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“There is literally nothing I’d rather do than spend my free time with you.”
She huffs out a soft breath of a laugh. “Oh.”
“Yeah, so if I buy stuff for alfredo, are you going to cook it for me, Broccoli Monster?”
Now she laughs for real. “Whatever you want.”
“That’s what I want.”
“Then that’s what you’ll get.”
“Sweet. Thank you.”
“Of course.”
My excitement grows as I add, “I’m going to accept the job first thing tomorrow, by the way.”
“Yay!”
I snort in amusement and glance at my phone, eyebrows raised. I think this is the first time I’ve ever heard her say that word. How cute.
She suddenly gasps. “Uh oh! Crap! Landon, I have to go. Our dinner is burning!”
“Whoops! Hey, do you need me to bring you guys anything?”
Her words are rushed but not unkind: “No, we’re all set, I think.” Then, “Oh, Rae, don’t get too close! Scoot back, girlfriend!”
I cringe at the thought of the kid being near popping oil or a smoking-hot pan or whatever they’re dealing with. “I’ll talk to you soon, then! Bye!”
“Okay, have a g—Rae!You’re so sweet to try to help, butplease—! Bye, Landon!”
The call ends, but I still chuckle out, “Good luck.”
Then I start my car, get “Floral & Fading” playing, and head home.
Yeah, I definitely like having those girls in my life.
*
As I told Liv I would, I accept the manager position early in the day on Friday. Bill has an assistant manager already worked out: the guy we call Hulk, who works the late shifts purely because he prefers them. We bring him in for a little while so we can talk everything out together. Our promotions will go into effect almost immediately even though the bar’s second location isn’t open yet; we figure it’ll only benefit us to get right to work with our new responsibilities.
Once the day really starts, we get decently busy. It’s fun, though…even when Amanda shows up on the arm of the guy she cheated on me with. She puts on quite a show from their barstools, I guess to make me jealous—wearing the tightest dress I’ve ever seen, spiky heels, and a face full of make-up, she does that thing from the movies where a girl simultaneously makes out with one guy and eyeballs another.
Seriously.
He attacks her neck with kisses like a hungry zombie or something, and she looks at me as if to ask,‘Don’t you miss getting to do this to me?’
Well, hell no, I don’t. I don’t miss a single thing about her.
In fact, I take this opportunity to laugh about her with Liv over text messages. We can’t talk too terribly much since I’ve got real customers to tend to, but it’s definitely entertaining and it helps further pass the time. I’m also pleased to hear her dinner didn’t burn to an inedible crisp last night and that Rae’s injuries are feeling better yet. The little lady is actually attempting half a day of school today.
Amanda quickly gets bored of me not giving a shit about her, so she and her new dude leave after just one drink. My already-good mood improves, and it stays in place even through business ramping up in the late afternoon.
So between the new things happening around here and my general cheerfulness, my shift is speeding by.
Patrons, chatter, music, sports games on the TVs, thoughts about my promotion and Liv and our plans for the weekend—before I know it, it’s time to go home. I’m still energized and happy, so I decide to go for a run (I invite the girls, but I’m not surprised when Rae shows an intense aversion to going to the park).
After I’ve come back home, eaten a couple sandwiches, and showered, I ask Liv if she and Rae want some ice cream.
