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I blink. Wow, she talks fast. And says a whole lot.
“Sorry, none of my business,” she continues, “I have a killer crush on him. Well, killer is a bad word. I’m harmless. Not a threat at all. I just tend to talk a lot when I’m nervous. And a little heartbroken.” She laughs. “And you seem so nice. Not even remotely a bitch like I hear he usually dates.”
I’m stunned. Too stunned to even correct her.
“Heidi,” another female server growls as she passes.
“Sorry,” Heidi says to me. “I apologize. I’m gonna get my butt canned if I don’t learn to keep my mouth shut and find a way to implement a filter.” She barks out a laugh.
“It’s okay. I’m not offended. I’m not dating Killian, though. He’s just…” I draw a blank.
She waits.
There’s a never-ending loaded silence before I pretend I didn’t just pause in the middle of an explanation. She leans in as if getting closer to me will make me more comfortable to finish my sentence. Instead I change tack and ask, “Can I have a glass of something sweet? Like… Sangria or…”
“We don’t have that on the menu here. We do at Exodus and they probably will at Numbers. What about I try to whip you up one? I’m a dab hand.”
“That’s okay. How about Moscato. Rosé, if you have it.”
“Any nibbles with that? Would you like a menu? Oh, shoot. I didn’t even bring you a menu.” She slaps her forehead a little roughly. “Ow.”
“No, no thank you,” I say. “I’m not hungry and I don’t need a menu.”
“I’m totally gonna get myself canned.” She smacks her forehead again before she hurries off, cheeks red with embarrassment.
A young man, maybe thirty and dressed in a suit with a burgundy tie comes by a moment later with a tablet on a tray and presents it.
“Good evening. I’m Guy.”
“Hi Guy. Violet.” I hold my hand out.
He looks surprised and takes it and shakes my hand.
“Welcome, Violet. Here. Some fun while you wait for Mr. Coulter.” He winks and sets the tablet down.
He touches the screen to bring it to life.
I see a poker app, a slot machine app, a menu, and a few other icons.
“Oh, I don’t know how to gamble.”
“I can help you.”
“Oh, well, I don’t gamble either. By choice.”
“Play money. Just play money,” he assures. “Some games we play here are just for play money because we’re not legally allowed to play for real. Just have fun. If you have questions, hit the help button and I’ll be right over, though Heidi might come, too. If she gets here first, know I’m comin’ up the rear, soon.” He winks.
I bristle at the obvious inuendo.
“If you change your mind and want to bet on any races or events, this icon will take you there.” He gestures to a logo styled like the G in Genesis outside on the building. “Let me just hit the g-spot here… Let me know and I can walk you through it.”
He winks again.
“You smell good, by the way, Violet.” He moves inappropriately close.
Guy is a very good-looking guy. He’s really muscled and has piercing blue eyes. His eyes traverse me like he likes what he sees.
My own eyes go back to the screen of the tablet so I can avoid his eyes. Red creeps up my cheeks at how inappropriate he’s being.
“Thanks,” I say and study the screen like my life depends on it.
“I’ll be back to check you out soon,” he says, and it has an almost sinister sound to it.
Before I can guard my reaction, my eyebrows knit, and I laugh nervously, still not looking at him.
He leaves, but I feel his eyes on me.
Wow. Unprofessional.
A moment later, Heidi returns with a tray holding a small platter filled with cheese, crackers, and grapes as well as a decanter of white wine and a tall glass.
I asked for rosé wine and no food.
“Oh, I didn’t want any food,” I say.
“You might change your mind,” she says.
“No rosé wine?” I ask.
“Oh shoot. I goofed. I’ll take it back. Shoot.”
“It’s okay. I don’t mind white,” I tell her. “Thank you,” I say, and she opens her mouth to speak, but Alana, the blonde lady I was first introduced to is back and giving her a sharp glare. Heidi winces before hurrying away.
I see by taking in the room that every table has one or more of the burgundy tablets on them. A man at the next table taps a credit card to one. Another hands a wad of cash to a server, who taps on her handheld tablet and then hands him a card she’s swiped on the side. I’m guessing the man loaded some credit onto a card to place some bets.
I see a soccer game on one wall-mounted television, horse racing on another.
