Chapter Eight
Tayler
Iwalk into Cy’s and look at the bar first. I see one of the other bartenders but no Quinn. I scan the place and see it’s pretty busy. Not a surprise for a Friday night. Making my way up to said bar, I find an empty stool and climb on.
“What can I getcha, pretty lady?”
Ignoring the compliment, I say, “Diet soda, please.”
“Right on,” the guy says as he grabs a glass.
I lean to my right a little to see if I can spot Quinn in the kitchen area. Not there. Next, I rotate on my seat and search the bar one more time. I’m about to ask the bartender where she is when Luke appears from the back room. Without even greeting him, I ask, “Where’s Quinn?” It’s only seven. I came early just to hang with her.
“Uh,” Luke says, then stops. He crosses his arms over his chest and stares at me. “Well….”
I blink a few times, trying to figure out why he’s acting weird, then ask again. “Where’s Quinn?”
“She, uh, left.”
Bartender guy sets my soda down in front of me and walks away. Fast. “She left? You let her go early?” I scan the bar and note how busy it is. “It’s packed in here.”
“I… well, I didn’t let her go early. She got pissed and left.”
I just took my first drink of soda when his words register. I nearly spit everything onto the bar. “Quinn got pissed and left?” I arch my brow at Luke. “What’d you do?” Because my girl would not leave work early unless she had a very good reason.
“Me?” he squeaks. Yes, he squeaked. “I….” He lets his arms drop to the side. Leaning closer, he whispers, “I got pissed at her and told her to move her Kardashian ass.”
I gasp. Anger hits me so hard and so fast, it makes me dizzy. He has no idea. None whatsoever about what Quinn has gone through related to her body. The last thing she needs is someone like Luke making a comment like that. “You fucking asshole,” I growl.
“I know—”
“No you don’t, fuckwit.”
“Come on. It’s a compliment.”
No. He. Didn’t.“Telling a woman she’s got a big ass is a compliment?”
“Yes. Every woman wants a big ass.”
“No. Not every woman wants a big ass, you moron.” My voice is getting louder. “Someone who’s had to watch her weight her entire life isn’t happy to have a big ass,Luke.”
He runs his fingers through his dirty-blond hair. I can’t help noticing how pink his face has gotten. “Fine!” he says loudly. “I fucked up!”
“Yeah, you did. You hurt my b-best friend.” I’m tearing up now. No man is worth this shit. Sliding off the stool, I grab my purse and head to the door. I’m not spending another minute with this guy.
“Tayler!” he shouts as I walk through the door into the chilly night. Ignoring him, I stop and look right, thinking about where I parked a mere ten minutes ago. Gah! Stupid Luke has my brain fizzling. When I hear the door to Cy’s open and my name being called again, I start walking. I’m halfway up the street when I remember I need to go the other way. No matter, I’m not turning back. I’ll just walk around the block. I need the exercise anyway.
I feel someone touch my shoulder, and I know it’s him. “Babe.”
Wiping away a tear or two, I turn to face him. “What?” I shout.
“Look. I’m sorry. I’m an asshole.”
“Yeah?” Tell me something I don’t know.
“I’ll apologize to her. I’ll kiss her… uh, I’ll make sure she knows how sorry I am.”
“You’d better not fire her.”
