One More Time

“Thanks, Captain Obvious,” I snapped. He laughed and nodded, obviously anticipating the verbal jab. “You okay?”

I sighed. “I've worked six days in a row with about four hours sleep a night,” I said. “So yeah, I'm a little bit tired.”

Tommy leaned down on the bar, a devious look in his eyes. “I could talk to my dad about letting us have the night off.”

“With you? No thanks, I'd rather work,” I said, rolling my eyes. “At least I'm getting paid to be treated like shit here.”

Tommy's smirk faltered, and that dark look passed behind his eyes. I'd hurt his ego, which was an easy thing to do. Just turning him down seemed to be a gigantic blow to Tommy's pride. He wasn't a man who took rejection well. Probably wasn't used to it. Tommy seemed like the kind of guy who always got what he wanted, especially where women were concerned. That's probably what fed his God complex and made him think he walked on water.

Leon's shrieking voice echoed through the club. “Casey, what are you doing just standing there? Sasha needs to clock out, and the dishes in the back won't do themselves.”

I groaned. Dishes. Yes. Ever since Raya had flounced out of there, the wait staff had to take turns playing the part of dishwasher. If you looked like you weren't busy, or your section thinned out, you'd be sent back to do the dishes. Even though I'd just clocked in literally thirty seconds ago, Leon thought I should already be taking drink orders. How dare I stand around for even a second?

“Guess I'm in the back for a bit,” I grumbled.

Being in the back had its perks – like not having to deal with Leon's shit – but, it also meant no tips. Sure, I'd get paid minimum wage, but the tips were my bread and butter. They were the only real reason I needed to stick it out at this job out.

“Listen, if you'd like, I can handle the dishes for you tonight,” Tommy said.

I studied his face carefully. “Really?” I put my hands on my hips, searching for the hidden strings. “And what's it going to cost me?”

“Not a thing,” he said.

“Uh huh.” I knew Tommy too well for this.

He wasn't about to help out and do something he considered beneath him like dishwashing without a favor in return. Tommy wasn't an altruistic man. He never did things just out of the goodness of his heart. There was always an angle he was playing. “Spill it, Tommy,” I said. “Who knows, I may even consider your proposition. As long as it doesn't include sexual favors. You can take that off the table right now.”

“Seriously, Casey,” he said, shaking his head. “Can't I just want to help? We have more than enough bartenders tonight. It's slow, and you'd be better used on the floor. I can get my hands dirty sometimes.”

Huh. I was actually left a little speechless. Floored, might have been the better word. It's not something I ever expected out of him. Maybe Tommy wasn't so bad after all. At least, sometimes. Unless this was a trick. Either way, I could go along with it for now. I needed the tips.

“Thank you, Tommy,” I said. “That's really generous of you and I really appreciate it. I'll let your dad know you're heading back.”

He nodded and went back to the kitchen without another word. Two birds with one stone. Not only did I get out of dishwashing, I wouldn't have Tommy in my hair all night. Win-win for me. With people already filing into the club and the crowd growing, the night was already starting to show promise. “Casey, I said – ” Leon was right behind me now, his voice making my ears ring

I turned on my heels and stopped him. “Tommy offered to do dishes,” I said. “I'm on the floor. Heading over to relieve Sasha now.”

“Tommy's doing dishes?” he asked, looking completely taken aback.

Hell, nice to see that even old Leon could still be surprised now and then. He looked about as shocked as I felt when Tommy had offered.

“Yep, go ask him yourself if you don't believe me,” I said.

“I might just do that,” he grumbled, trying to quickly compose himself. “But for now, take Sasha's section. Only a few people over there, but they're big spenders – so be on your best behavior.”

Yeah, don't go off on them and tone down the sarcasm. That's what he really meant. We shared a look and I smiled sweetly at him, giving him my best angelic face – an act he clearly wasn't buying, given the sour look on his puss.

“Of course, Leon,” I said anyway. “When am I not?”

“Don't make me answer

that.”

He turned and escaped to the back, and just in case Tommy wasn't getting his hands wet in the sink, I hurried off to the section I was assigned. Sasha had her hands full – the poor girl really didn't know how to work a crowd. Not even a small one. I often wondered why she was hired in the first place, but then she'd turn around and show off her D-cup breasts which rested on a tiny size two waist and the answer was more than obvious.

She didn't have to be smart, she just had to look good in the outfit and not fight with the customers. That should be easy enough, I supposed. But hell, even I couldn't handle that last bit half the time. Some of these pricks just need to be put in their places.

“Alright, girly, you're off the clock,” I said.