This Regret

“You don’t need to explain.” I cut in. “I know more than anyone else what sex can do in the hardest of times. Come on.”

She follows me back to my bike and I click the remote, closing the door behind us.

Chapter Three

Phoenix

The bar has been awfully quiet for the last hour, so I take that as my cue to sit down and have that employee meeting, I unfortunately, promised Dale I would have. As much as I hate being the bad guy, business comes first and I have to step up and take charge before we all end up jobless.

“There will be no more calling in to work or not showing up unless there is a very good reason and I mean a very, very good reason.”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I hear about three different forms of groans coming from the table in front of me. I don’t let it discourage me though. I stand up straight and as Dale would call it, put my foot down. “The next person that does it is fired. I’m sorry, but Dale isn’t playing it nice anymore and neither am I.”

The hand that has been swirling around Saline’s cocktail glass for the last five minutes stops as she looks up and rolls her eyes. “Please, tell me you’re joking.” She flicks the black straw in her glass with a look of disgust, her overly plump lips twisting up into something unnatural and very unattractive. “This place is becoming such a bore. This is crap! I can’t help it if I have other important things to take care of.”

This is exactly the kind of response I expected from her. So, I took the time to prepare a good comeback. “Look,-“

“Nobody cares Saline,” Jen jumps in, ruining my perfectly prepared speech. “This place isn’t meant to be for your entertainment. It’s your job and because of you, we’re all in the doghouse.

The girls sit next to each other, both of them giving the other a dirty look as if they’re ready to go at it.

“Come on.” Kade looks up from his phone and flashes a cocky grin that would’ve had no effect on me before yesterday. But now, it’s almost enough to make my mouth water. “Calm down, ladies. No one is in the doghouse.” His eyes meet mine, giving me that same flirtatious look he has been giving me since I found him in my bed the other morning. It’s so distracting and drives me mad. “Don’t worry so much, Phoenix, he’s not going to make you fire anyone. He’s just being a dick.”

Kade’s white t-shirt clings to his firm chest as he shoves both of his hands into his back pocket. I let it distract me for a moment before I manage to pull myself together.

I shake it off and laugh under my breath. These people are really underestimating Dale, but his patience is running thin these days. “You guys are not getting it. He’s serious this time. Trust me, this is not a game.”

A worried look crosses Jen’s face as she grabs her bottle of beer and presses it to her lips, taking a gulp. She sighs in frustration before setting it down in front of her and pressing her hand to her forehead. “You guys need to stop messing things up. I work my butt off to take care of my family and I will not lose my job because you two keep messing up the schedule. I have a son to take care of. I can’t . . .”

Jen’s words trial off and we all look over to see a sassy looking black-haired woman, with killer legs, wearing a small lacy red dress. She brushes her long, wavy hair out of her face, exposing her big green eyes, while looking around the table. “Everyone sure looks motivated.”

Jen sits with her hand still pressed to her forehead, looking as if she’s ready to explode. Saline is twirling one finger in her hair, bending her straw with the other hand, and Kade is texting on his phone.

I’m not sure any one of them know what the word even means.

“Um . . . who the hell is this?” Saline’s mouth curves up into a grimace, as she looks the intruder up and down, her eyes stopping on her black stilettos. “This is a meeting, dear. The strippers are in the next town over. So-

I hold my hand up stopping her blabbermouth before she can manage to run the new girl off.

The new girl just raises an eyebrow and smirks, obviously not letting Saline get to her.

“This here is Luna.” I pause as everyone gives me confused looks. “I hired her this morning.”

If they weren’t taking me serious before, from the look on their shocked faces, they are now.

Saline shoves her drink across the table before jumping to her feet and giving me a death glare that would probably cause most girls to run away screaming. “Are you kidding me? We don’t need any more bartenders, its slow enough as it is.” She turns to face Luna again. “You can leave. We won’t be needing you.”

Sometimes I wish I had a muzzle for this girl. She never knows when to shut up and take her place. Now, I have to put her in it. “You only have yourselves to blame.” My eyes meet Saline’s as she places her hands on her hips. She looks extremely pissed, but I don’t care at the moment. “You’ve called in nine times this month and today is only the twenty fifth. You screw up again, Saline, and you’re gone. You have one more chance.” I look beside me and point my thumb at Luna. “Plus, Luna has some great ideas to get more business in. She’s staying.”

A snicker comes from Saline’s mouth as she leans in close to Jen. “I’m sure,” she mumbles. “What, those huge tits?”

Luna takes a step so she’s standing at my side. She looks down at her boobs, proudly, before looking back up and shrugging her shoulders. “I’ve already rounded up about fifty people to come in tonight for sex toy bingo.” She gives Saline a menacing look before turning to me with confidence. “The party starts in less than an hour. I brought all of the game cards and equipment needed for the game.”

One mention of the word sex and suddenly everyone figure’s out what motivation means. If I would’ve known that, then I would’ve brought up sex ages ago. Even Saline looks a little curious, now that her she-devil face is gone.

Jen sits up straight and looks up from peeling the label from her bottle. “What is sex toy bingo? I’ve never heard of it.”

Luna raises an eyebrow before pulling a vibrator out from behind her back. “You get a bingo and you win one of these bad boys. Every woman needs a best friend. Trust me, I have plenty.”

Everyone, including Kade, seems to look satisfied with this answer. Even I have to admit it sounds interesting and it never hurts to try new things.