I washed my hands at the sink and smiled at the cute couple signaling they were ready to order. “Sorry. I—”
“Save it. Tegan covered for you.” Garrett snapped a bar towel on my ass and winked.
“Where is he?” I asked, glancing around the dimly lit area.
The bar was a masterpiece of backlit glass shelving, mirrored backsplashes, and a fountain wall. The liquor was stored on lower shelves to give an unimpeded view of the cascading waterfall effect. Large flat-screen televisions hung high above the fountain and along the perimeter. Music videos played until the club got bumping. Then a video cam flashed footage of the sexy go-go boys shaking their ass on the catwalks above the dance floor. The bar was busy, but not overly crowded. And for the moment, everyone seemed content. Except the couple staring at us meaningfully.
Garrett flashed a friendly grin in their direction. “He’s at the front door as usual. He was looking for you too. He seemed frazzled.”
Garrett kissed my cheek, then sashayed toward the waiting couple.
It didn’t take long to find my groove. Pour, flirt, clean…repeat. I’d been bartending for years and had learned a few things along the way. The friendlier and more engaging I was on a slow to moderately busy night, the better the tips. But when the press of bodies around the bar was three people deep and everyone was waving to get my attention, no one wanted small talk. They wanted a quick shot of courage before heading to the dance floor.
I pasted a smile on my face as I handed a cosmo to a cute twink wearing a cropped football jersey and pink lipstick. I took the twenty he gave me and was about to thank him for the generous tip when I spotted Tegan waving to get my attention a few feet away. I needed an excuse to leave the bar while it was this busy. I grabbed an almost-empty bottle of gin and tapped Garrett’s arm.
“Hey, I’m gonna grab another bottle of Tanqueray from storage. You and Alex can handle it, right?”
Garrett glanced at the heavily tatted bartender working the opposite end of the space and nodded. “Hurry back. We need you.”
I headed after Tegan, slipping through the crowd, winding my way through sweaty, scantily clad hotties and couples tangled in passionate kisses. I caught up to him outside the bathroom.
“Hey. What’s—”
“She’s here,” he said in an ominous tone reserved for scary movies.
“Who?”
“Xena! Who do you think?”
I craned my neck toward the dance floor in vain. “What’s she doing here?”
“I don’t know. She came by around nine and asked if you were working tonight. Sean was standing outside too. He knows you were late again, and he’s pissed. But anyway, she said she’d come back, and she did. She paid the cover, and she’ll be at the bar any second. We can’t have drama here, Jus. Sean will fire your ass. Stay here and I’ll tell them you—”
I held my hand up and craned my neck toward the bar. “No. I’m not gonna hide. That’s ridiculous. Just…cover for me and have her meet me in the alley.”
Tegan frowned. “I can’t leave you alone with her. Especially not here. You’ll fight like you always do and you’ll get fired. You’re already on thin ice with Sean.”
“I am?” I asked sarcastically.
“Dude, you’ve been late for every shift for weeks. Sean’s asked me what’s going on with you.”
“Five minutes is hardly late, and he’s just looking for an excuse to get rid of me ’cause he’s a jealous fuck who thinks we’re still—”
“Don’t,” he snapped. “Now is not the time.”
I let out a weary sigh and nodded. “I think I see her.”
Tegan glanced over his shoulder. “All right. Go outside and tell them to—”
“What’s going on?” A gruff voice echoed in the corridor.
I didn’t bother looking up. I always did my best to steer clear of my boss. He hated me, and the feeling was mutual. Sean Gruen was a divorcee with two kids who’d come out with a bang when he turned forty. He bought a few gay clubs and bars in LA and Palm Springs with a business partner and had made a name for himself in LGBTQ philanthropic circles. Most people would say Sean was a great catch. He was wealthy, successful, and those who were into tall, bald, muscular types with designer wardrobes and flashy cars thought he was hot too. He did nothing for me. Except remind me that I should be thankful that he gave my sorry ass a job when I needed employment quickly a few months ago. I liked working at Vibes…as long as I didn’t have to deal with Sean.
“Hey, boss. I’m taking a quick break.” I gave him a phony smile and stepped toward the exit.
“You just got here, Cuevas.”