Stay For Me - Megan Smith Page 0,14
trying too damn hard not to laugh because there isn’t a new bistro on College Drive. He’s just trying to act cool.
“Well, we’ve got to get going. We’ll talk to you later.” Jaylinn grabs my arm and drags me away as quickly as her legs allow.
When we’ve gotten a few hundred yards away she spins on me. “Thanks for fucking helping me.”
I put my hand up to cover my mouth and stifle the laughter that begs to escape. I don’t want her to know I was enjoying that more than I should have. “I’m sorry. Who knew you could think so quick on your feet. Is there really a new bistro on College Drive?”
“No,” she smiles. “I totally pulled that out of my ass.
I frown feeling bad for him. “Poor guy.”
“Poor guy? What about poor me?”
“Just go out with him, get it over with and be done with it.” I say seriously as we reach her car.
We climb into the car and I reach behind me for my seatbelt. “I don’t think that’s going to get rid of him.”
“You’ll never know.”
She sighs. “I’ll think about it.”
I reach up to change the radio station. “Good.”
Jaylinn and I don’t really talk on the ride over to Fierce. When we pull into the parking lot I see sadness wash over her.
“Jay,” I place my hand on her arm offering the little bit of comfort I can. “I know it’s hard and scary but you’re too amazing to be sitting here wallowing. If Cooper doesn’t see what he lost out on then that’s on him.”
Reaching down I grab my purse. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Layla.”
I shut the car door and she pulls away. I wish I could share my life with Jaylinn, hell, with anyone really but I just can’t expose myself like that. I have too much pride. Maybe if I did we could help each other more than we are right now. I know she’s keeping a big secret from me but I can’t press the issue because I’ve got more than my own share of secrets that I face on a daily basis.
Eli
Fierce has only been open a few weeks. Business is still doing really well, more so than I was expecting for the winter season. The last few weeks I have been spending morning, noon and night here. It’s a lot to handle some days and I feel like I really need Cooper here, but I assured him that I could handle things and that’s what I’m doing.
We just closed and I’m counting the tips and dividing the money between the bartenders. After I’ve figured it out, I walk out and hand them each an envelope of money. Bri, one of the bartenders, is fidgeting by the register. I walk over thinking maybe she had a ride waiting for her.
“Here you go.” I say handing her the envelope.
She snatches the envelope and practically runs to the door. No “thank you,” no nothing. I shake my head and hand Jackie her envelope and then Layla.
“Good night, everyone.” Jackie yells over her shoulder.
“Good night.” I say wishing I could just go home right now but I still need to cash out the registers.
I grab the upstairs cash drawer first and head back to my office. I work on cashing it out and counting the money in the drawer. It’s exact and that puts a smile on my face. I love when that happens. I finish up the paperwork and walk back out to grab one of the downstairs cash drawers and then the last and final one. The club is closed and everyone is gone now. I’m getting frustrated because I’ve counted this last drawer three times and it keeps coming up short by almost one hundred and fifty dollars. I look to see who was assigned to the drawer, Bri. “Shit.” I mutter. This is the third time she’s been short.
I toss my pen on my desk. I’m going to have to let her go. Three strikes and you’re out in my book. I can’t keep having this happen. I guess this also explains her hurry to leave.
About an hour later I’m heading out to my car and I find Layla leaning against one of the poles out front by the door. “Hey.”
She gives me a sleepy smile. “Hey.”
“Everything okay?”
She nods with effort. “Yeah, I think my ride forgot about me.”
I scratch the back of my head. “You want me to call you a cab? Or I can even take you