“Cristiano, baby,” I mutter under my breath. “Gross.”
From then, the night becomes a blur. My five tables turn into six, and then the crowd surges from every direction so that I feel like I’m serving a hundred people at once.
“Three bottles of Veuve.”
“Ten Fireball shots.”
“One whiskey sour. Two lemon drop martinis. One screwdriver. Three gin and tonics.”
Thalia’s behind the bar in my section, and she groans in annoyance when I accidentally deliver a round of drinks to table four that were supposed to go to table three. Thalia has to remake them, and I have to apologize profusely to table three,offering up shots on the house as a way to smooth things over. Still, the guys are assholes about it, huffing as if they can’t possibly wait five more minutes for their drink order.
“I’ll cover the cost,” I promise Thalia when I rush back to the bar, flushed and irritated over my mistake. “I thought I was staying on top of things, but I can barely hear myself think in this place.”
“It’s fine,” she insists. “Don’t worry about it. Shit happens, and Aura’s going to make so much money tonight, Hugo’s not going to care about a few free drinks.”
I hope she’s right. Still, the mix-up puts me in a bad mood I can’t shake. I know my service has to be perfect the rest of the night if I expect to get tips from any of these people.
On top of everything, there’s Cristiano’s presence to contend with. It takes a Herculean effort to keep my gaze from drifting up to the VIP balcony every chance I get, but I manage to avoid it for most of the night. I only indulge twice. The first time I don’t see him. The second time, he’s talking to the woman in the silver dress while she leans into him, talking animatedly. I cut my gaze away before my mood nose-dives even more.
Later, while we go about our closing duties, I report all this to Annika and Simone.
“You should have heard how she said it. It was so ridiculous.Cristiano, baby.Just like that, all whiny and simpering like she was about to drop down on her knees and blow him right there.”
Annika laughs as she continues wiping a nearby table. Meanwhile, Simone and I are working together to dry a few racks of glassware. Well, Simone dries. I’m providing the entertainment.
“He has to besofull of himself. I bet he justlovesthe waywomen treat him. Everyone up in VIP must be all over him, kissing his ass. Can you even imagine?Cristiano, babythis,Cristiano, babythat.”
I only realize once I finish this longwinded aimless monologue that Annika and Simone have stopped working. Both of their eyes are as wide as saucers. Annika’s trying to stifle a laugh, and Simone is miming a cutting motion across her neck while mouthing something I can’t make out.
Finally it dawns on me.
He’s right behind me.
Chapter Nine
Isabel
My back stiffens and my eyes close for a moment as I try to fend off the overwhelming embarrassment. I want to run out of this club as fast as my feet can take me, but that’s not an option. I blink and look at my friends. Eventheircheeks are pink, their expressions filled with dread but, beneath that, utter delight.
“How long has he been there?” I ask tightly.
Simone winces. “The whole time. Yeah, since the firstCristiano, baby.” She looks past me as she continues. “Idon’t agree with any of what she said, sir. Not the whiny bit or the… kissing your…”
Annika rushes over and grabs ahold of Simone.
“Should we?” she asks, walking her index and middle finger on air.
“Yes,let’s.” Simone pats my shoulder as they scurry away. “Good luck, Elle. It was fun working with you while it lasted! Really was!”
“Hate to rush off!” Annika waves.
I don’t turn around to face Cristiano right away. There’s a small chance my friends are playing a hilarious prank on me. Cristiano isn’t here. He’s off with that girl I was telling them about. He’s forgotten I exist, lost in her body and…
“Please,” I whisper under my breath as I turn ever so slightly, and then my heart sinks because heisin fact standing there. Every excessively tall inch of him.
I toss my hands up, suddenly mad. “You can’t go around sneaking up on people! I could have been talking about something private.”
His mouth quirks, just enough for his right dimple to pop. “Instead you were—”
