I lay there, laughing as Katelyn berates me and my room, reminding me why we were friends in the first place.
I can’t help but feel a wave of relief wash over me. I’m thankful Katelyn is willing to be here for me after everything, and who knows? Maybe it’ll be nice knowing someone this year.
Being friends with her may not be so bad.
6
Tobias
“Thanks, Tobs!” Yasmin smiles, dashing off to drop her bags before her hosting shift starts.
“Anytime.” I wave. Sometimes I have to drive her to work when her parents can’t. I don’t mind the company, so it’s nice.
Stacy, our daytime bartender, runs up to me the moment I step through the doors. “Tobias, thank God you’re here.”
“What’s up, Stace?” I grip the caramel macchiato in my hand.
“The mini fridge shut down again. It’s been down for God knows how long. I had to gut all the sangria mix, start over, and make new ones.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. Dammit—that’s going to be expensive. “Okay, just put everything in the walk-in fridge for now, and I’ll order another one tonight.”
I can see the pout on her face, but I hold up my hand to stop her.“Please?”
She rolls her eyes and heads off to do as I say.
Before I take another step, Claire runs up to me, a big smile plastered on her face. “Hey, Boss, so I was thinking—”
Oh, no. That’s never a good thing. I round the corner toward my office. She follows close behind.
“Gabe is on the schedule today, and I was thinking maybe I could train him?” she pleads.
“Stacy’s supposed to train him,” I say, placing my coffee on my desk.
“Yeah, but anyone who has ever bartended can bartend. I can show him the POS system, the floorplan, all that jazz.” She bounces on her toes, looking at me like I’m a genie about to grant her biggest wish.
I sigh, finally sitting in my seat and taking a moment. “Yeah. Okay, I guess it doesn’t matter who trains him.”
Claire lets out a high-pitched squeal and claps her hands together. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
I can’t help but smile. I know how it feels to have a crush. I get it.
At that reminder, I take out my phone from my back pocket and flick on my wallpaper screen.
Elijah’s smile brightens the screen, making my heart swell.
Maybe before I go over the schedule, I can call him—
Suddenly, there’s another knock at the door.
“What now—”
My eyes widen.
Ooops.
This time, it isn’t Claire, Stacy, or anyone else I work with.
Instead, it’s a tall, distinguished gentleman, dressed to the nines, with warm dark skin, a bald head, and a cool demeanor. This guy drips business, and judging by his thick watch and shiny shoes, I can tell he means it.
