close my eyes to block out the intensity he’s giving me and I immediately feel his lips connect with my forehead. He could make me fall for him without even trying. I have to get rid of him.
“Ethan this was a one time thing.”
Ethan pulls back enough to look into my eyes before speaking. “Baby you’re already my girlfriend and you don’t even know it.”
“I am not your girlfriend!”
“Sure you are. I’ll call you later, good night darlin’.”
“I’m not your girlfriend.” He leans forward and kisses me into submission. “Good night darlin’.”
“Night,” I whisper as if speaking any louder will shatter this moment. He closes his eyes like he wants to stay in this moment forever but he eventually opens them, smiles, and walks out of the door.
I watch until he gets into the car before I lock the door and lean my forehead against it. I can see myself falling for him, but my head isn’t willing to risk my heart. I groan as I push myself away from the door and head upstairs to bed.
Chapter Five
Push
Friday Night
As I put on my mascara I can’t stop my mind from reflecting on the past week. Monday consisted of Kate training me on how to run the register and testing my bartending skills. I also learned other basics like restocking, cost of drinks, putting in food orders, and making sure I get payment for each drink and using a credit card to cover tabs.
I also found out that each section has its own set of waitresses and bartenders. Waitresses and bartenders service the billiard room, bartenders service the main bar, and waitresses service the booths and area surrounding the dance floor. There is a small bar located in the billiard room because it’s located the farthest from the main bar and can be a pain to get to on a crowded night.
At the end of my shift I’m told that Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I will either work the main bar or the billiard room alone. Thursday and Friday I will work the main bar with another bartender.
I noticed that my tips were better on Thursday due to the low tank top and makeup I was wearing. The tank top was on purpose but the makeup was purely Ava’s doing. I hated being treated like a doll but it paid off when I received my portion of the tips later that night. If I tend alone or waitress then I get all of the tips given to me. If I work with another bartender, then the tips go in a tip jar and are split equally. Since my look on Thursday was such a hit I decide to make tanks, eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss my new uniform.
After I’m done in the mirror I glance at my phone and see that I still don’t have a missed call or text from Ethan. I shrug my shoulders in an attempt to convince myself that it doesn’t matter but it does. I know I’m the one who said it was a one-time thing but he had me convinced that he wanted more. I mean he didn’t even try.
I hope I never see him again.
****
I’m half way through my shift when I notice Ethan slide onto a stool. He aims a smile at me like everything is fantastic, so I send a smirk his way. His eyes immediately go from happy to worried. Good. If he wants to play, I will show him how the game is played.
“What can I get you?” I ask as if he is a stranger and not the man I’ve been missing all week.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call or text you. A coworker had a family emergency and I took on his shifts along with mine,” he explains looking sad and hopeful.
“If you’re not going to order anything you have to get out of the seat,” I say as if I could care less about his life.
“Fine, I’ll have a Heineken,” he says tersely. I nod my head and grab his beer from the cooler.
“Three bucks!” I yell while nodding to another waiting customer. I quickly snatch up his $5 and hear him mumble, “Keep the change.” I put his change in the tip jar and move on to other customers.
I flirt with male customers when I know I can get more tips or drink orders out of them. By the time I allow myself