Joe smacks him on the back of the head. “Nope. That’s your job, barback. Now get to it.”
I shake my head at them and move to unload the dishwasher meant for the glasses. Joe and I then get busy serving customers before I pull myself away to tend to my other tables. The rest of the night flies by with a mix of yelling at the TV, slicing more lemons and limes than I thought possible, and laughing and smiling at jokes that aren’t funny.
There are a few stragglers at the bar when we get close to closing time. I’m in the kitchen prepping for tomorrow when Hannah comes up to me.
“You look tan.”
I look over at her with a small smile and get back to my side work. “Yeah. I went golfing yesterday.”
“Golfing? With that guy?”
I look at her and nod.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“No. But I’m already too far in with him to stop,” I tell her with an exhausted sigh. Hannah has been my champion since I started working here at eighteen, but sometimes she goes above being an older sister and verges on being too motherly with me that it’s suffocating. And I don’t know how to set boundaries with her.
“Does he make you smile?”
I nod with a smile. “More than I thought was possible.”
“Good. But just make sure you’re with him for the right reasons.”
“I am.”
Later that night,I’m in bed, catching up on the latest posts, when I get a text from Brandon. I’ve wanted to talk to him since I left last night, but I have no clue where to start.
B: Hey, you.
Me: Shouldn’t you be asleep?
B: I should.
B: I told my family that I’m seeing someone.
Me: You did?
Me: What else did you tell them?
B: I told them we’re taking it slow and that when it gets to the can’t sleep, can’t breathe type of relationship then they’ll know more.
Me: Huh.
B: What’s with the ‘Huh’?
Me: It seems you already can’t sleep.
B: It appears I can’t.
I decide to go for it, otherwise it’ll eat at me.
Me: I’m sorry.
Me: About last night. I shouldn’t have left on a bad note.
B: I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have let you leave when we were both upset.
Me: I don’t wanna be upset when it comes to you.
