Mabel has only ever called me Liam, so Lee is a safe enough nickname. She won’t have an inkling it’s me and honestly, I don’t want her to.
It’s pathetic to say out loud, but I’m a bit of an insecure jackass.
I don’t necessarily like what I see in the mirror, but I’ve made peace with my looks, height and…weight. I know I’m not conventionally handsome. At least I’m physically stronger than most. Growing up, I’ve always been an outcast due to my appearance. While Mabel isn’t the judgy kind, I don’t want to disappoint her.
She’s so out of my league, it’s not even funny.
Mabel’s this smart, kind, and beautiful girl.
And I’m, well,me.
I have an impeccable work ethic, I care for the people I love, and I’m a gentleman where it matters, but my head’s not so far up my ass to assume someone like her would want to have a romantic relationship with me.
She probably thinks her text best friend is some lean, normal-sized dude. Not a giant-sized guy who looks like an ugly bruiser.
The thought irritates me, yet the feeling is short-lived when Mabel smiles at me. “Nice to meet you, Lee. I’m May.”
Her smile lights up my insides like a Christmas tree.
God, she’s so lovely it actually hurts.
I get a kick out of her not introducing herself as Bel. That’s my nickname for her and I’m a territorial motherfucker. I’d hate to know strangers get to call her Bel.
I know, I know. How very caveman of me.
Giving her a tentative smile of my own, I say, “Likewise, May.”
We thread our way through the thick crowd. I want to grab her hand, but I don’t because she didn’t consent to it. She still follows closely behind, her presence warming my back like the sun after days of rain.
That’s what Mabel is to me. My little sunshine in my otherwise gloomy life.
We reach the busy bar and I signal the bartender. Pia catches my eyes and saunters over despite the numerous order calls. “What’s up?”
“I need some ice.” I chin nod towards the cash register. There’s a small bowl filled with individually wrapped white chocolate truffles. We keep them to snack on during our shifts. They also happen to be Mabel’s and my favourites. “And a handful of those.”
Pia, bless her heart, hands me the entire bowl along with a plastic cup filled with ice. “Everything okay?”
When Pia spots Mabel standing behind me, her eyes widen with recognition.
Besides Mabel, Pia is the other friend I’m closest to. As a result, I’ve told her about my secret crush. I’m notorious for scrolling through Mabel’s Instagram in the staff breakroom and Pia has seen me hopelessly pine over the sexy minx of a model on multiple occasions.
Pitiful, maybe, but I have zero regrets.
I can stare at Mabel all day long and not get bored.
“Listen, I’m taking my break now. Let Donovan know if he asks, all right?”
“Sounds good.” Pia gives me a wink before going back to making drinks. I already know when the night is over, she’s going to demand a play-by-play.
Always rooting for the underdog, Pia is my biggest cheerleader.
When I turn back to Mabel, she stares up at me with this softness that twists my insides. All at once, I want to get into her mind and see what she sees when she looks at me.
“Thank you.” She shifts on her heels. “For getting me ice. That was kind of you.”
The music is too loud. I crane my head down and say close to her ear, “I know a place in the back where we can sit down and nurse your bruise. Would you like to go with me?”
I’m certain she came here with her best friend Kennedy, who is nowhere to be seen. I’m hoping Mabel will want my company in the meantime.
