Bad Rep (Bad Rep, #1)(4)

Randall started rolling the amp toward the apartment building.  “We're heading out to the lake for a party tonight, should be killer.  Swing by if you want.”  I tried not to growl in frustration.  Eli hadn't mentioned anything about a party.  Reinforcing that a serious relationship is not what we had.

I plastered a fake smile on my face.  “Yeah, maybe.  See ya around.”  And with that I got in the car.  Riley gave me a look as she pulled out of the parking lot.  “What?” I asked defensively.  Riley pulled a face.

“Why do you insist on hanging out with those losers?  They look diseased.”  I groaned.

“Jeesh, judge much?  They're nice, alright?  And have you looked at Eli lately?”  I muttered, picturing his cut abs as I turned on the radio.  Riley just shook her head as she pulled out into traffic, heading toward downtown Bakersville, where Barton's Pub was located.

“You can do so much better than that mouth breather.  It's bordering on gross,”  Riley quipped, turning the radio station from the pop I had chosen, to a band that sounded more like screaming than actual music.

“Look, can we not talk about Eli?  I know how you feel about him, but the last time I checked, it was my life,” I said with irritation.  God, I loved her Riley, I really did.  But her moral superiority was a little hard to swallow at times.

Thankfully we pulled up to Barton's and further discussion about the matter was essentially brought to an end.  I got out of the car and looked up at the building.  Barton's was a favorite with the Rinard crowd.  I had spent many a night procuring underage booze and getting wasted within its four walls.  The establishment was more liberal than most bars in their carding system, so it was very popular with the younger college set.

Riley and I pushed open the door and walked inside.  The smell of stale beer hit me in the face as we made our way inside.  During the day, Barton's was a run of the mill restaurant but it couldn't hide its seedier watering hole side.

We approached the hostess stand and waited.  “Maysie!  Riley!  What the hell are you doing here?”  a girl squealed from behind us.  I turned around to see my friend Jaz Digby, decked out in her official Barton's polo shirt and short black skirt.

I had completely forgotten that Jaz was a part-time waitress here.  Jaz had lived on the same floor as Riley and me freshman year and I had remained friends with her despite not having hung out socially in a long time.  Riley thought she was obnoxious.  Though, the truth was Riley found most people to be obnoxious, so her feelings about Jaz weren't surprising.


Jaz was beautiful in an exotic way.  Her mom was Japanese and her dad, American so she inherited the best parts of both heritages.   “Hey, girl!  We're here to fill out applications,”  I said, giving her a quick hug.  Jaz beamed at me.

“That's awesome!  We've been shorthanded for weeks!  I'll go get Moore,” Jaz said, going toward the back of the restaurant.  Riley sat down on the bench by the front door and I followed suit, crossing my legs and bouncing my foot.

Jaz came back out a few minutes later and sat down beside us.  “Moore'll be out in a minute.  It would so cool if you guys worked here.  The tips are fantastic.”

“That's what I need to hear,” I said, smiling with the promise of fiscal relief.

“I thought you were working at that shop in town,” Jaz commented, turning to me.  I shrugged.

“Needed a heavier cash flow, so a second job it is.”  Riley snorted beside me and I ignored it.

“Well, whatever, I hope you get the job.  I'll put in a good word for you,” Jaz promised, squeezing my hand.  Jaz suddenly started straightening her shirt, pulling the neck down so that her cleavage was more pronounced.  She discreetly smoothed her straight black hair and rubbed her finger across her teeth.

I looked at her in confusion.  What was with all the preening?  Then a deep voice caught my attention.  It was one of those voices that you imagine hearing in a darkened bedroom.  After naughty sex.  The kind of voice that was a combination of the most decadent chocolate and outright sin.  “Are you the ones wanting applications?”  I looked up and swallowed.  Damn, who the hell was this?

A guy stood there, holding out two sheets of paper.  I sat there, staring like an idiot.  Because sweet lord was he cute.  No, cute didn't even begin to describe what he was.  The guy standing in front of us, had short cropped dark hair and beautiful blue eyes.  He had a tiny dimple in his chin and his nose was slightly crooked, like it had been broken before.  He was tall and lean, but I could see the muscles of his arms beneath the fitted Barton's t-shirt.  He sported an eyebrow ring and I caught the glimpse of metal in his tongue when he spoke.  I also noticed the upper edges of a tattoo along both sides of his neck.  Holy bad boy Batman!  He oozed sex appeal.  And from his arrogant stance, he knew it.

Jaz jumped to her feet and gave the boy a hug.  “Jordan!  I didn't know you were here!” she squealed.  I looked at Riley who only rolled her eyes.  Jordan hugged Jaz back before disengaging himself from her clingy arms.

“Yeah, just walked in two seconds ago.  Moore is still on the phone, so he asked me to bring out the applications.”  Jordan looked at me and my stomach flipped over.  I opened my mouth but no words came out.  God, I must look like an idiot.  But I couldn't stop staring at him.  The longer I looked at him, the more I realized there was something familiar about him.  I just couldn't quite place what.