Maybe This Time (Maybe #1)(16)

“Hey, Tag,” I say, smiling widely at him.

“Tag, you don’t get to touch this one,” Reid says from behind me, smirking.

Tag chuckles huskily, pulling out another cigarette from the packet. “There’s a first for everything, I guess.”

“You’re… hot,” I blurt out. Reid shifts on his feet, taking me by the arm and pulling me inside. “You even look at him and I’ll fire him. He has a kid, you want that on your conscience?"

“You’re a dick,” I tell him, looking around the bar.

“Summer, I didn’t f*ck that girl last night, so retract your claws,” he whispers into my ear. He didn’t? This man is so damn confusing. I can’t help but feel relief, but when you look at it, does it really change anything between us?

“So what did you do, then? Play Monopoly?” I say sarcastically. I purse my lips waiting for his answer.

“She started to kiss me and I pushed her away. I couldn't go through with it, it wasn’t her I wanted.”

“So, kissing means nothing to you? Maybe I should go and kiss the next guy that walks by and see how you like it?”

“If you want to see a fight, sure,” he says, narrowing his eyes a little.

“Hypocritical bastard,” I mutter, gritting my teeth. Why do I like him again?

“Look at me, hey,” he says, holding my chin in his palm. “I shouldn’t want you. I’m not good enough for you. I know it and you know it. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting you. Just being near you… You bring me peace, beauty,” he says in a soft unwavering tone, briefly resting his forehead against mine. I stand there in shock.

Speechless.

Reid heads behind the bar, leaving me standing there, gaping like a goldfish. Ryan walks into the bar, saving me.

“Hey, Sum, you remembered,” he says, tugging at a lock of my hair.

“Of course I did. What kind of employee would I be if I didn’t show up my first day of work?” I ask in a saccharine sweet tone.

“Probably like the employees I’m used to,” he says, chuckling. He bounces on his feet, full of energy.

“It’s just the three of you?” I ask, looking around. There are about five customers, three of them sitting alone and staring into their drinks. Must be drowning their sorrows, because it's only two pm.

“Yeah, we had another girl, but as of last month she quit,” he says, his eyes darting towards Reid. Or was it Tag?

“Which one of them chased her off?” I ask, dying to know.

“Work gossip another day.” He chuckles. “Today, let me show you the ropes. You ever worked at a bar before?”

“Not exactly,” I admit, but how hard could it be?





*****


Four hours and two broken glasses later, I'm getting used to everything. There's a chart telling me exactly what to put in each drink, and Reid showed me how to use the cash register. A customer told me I wasn’t very good at pouring beer, but apart from that, I think I'm doing pretty well. Tag went home, leaving me alone with the twins.

“Can I help you?” I ask the next customer, cringing when I see it’s the woman my dad was with here last night.

“Vodka orange,” she purrs, a smug smile on her face. What the hell does she have to be smug about? So, you’re f*cking my dad, congratu-f*cking- lations.

“So, you’re Jack’s kid,” she says, handing me a fifty. I wonder if this is my dad’s money she’s using.

Probably.

I don’t answer her, because I have nothing to say.

“I didn’t even know he had a daughter until last night,” she says, searching my face for a reaction. I school my expression, not wanting her to know that her comment stung, because it did.

“Are you gonna be my new mommy?” I ask sarcastically, handing her the change.

“You’re not gonna get in the way of Jack and me,” she sneers, her face turning red with the hatred in her expression. She storms off, back to her table where her minions sit.

“You okay?” Reid asks, coming up behind me.

“Why would she think I'd get in the way of her and dad? What the f*ck?”

“She knows Jack loves you, it’s easy for anyone to see, Summer,” he tells me, grabbing my hand and rubbing my knuckles with his thumb.

“Jack could care less about me,” I say, walking towards the end of the counter where a customer stands. I serve him his drink, and then watch as another familiar face walks up to me. The blonde haired girl from last night. I remember Reid was talking to her just before I left. Apparently the same people come here every day. Great, just great.

I’m about to ask what can I get for her when Reid walks up to me. “I’ll serve her. You go ask Ry if he needs you to do anything,” he says, waiting for me to leave before he says another word.

What the hell?

Who is this woman?

I find Ryan in the office, actually doing work instead of his usual activities in here.

“Need me to do anything else, Ryan?” I ask him, walking in and plopping down on his desk.

“If you can write down your availability that would be great,” he says, pressing buttons on his calculator.

“Does Reid have a girlfriend?” I ask, not looking him in the eye as I say it.