“You want me to get into a bar closet with you?”
“Either that or outside.” He nods towards the back door, where people are now gathered, engaging in drunken conversations that are loud and obnoxious. “Just hear me out.”
My teeth grind. “Fine,” I grumble with a heavy sigh, and enter the closet, leaning back against the large bottles of floor cleaner. It smells sterile in here, and the scent burns my nose. “You have two minutes, West, but take the cat ears off. I can’t take you seriously when you’re dressed like that.”
Evan adheres to my request and follows me in. He turns on the light and closes the door, but he leaves it slightly ajar. Blinking, he scrubs at his jawline, eyes trained on me.
The closet is small, and now I’m standing so close to him, I notice his eyes aren’t just one shade of grey. The outside ring is a dark silver colour, but there are flecks of steel in the dove-grey irises. There even appears to be a little bit of hazel surrounding his pupil, but it could just be the yellow closet light playing tricks on me.
I’m a sucker for a man with pretty eyes, but I also don’t get mesmerised easily, especially not when I’m pissed off, so I hike my eyebrows up at Evan, waiting for him to say what he needs to before I leave.
“I didn’t mean it, Flo. I mean, I did, but not in that kind of way. Finding someone I trust to look after Leo is hard,damn near impossible, but I shouldn’t have been so curt with you. I’m sorry.”
“I understand trust is earned, especially in your case, but your attitude has got to go. You don’t have to like me, Evan, but the least you can do is be civil.”
There’s something in his expression that I can’t quite pinpoint. He almost looks slightly pained. “It’s not like that, Flo. I… do like you.”
I press my lips together. “I really think you’d benefit from hiring someone else. Someone you can at least tolerate.”
“I know I’ve been a dick, but Leo loves hanging out with you, and you actually… do stuff with him. I can tell you care.” He leans back as he thinks, trying to find the right words to describe his feelings, and repeatedly clicks his teeth together, the noise grating. “If you stay, I’ll double your pay.”
“It’s not about money, Evan. I don’t want more. I wanted a fun summer, but you being such a dickhead is ruining it.”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry. If you were willing to stay, I know it would really mean a lot to Leo.”
We sink into silence.
I contemplate. The thought of leaving Leo after I’ve just promised him the summer of his life doesn’t sit right with me. I like to keep my promises. Plus, where am I going to find somewhere that is hiring just for the summer at suchshort notice? I’m going to need some spending money saved up for my trip.
God. This man.
“Fine… I’ll stay for Leo, but stop acting like this, or I’m gone. I don’t tolerate asshole men. Or many men, in general. You need a nanny, and that’s something you’re going to have to accept, so get off your high horse.”
Evan appears a little taken aback by my comments. But it’s the truth and what he needs to hear. “I… don’t want a nanny. I never have, but I realise that I don’t have any option if I want to continue the career I have. I’m not good at letting people into Leo’s life, but I’ve never seen the kid so smitten with someone he’s only just met. I’ll pull my head out of my ass, Flo.”
I close my eyes for a brief moment before reopening them. “I want to hear you say you’ll at least try and not be the biggest grumpy asshole in the world while I’m here. Once I leave, you can go back to firing people for breathing too close to you, but this shit doesn’t fly with me.”
“I’m not saying that.”
“Then I guess this isn’t going to work.” I unfold my arms to push the closet door open wider, but Evan juts his arm out in front of it, releasing a defeated sigh.
“Wait. Fine, fuck it, if you stay, I’ll try and not be the biggest grumpy asshole in the world. I’ll try and be… a nice boss.”
My body wants to shiver because I think we have different ideas of what a ‘nice’ boss would do, but I ignoremy hormones. “Hmm.” I study him with a curl to my lip, red-painted fingernails tapping against my bicep. “Good enough. I’ll stay for Leo’s sake.”
“Thank you.” Evan’s body somewhat relaxes, and he pushes the supply closet door open, gesturing for me to go first.
I exit and spot Mae and Nathan gawking at us, mouths popping open.
“Good luck with that,” Evan mutters into my ear from behind me, a soft noise of exasperation following it, and he heads for Bennett, who’s attempting the Irish Jig on the dance floor.
“What the hell was going on there?” Mae questions me as I approach her, with Nathan listening intently.
“Oh, just business.” A throaty chuckle escapes, and I steal the glass of fizz from her palms because fuck me, do I need it more than she does right now.
8: Flo
I’m in.
