“Everybody!” J claps her hands, getting their attention. “Gather around.”
They all listen to her, something else that I mentally take note of. They respect her which is something that I think is critical in running a place like this. I know I won’t be around all the time, my job just doesn’t allow it, so knowing they listen to J has me at ease.
“So, you all may be aware that the person who owns this place was away.” She raises her brows as she turns to me. “He’s back now for a little while and wants to meet you all. Everybody, this is Corey Anderson.” She waves her hand dramatically like I’m on one of those games shows and I can’t stop the smirk that grows on my face.
All eyes swivel to me and for the first time since I was a pimple faced teenager, I feel nervous.
What the hell am I meant to say now?
“Hey,” I croak and cringe at how I sound.
“Will he be running the place now?” one guy asks, leaning against the bar with his face void of any emotion.
“Erm...” J turns to me, her face telling me to answer the question that even she doesn’t know the answer to.
“No, J will still be running the place. But I’ll be popping in every now and again, getting a feel for how everything runs. I’ll be here for the next couple of weeks at least.” I hoped. “Why don’t you all introduce yourself?” I say, sitting down on a bar stool and waiting for someone to speak up.
They all introduce themselves, almost all of them are seniors at the local college. Once they finish, J spins around in a circle and scans the whole place looking for someone.
“Where’s Jax?”
“He’s putting some chick in a cab,” a girl replies with a roll of her eyes. “The one who came with his new sister.”
J huffs, walking behind the bar and grabbing a bottle of beer. “That kid is gonna be the death of me,” she moans, leaning against the bar.
“Hey! Has anyone seen A-” I look up to the voice that bounces off the walls as he comes through the door, my eyes going wide. How the hell did I not know he worked here?
“Corey? What you doing here?”
“Jax, this is... wait-”
“Yeah,” he says, a smirk on his face. “I know who he is.” He swaggers towards me, his arms wide.
This kid will be the death of her, had I have known he worked here I would have made my presence known sooner.
“Jackson.” I smirk, wrapping my arms around him.
“What you doin’ here?”
“As I was trying to say,” J huffs, causing Jackson to swing his head her way. “Corey owns this place.”
“You do?” Jackson pulls back, his eyes wide. “Shit, man. How did I not know this?”
“I’m sorry.” J leans closer to us. “Do you two know each other.”
“Hell yeah, we do.” Jackson laughs. “He’s practically family.”
“Yeah?” One of the guys’ mocks. “Then how did you not know he was your boss?”
I turn to him and trail my eyes over him. He’s one of those guys, you know the kind who think they’re hot shit when really there just a little boy?
Yeah... I’ll have to keep an eye out for that one.
“None of your business,” I growl, I’m not here to answer to anyone. I’m their boss and that’s all there is to it.
It doesn’t matter why I haven’t been here yet or why only J knows about this place.
“What the hell?” A girl squeals as something moves in one of the booths. “Jax, think this one belongs to you.”