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Remi turned the car engine off in the Nueve’s parking lot and pulled down the sunshade to check her face in the mirror. Nueve’s was one of the few restaurants downtown that had free parking for employees. It was like hitting the employment lottery, especially being so close to Pike Place Market. Now, if only her car that was made in the same year Gwen Stefani released “Hollaback Girl” didn’t croak, everything would be good.
She strutted across the parking lot. The rare afternoon sun peeked through the buildings and hit her vampire pale skin. Feeling lighter than she had in forever, she contemplated jumping on the light post and swinging herself Tarzan-style into the entrance. In the kitchen, a cloud of fried pork, garlic, and soup base led her to Gabriella’s tiny office in the back.
But when she turned the corner and saw Gabriella laughing with a woman who looked about her own age or a bit younger, she froze. Because it was not just any laugh—it was a hefty laugh. Afamiliarlaugh. The laugh Remi thought Gabriella reserved for only her, because they were tight.
Not only was she laughing, but this woman was also sitting inherchair. WithherGabriella.
And they were so preoccupied with how apparently hilarious this woman was that neither even noticed Remi standing there. Finally, she knocked on the open door.
“Remi! Come in.” Gabriella brushed her fingers through her gray waves, a new chic bob that Remi was still getting used to after seeing her for four years with a braid down her back. “This is Maya. Maya, Remi. Maya’s going to be joining us on the team.”
Remi scanned Maya. She was literally the opposite of her. Remi had nearly black, curly hair tamed only by buckets of cream and a very specific conditioner. Maya’s hair was so blond and straight it looked like it could shatter. Remi’s dark eyes were a stark contrast to Maya’s, a Caribbean-water turquoise that probably had a specific name, but Remi didn’t care to know. Unlike Remi’s thick thighs, round belly and muscles that could carry two cases of beer at once, Maya’s endless legs and long, lean arms looked so unstable that if Remi blew hard enough, she’d fall over.
And then Maya stood, andof course.Remi would have to step on her tiptoes to meet her eyes.
Note to self: Wear heels tomorrow.
“Maya?”She probably spells it My-ah.
Maya nodded, her posture so straight she looked like she was ready for a runway.
Remi had the urge to square up her shoulders. “How’s it going?” she asked, because that was what polite people were supposed to say. But really, she wanted to ask her why she was in her manager’s office, sitting like she owned the place, with absolutely no sense of nerves flashing across her flawlessly chiseled face and excruciatingly perfect button nose. Remi supposed she should shake her hand, but she didn’t.
“Nice to meet you,” Maya said with a wide, perfectly straight-toothed grin. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Sounds like you have some impressive skills.”
“Thanks. Wish I could say the same. Never heard of you.”
Gabriella flashed Remi a death glare.
Remi swallowed thewhat?settling on the tip of her tongue.
Gabriella folded the bifocals hanging from the gold chain around her neck. “Maya’s an old family friend. Known her since she was in diapers.”
The sharp pang of jealousy jabbed deeper than it should at a simple statement. So Gabriella and Snow Princess had history.Cool, cool.
Maya tugged on the cross-body purse strapped across her chest. “Should I tell her the story of you spiking my baby bottle with blackberry whiskey to make my cough go away?”
“Oh, Dios mío, your mom is such a liar.” Gabriella leaned back in the chair. “I would’ve never done that to a baby. Now, theremayhave been a time when you were four or five that I told your mom to do it to get you to sleep, but she ignored me.”
“Was that before or after I threw up from eating the entire chocolate bunny I stole from your purse?” Maya laughed.
Gabriella laughed.
Remi remained silent.
“So, Remi.” Gabriella spun her chair and faced her. “I wanted you to come early for your shift so we can talk about some exciting news.”
Finally.Remi’s chest lifted.Maybe this won’t be so bad.She needed to let go of every single mommy, daddy, and green alien issue she had and refocus. Maya might be the new day bartender. They’d been looking to hire a replacement after the other bartender left last week.
She looked at Maya,who offered a soft smile. An annoying, picture-perfect smile. Her mouth drew Remi in, andJesus, what a pair of lips. Plump, full, smooth, and a delicate shade of pink.
F me.
Gabriella had zero tolerance for workplace drama and sub-arctic tundra tolerance for workplace relationships.Second note to self: Do not hit on the day bartender.
Not that Remi would. Her job was too important. She’d never violate Gabriella’s trust and had no intention of making anyone feel uncomfortable with unwanted flirting. Never mind that this woman gave off exactly zero queer vibes, so it wouldn’t be an issue, anyway.
Remi glanced between Maya and Gabriella, and neither moved. The silence went from awkward, to heavy, to so thick she almost choked. Getting her promotion in front of a Snow Princess audience was not how Remi pictured her afternoon, but whatever. She’d waited four years for this and would take the news in almost any form.
