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Lara’s abrupt disappearance last night is still on my mind. She hasn’t answered any of my texts. Logically, I should be pissed, but I feel like it’s my fault, so my confused emotions weigh on me like molten lead hardening inside my gut.
I shouldn’t have fucked her. After all this time, I broke my own rule. A mistake that Iknowcan never lead to a good outcome. I clearly scared her away.
As the regular crowd from St. Angelica’s church rolls in at a quarter after one, I catch Shelly in the hallway outside my office. “Hey Shelly. Think you can help me work the lounge today?” I lift a hand to silence her before she can object. “You can still dance, but I might need some extra help since Lara’s not coming in.”
Shelly cocks her head to the side. “What are you talking about? She just got here.” Shelly turns and walks away before I’m able to fully process what she’s said.
The door to the bathroom opens, and Lara emerges, dressed in her uniform. She spots me and stumbles to a stop.
I scratch my chin, not prepared for a conversation I didn’t expect. “Hey.”
She’s quick to respond. “I owe you an apology. I shouldn’t have just left like that. I know you were already understaffed. I understand if you need to fire me.”
“No, no, please, stay. We got lucky last night. It was slower than usual, so it wasn’t a problem. Is everything okay?”
She rubs her arms. “No. I shouldn’t have left. I needed some time to think.”
Thankfully, other than the two of us, the hallway is deserted. It’s the only reason I’m able to confront the turmoil I’ve been feeling since Lara bolted yesterday. “Listen, about Friday. I’m your boss. That shouldn’t have happened.”
“Jamie, but…”
“No. Lara. Please. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it. But it was a moment of weakness on my part. And I know how it looked, offering you a promotion right after that. I promise the two were not connected.”
She reaches out, touching my arm. “Jamie, stop. Please. Listen to me, okay?” She continues, and I’m aware she’s still touching me, the palm of her hand on my arm warm and reassuring.
She leans forward, her perfume sweet. “Me leaving had nothing to do with what happened Friday between you and me. I promise. I want to be here.”
It feels like I’ve been holding my breath for the entire conversation, and I let out a long sigh. “Are you sure? If it wasn’t that, then why did you leave yesterday?”
“Yes. I’m sure, Jamie. Yesterday… I was just overwhelmed. You know… I mean. The club thing is all so new to me. I just got scared. I’m better now.”
“You shouldn’t be scared, Lara. You did really great. Like you’d been doing it for years. If you’re okay with it, have you thought more about helping me out with the books?”
Before she can respond, Lara’s eyes dart past me.
“Jamie?” Angela is standing behind me, her arms crossed in front of her. I recognize the scowl, the same expression she shares readily with her unruly customers.
Blood rushes to my face. How long has she been standing there? “Angela? What are you doing here?”
“I figured you’d need some help today, so I left the birthday party early.” I see Lara tense up as she scrunches her shoulders up toward her ears when she catches Angela’s harsh glare. “Can we talk in private, please?” Angela says.
The politeness of her words doesn’t soften the bitter tone of her voice. She’s pissed.
Lara slips past me. “Excuse me. I’ll get to work.”
I open my office door, prepared for the worst, and not surprised when Angela slams the door behind her.
“I’m gone for two fucking days and you offer the new girl a promotion?”
A sense of relief comes over me. Ifthat’swhat this is about, I can handle it. At least that was the only part she heard. “Lara’s good with numbers, Angela. You know we need a bookkeeper. We’ve needed one for a while.”
“And where is her salary coming from? I’m surviving off tips as it is.”
The comment aggravates me. “That was your idea. And you know tips are good. You also know we’re understaffed.”
She huffs, her arms tightening around her chest. “Right. I’m sure that’s the real reason. And that promoting Lara has nothing to do with whatever happened between you two on Friday.”
Shit. I guess she caught more of our conversation than I thought. “What am I supposed to say?” Apparently, shrugging this off is not the response she wants.
