Living Out Loud (Austen, #3)(13)

A few minutes later, Ruby flagged me from the sidewalk outside, and I trotted around the bar to let her in, her fire-engine red bob peeking out from her black beanie and her dark eyes smiling.

“Heya, Greg-o.”

“Hey, Ruby. I think you’re training a new hire today.” I nodded over to Cam and Annie behind the register counter.

“Aw, she’s adorable,” Ruby cooed. “So, does this mean I’m finally getting promoted to cocktail?”

I winked at her. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Yes!” she whisper-hissed and fist-pumped. “Mama needs a new leather jacket.”

We split up—Ruby for the back, me for the bar—but I realized I had finished setting up. So, I grabbed my laptop, poured myself a cup of coffee, and slipped into a booth to work on the bar schedule.

It really wasn’t a bad idea to move Ruby up to cocktail; she could work in both the store and the bar for a while until she got her footing, and it would free up hours for Annie. Done and done. And as I looked over the schedule, it’d be easy to double Ruby in.

Harrison showed up to take over the bar just as it was time to open the doors. His smile was crooked, and his blond hair looked like he’d both just rolled out of bed and messed with it in the mirror for half an hour.

I headed to the liquor cage in the back to work on inventory—for real this time—setting up my phone to play music. The first half of my shift was spent locked up with cases of beers and shelves of rum and tequila. The only interruption was Cam, who popped in to tell me that I was right—Annie would fit in great—and that she knew I liked Annie.

She skipped away with the know-it-all pride of a nosy kid sister before I could argue. Not like it would have done any good. Once Cam saw an opportunity for hooking somebody up, she wouldn’t quit. It was part of her charm just as much as it was my personal curse.

Around lunchtime, I emerged from the fluorescent cave to gather up lunch orders for delivery. But what I found at the bar had me slamming on my brakes so hard, my sneakers almost squealed.

Harrison was leaning on the bar with a sideways smile on his face, and his eyes were locked on his prey, just like I’d seen him do a thousand times.

Except this time, it was Annie.

She was laughing at something he’d said, but her body language told me she didn’t realize he was interested in her, which was crazy to me. I could see it from across the room.

I stormed over, schooling my face as I approached.

They looked over, and Harrison’s expression told me I’d done a piss-poor job.

I ignored him. “Hey, guys. I’m ordering sandwiches from Jonesie’s. You hungry?”

“Starved,” Harrison said. “Get me a Philly, extra onions.”

I smiled as I made a note in my phone, hoping it would give him dumpster breath. “How about you, Annie?”

Her face quirked in thought. “Hmm. I’ve never been there before.”

“Annie just moved here,” Harrison offered enthusiastically.

“I heard,” I said flatly, turning back to Annie. “It’s pretty standard in the way of sandwich shops. But their Monte Cristo is the stuff dreams are made of.”

Her eyes lit up. “I’ve always wanted to try one of those.”

“You’ve never had a Monte Cristo?” I shook my head. “Man, you’re missing out.”

“You know what it is? The idea of putting jelly on meat. I just couldn’t ever bring myself to do it. It’s like mixing peanut butter and banana or bacon and syrup. Something about mixing sweet and salty frays the fabric of my universe.”

I laughed. “I’ll tell you what. How about I order something else? And if you don’t like the Monte, we’ll switch.”

“Deal. Meatball or Reuben?” She asked the question as if the answer would determine my future.

I didn’t even hesitate. “Either. You just named my second and third favorites.”

Her smile said I’d answered correctly. “Meatball it is, extra cheese.”

Ruby called her name, and she turned.

“Ask Ruby what she wants, would you?” I called after.

“You’ve got it,” she answered over her shoulder.

I watched her for a second too long, turning to find Harrison still gazing after her.

“A pretty little thing like that, mowing down a sloppy meatball sub with extra cheese? Fucking dream girl.”

My jaw flexed. “She’s eighteen.”

The shock and disappointment on his face made him look like he’d just dropped his lollipop. “Aw, man. That sucks.” He dragged the last word out, and I found I could relate.

Upside: he’d been effectively scared off.

When our sandwiches walked through the door an hour later, Harrison and I were too busy for both of us to take a break, so we agreed I’d eat first and then take over for him. I waved Annie over, meeting her at a booth just behind where I’d interviewed her.

“I’m starving,” she said as she slid in.

When her eyes met mine, they were alight, bright and green as Emerald City, her pupil ringed with a brilliant burst of gold like sun rays.

“Well, don’t let me keep you waiting,” I said, turning my gaze to my hands so I wouldn’t get lost in fascination. I handed her sandwich over and took a seat across from her.