Corey steps closer to me. “I know I fucked up, but I only have two nights. Let me text Aaron,” he says, slipping his phone from his pocket.
“Absolutely not! Corey!” I can’t help but raise my voice slightly, causing a group of people walking by to look in our direction–great. I set the tray back down on the counter and reach for Corey’s phone. He uses his disgustingly sexy height to his advantage and holds it up higher. “Please do not embarrass me like this, Corey!”
My words cause him to pause, and he holds his hands up in defeat. Marla saunters back to the counter, eyeing my exchange. “Need me to take your tray, babe?” she asks.
I shake my head. “No, I’ve got it in a minute. Thanks.” She nods at me and gives Corey a look.
“Bex, I’m sorry,” he says, putting his phone back in his pocket. “I just thought if—”
“You want to pull strings to get me out of working a busy night, one where I might even make a decent amount of tips.” I reach for his hands, and as he takes mine, I consider just sayingfuck itand go. But it can’twork like this. “I like you, Corey. A lot. Like, more than I probably should, given that we’ve known each other for less than a month.”
Corey grins at me and squeezes my hands. “I feel the same way, Bex.”
“But I can’t just drop my life, my work, when you come around. Please tell me you understand that.” I hope he truly does understand why this is so important to me. I need to have a boundary in this relationship.
Wow. Relationship. Does that make me his—
“Oh, good, you found your girlfriend!” Aaron walks up next to us, and I immediately drop Corey’s hands. Aaron is dressed far more casually than I’ve ever seen him, in a pair of jeans and a Vipers jersey that looks matte black.
“Mr. Blackwood,” I say, glancing back at the service counter where Carlos and Marla stare, mouths agape. “How can we help you?”
Aaron nods and waves at the team, then focuses back on me. “Bex, you can call me Aaron,” he says, before quizzically looking at my uniform. “Are you working right now?”
It takes everything in me to not roll my eyes and say,obviously. “Yes, sir,” I say, as Corey’s eyes flash. My face burns with embarrassment. “Sorry, yes, Mr. Blackwood. Aaron. Yes, I actually have a tray to go out…” I turn to wave at the tray, but it seems like Marla has picked it up for me.
Aaron looks at Corey. “I thought you told her about tonight?”
Sighing, Corey shrugs and says, “I completely forgot because I am an idiot.”
“Well—” Aaron begins to nod.
“No, you’re not an idiot. Even if he had told me, I was on the schedule for tonight. I’m sorry I can’t join you guys—”
“But I thought your friends were coming?” Aaron asks anxiously. Corey rolls his eyes, shaking his head.Wait, what?!Aaron looks back at me. “Bex, it’s all right. I’ll handle the rotation.”
“Mr. Blackwood—” I start, but he flashes me a look. “Aaron,” I say more softly as he taps out something on his phone. “You really don’t need to do that. Tonight will be busy, and—”
“It’s already taken care of,” Aaron says, slipping his phone back in his pocket. “You know we have extra coverage for weekend nights, anyway.” He gives me a reassuring smile, but I’m not feeling it.
There’s a sinking feeling in my stomach, like I’m giving in. I just let my floor team down. My famous, well-connected boyfriend strolls in on one of our busiest nights and suddenly, I’m just released early from my shift? Off to party with them in a suite at the game, leaving my team to deal with the chaos and mess of a Friday night floor?
Corey touches me softly on my shoulder, and I look up at his beautiful smile. “Go get changed, sugar. We’ll get you a jersey at the game.”
He seems to miss the fact that I’m upset and completely misses why. “Sure,” I say, nodding slowly. I turn away from them and head toward the staff room.
“Please invite your friends!” Aaron calls after me. I glance over my shoulder to nod and see Corey giving his friend a shove in the shoulder.
It doesn’t matter, anyway. This late on a Friday night, Ally and Britney likely already have plans, and neither of them has ever given a shit about hockey. I pass by Marla on my way across the floor, and she slows her hustle down to say, “Lucky mama! Thanks for the extra tips!”
She laughs, so I know she’s not mad I’m leaving early. Part of me is hoping Marla gets my section, too—she can hustle hard and deserves the extra tips.
“Be good, baby!” she shouts as she saunters away.
When it comes to Corey, I’m not sure there’s such a thing as “being good.”
Chapter 15
Corey
