Page 36 of Stroked
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll keep you updated on sales.”
She turned back, “Oh, do keep me updated on your lovers’ quarrel as well.” She smirked before turning and making her way to the front.
I stood in the same spot, looking after her but still staring at the door once she was on the other side. Was she just being kind? Backtracking? Or did she really not care? Maybe Valentina was fearful for no reason.
“Amy,” James called from the hall that led to my office.
I moved from the spot I had been fixed on. “Yes, James.”
“That wasawkward,” he practically sang out. “Anyway, I have this under control. Go home.” James pushed me toward my office until I picked up the pace. I grabbed my things, then headed out.
I parked in my complex’s lot, then walked to the club. I needed to see Lucy.
“Hey, how was the opening?” Luce yelled as she walked to meet me at the bar. She had just come from her office.
“Working late, aren’t you?” I motioned for Jaz to pass me a beer and she quickly pushed a Blue Moon across the bar.
“Well, I just had a few things to tie up and Jason has been busy because one of the taps wasn’t working. Hungry?”
“Actually, yeah. Last night, I hardly ate, and besides a pot of coffee, I haven’t had much today, either.”
Lucy waved down the bar and Jaz came back. “What can I get ya?”
“Will you put in for some nachos for us and I’ll take a Blue Moon now.”
Jaz passed her a beer and walked to the computer behind the bar and started tapping away.
“God, I love her. It’s gonna suck when she leaves. Nachos won’t take long. So, what’s the scoop?”
“Wait, why is Jaz leaving? When? How long have I been gone?” I had enough drama this week; I didn’t like the idea of Jaz not being around.
“She’s been going to school forever. You don’t think she’s doing all that work to bartend forever? But it’s not immediately. She did have a talk with Jason yesterday, though, to start emotionally prepping him.”
I looked over with raised brows. “Jasonneeds emotional prepping?”
She smacked my arm. “Yes, bitch. He’s not arobot. Jaz was working here before we started coming around. She’s the longest running employee he’s had and she’s great. Of course, he needs a buffer. Plus, I needed a buffer. It’ll be weird.”
I nodded, looking down the bar at the unattainable beauty.Shit. I just did what I got mad at Maria for. Maybe what she said had been innocent, and honest.
“Good for her, though. I mean, I got my gallery job, you have this place, a record label contract, and your radio station job. I guess I just hadn’t given any thought to Jaz not being here.”
Lucy took a long draw from her beer. “Yeah, but it will be a bit. And at first, she may be able to still pick up a few nights. Jason said as long as she wants, and her schedule allows, she’d have a place behind the bar.”
Every once in a while, he surprised me. “That’s nice of him.”
She nudged me and looked over my face. When I didn’t respond, she waved her hand in my face. “Well, so? Are you gonna tell me what happened?”
Blowing a breath through puffed cheeks, I took a swig of my Blue Moon. “Well, I didn’t text her until earlier today.” Lucy rolled her eyes. “What?”
“You are so clueless. But continue.”
“What? I was mad last night, so I didn’t want to be an ass. Plus, she had to take herunsuspectingparents home, and how would I know if she dropped them and immediately went home? It just made more sense to wait till today.”
“Whatever. You and that big head.”
“I don’t have a big head.Jasonhas a big head.”
“No, you. And that fake ‘I’m so tough, I don’t need anyone’ line you’ve been using for years has you so hardened to even attempting to talk to people.”
