So how could they have fucked up so badly when it came to my parents’ case?
NINE
“Carolina, get your ass over here!”Lennard’s voice echoes, his silhouette framed by the half-open door to the kitchen, propped up by his shoulder.
“On my way!” I holler back, weaving my way through the patrons crowding the bar.
Tonight is busy, and a bachelor party showed up half an hour ago, keeping me on my toes with a continuous stream of orders.
Cindy is conspicuously absent, and sweat trickles down my forehead. The heat in the bar is scorching, and my running around only makes it worse.
With my back, I push open the door to the kitchen, spinning around to ask, “What?”
Lennard thrusts four plates piled with fries and nuggets into my hands. “You forgot this order,” he mutters, a scowl creasing his forehead.
“Calm down, I didn’t forget it. I’ve been too swamped to pick it up until now. In case you hadn’t noticed, the bar is bursting at the seams, and I’m the only one here.”
Matteo steps in front of me, pressing an ice cube to my lips and popping it into my mouth. I look at him with wide eyes,taken aback but unable to push him away, my hands full with the plates.
“Easy,carina.Save your fire for outside.” He laughs.
I’d like to counter, but my mouth is full. Besides, I can already hear the bachelor party guys hollering for another round. So I simply spin on my heels and head back out to deliver the food.
I take the next order from the guys and slide six frosty beers onto the table, assuring them, “I’ll be back with the rest,” before returning to the bar.
“Check out that big, round ass,” one of them drawls to his friends. “I bet it shakes for hours if you give it a good slap.”
What a fucking asshole. Seething, I get the remaining beers.
I hate that I’m working and can’t set that jerk straight.
“Here’s the rest,” I say, setting the beers from my tray onto their table. “Anything else?”
The offensive guy shares a smirk with his buddies before turning to me, saying, “Yeah, but I don’t think it’s on the menu.” His gaze roams my body.
“You couldn’t afford it even if it was,” I say, but it only earns me a chorus of chuckles.
“What’s it gonna take to get into those pants?” he slurs as his finger catches one of my belt loops, pulling me closer.
I swat his hand away. “I already have one asshole down there. I don’t need another.”
I turn to leave, but a hard slap lands on my ass, making me jump. “See? Told you it jiggles.” The guy guffaws with his buddies.
I’m ready to slap him back, my hand raised in the air when Donny’s shout reverberates across the bar. “Costa!”
I let my hand drop and glare at the guy once more before turning and walking toward the bar where Cindy and Donny have mysteriously reappeared.
Donny grips my upper arm, leading me through the door into the kitchen. He releases me abruptly, causing me to stagger a few steps.
“Did I just see what I think I did? Were you about to slap a customer?” His voice is loud and furious.
“That asshole hit me first!” I protest, spreading my arms wide in disbelief.
“Just because your virgin ass isn’t used to getting some action, you can’t act like a nun around the patrons! Cindy gets catcalled and hit on all the fucking time and takes it like a trooper, and for once, a blind fucker makes a move on you, and you turn into a prude?”
I can’t believe this guy. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Carolina,” Matteo interjects in a low voice, attempting to grab my arm. I jerk it out of his grasp, giving him a sharp look.
