanks, Jess.”

I smiled and turned around. Wednesday night wasn’t a busy night for us at the bar, so adding another table was exciting. I maneuvered through the empty tables toward the booth that requested me by name. Maybe I could pay my rent and afford to eat if things kept improving – and no one ordered the Shock Top.

“What can I--”

Oh shit.

It was him.

Dick.

I swallowed hard. “--get for you.”

He folded his arms in front of his chest and leaned against the wall. “What time do you get off?”

I cocked my hip. “Excuse me?”

“Work.” His eyes slowly took in every inch of my five foot four frame. Twice. “What time do you get off?”

I felt like he’d slowly fucked me. Without permission. “You come in to hit on me, or to order?”

He shrugged. “Both.”

I pursed my lips and tried to act unimpressed. “What can I get you?”

“Six wings, all legs. Two shots of Gran Patron. The Platinum. And a couple of limes.”

I nodded. “That it?”

His eyes were still locked on mine. “For now.”

Breaking his gaze wasn’t easy. Not at all. His eyes were a strange color of the lightest blue, and as much of an intimidating prick as he was, his eyes told a different story. They were inviting.

I wanted to let him know I wasn’t the scared little girl who he had met in the alley a few days prior. I was independent, adventurous, intelligent, and had more self-esteem than any other girl I knew.

As much as I didn’t want to, I turned away. “I’ll be back.”

Normally, I worked the 3:00 to 11:00 shift, and left a little after eleven. Some nights I stayed later if we were busy, but it was infrequent. I had no idea what Dick wanted from me, but I had thought about him several times since the day I met him, I just wasn’t willing to call him. I wasn’t that girl.