“Weird,” Faith mutters. “Be real with me, Daphne. Is he as much of a dick as people say?”
Ouch.
“Worse,” Daphne quips.
Daphne! You traitor.
Then she laughs. “Kidding. He’s… okay. Good guy, sometimes. Just abrasive and direct.”
Thank God. I can work withabrasive and direct.
“Like what?”
“Well, he fired Hanna Klein and all she did was show up late. Twice.”
“He also got in a fight with my father,” Faith adds.
“I heard about that! Was it bad?”
“Yeah. At church. He’s really awful. And this is going to sound mean, but I just… hate his cocky face. I know his type—and he’s the type I stay far,faraway from.”
I grip the rocks glass tighter, still hidden like a coward behind the bar.
“Really?” Daphne asks. “Like, you’re not even alittleattracted to him? You’re the same age. He’s cute.”
“Sure, he’s attractive,” Faith says, sighing. “But that’s great—for other women. I’m not into that dickish, quiet jock thing he’s doing. Just not for me.”
Quiet jock thing?!That’s a new one.
“He hasn’t spoken to me in years,” she continues. “Our families hate each other, so whatever. I guess he just holds a grudge. I still don’t get why he hired me.”
I lift my eyes just high enough to spot Ty walking toward the bar.
“Ladies, ladies,” Ty says, grinning. “Are we socializing or working?”
“Waiting on drinks, dick,” Daphne replies dryly. “With my trainee.”
“Huh. Bartender must be on a smoke break. I’ll make these.”
Ty ducks behind the bar, sees me crouched like Gollum, and nearly drops the shaker. I give him a sharp shhh! and he rolls his eyes, but makes the drinks in silence. The girls head out with their trays.
I slip out behind him and casually sit at one of the bar tables like nothing’s wrong.
A moment later, Daphne walks by with Faith in tow. Faith’s cheeks are pink. She offers a polite smile, clearly trying to be professional.
“Hey, Mr. Holloway!” Daphne says. “Eating in the bar tonight?”
I nod, avoiding speaking. I point to the usual: ribeye steak, medium rare, and a glass of Malbec.
“The usual,” she says. “Coming right up.”
As they walk away, I hear Faith whisper, “See? He’s so quiet.”
I smirk.
Yeah. I’m quieton purpose,sweetheart.
Daphne shrugs. “He’s like that. Strong, stoic, silent.”
