“This is Maeda. I’m showing her around before her first day,” I continued. “And second, I’m always on the clock.”
“I don’t pay you for that,’ Mike teased in his gruff sarcasm.
“I do the payroll, Mike,” I quipped back, which caused him to laugh.
He started his way down the stairs, a strong grip on the handrail. I made my way over to him, and Maeda followed. She offered Mike a steady hand which, to my surprise, he accepted. He looked at her then, and his beady eyes went gentle.
“You look like a beauty poster,” he said, “remind me of my girl, Darlene.” For a second, he was misty eyed, and if I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t have believed it.
“Thank you,” Maeda said. “Darlene is a beautiful name.”
Mike nodded, “Well, that’s enough sissy stuff.” He pulled himself upright and turned to me. “I came by because I wanted to check the manager book. I have a meeting soon with the accountant, and I need to have everything for the last year.”
“I can get that for you.” I wanted to ask to attend the meeting. I was ready for more responsibility. “It’s all on the Shared Drive. You can access it from your phone.”
Mike waved this away, too. He insisted. “I need a hard copy to write on.”
A chuckle escaped me. Maeda and I exchanged a look, old people and technology.
“I’ll be right back,” I told her. She nodded.
“Here, let’s sit while we wait,” Mike said to Maeda and began to shuffle his way to the closest seat. “Would you get me an ice water?”
I hesitated. I hadn’t shown her where everything was in the kitchen yet.
“Sure,” she replied to Mike. Then, she looked at me, her smile was confident and at ease. Fuck, she was so beautiful, and it made some of the nerves in me settle.
“Glasses are on the counter,” I told her.
“Seems easy enough,” she said to me, then to Mike, “I’ll be right back.”
I watched her go around the corner to the fridge.
“Nikki, the paperwork,” Mike barked. I jumped out of my daze and rushed to the office. I heard him laughing as I opened the door.
When I came back down to the table, Maeda and Mike were looking at pictures on her phone. Maeda had placed three ice waters on the table. It was a small thing, but she had thought of me, and the way it made me light up inside was embarrassing.
It’s just a cup of water, I chided myself,not a flirty text message.
“Here she is at Deja Brew the other day,” Maeda said. “She keeps telling me that the chocolate milk there is better, but I think she just really likes the crystals and everything inside.”
Mike smiled, “I always wanted a daughter. You’re blessed.”
“Thank you,” Maeda said, “She’s my everything.”
I put the paperwork on the table and accidentally broke the spell of sentimentality. Mike sat up straighter and nodded. “We should talk some business things now.”
“Oh, sure,” I said. Awkwardly, Maeda looked at me.
“I should get going then. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Kenzin. I look forward to working here.”
Mike nodded once in response, his focus on his iced water.
She stood, and I followed her to walk her out. “So, that’s the owner,” I said stupidly, just to fill the silence. “He can be a bit grumpy sometimes. I hope his sudden shifts in mood didn’t make you uncomfortable.”I hoped I hadn’t made her uncomfortable either.
“It’s all good. I’ll send over my availability when I get home.”
“Okay,” I said. I was struck with the sudden realization that I didn’t want her to go.
