Page 39 of For the Plot
He looked up at me with a guilty smile. “I'm sorry, I seem to have enjoyed that a little too much.”
A warm feeling I didn’t recognize bloomed in my chest at the realization that pleasuring me was enough to make him come a second time. “Not gonna lie, that’s pretty hot.”
24
James
Dress - Taylor Swift
Shakingthedrinkinmy hands, I poured it out for the customer in front of me, handing it over with a wink. It had been three days since my last lesson with Nikki, and I’d been walkingon cloud nine ever since. It was honestly a little concerning. How I thought about her twenty-four seven. The way she smelled, the way she tasted, the way her skin felt under my fingertips, my tongue.
How much I couldn’t wait to properly fuck her.
We hadn’t had time alone since then, but when we were in the apartment with Will and Collins, it felt impossible not to touch her or even look at her the way I wanted to. Sitting on the couch watching a movie and wishing I could put an arm around her shoulder and pull her in close to me. Passing her in the kitchen, wishing I could place a hand on her waist. Going to our separate bedrooms each night, wishing I could wake up in the morning, holding her in my arms.
It wasn’t real, but god, I wanted it to be. But I knew what this was going in, and just because my feelings for her were growing stronger didn’t mean she had changed her mind about me. If all she wanted me for was the lessons, I would take it.
Forcing myself to stop thinking about Nikki at work, I got back to slinging drinks until it was break time, and I could head to the back office. When I opened the door, Sasha was sitting at her desk next to mine.
“What’s up, boss-a-roni?”
She rolled her eyes at me. “You know I hate that.”
Instead of responding, I blew her a kiss, flopping into my chair and pulling my phone out to doom scroll my fifteen-minute break away.
A few minutes passed in silence before she turned to me. “Oh, by the way, I thought more about if I wanted to step back and hire a manager, and I’ve decided that’s definitely what I’m going to do. I’d love to have your help going through applications with me once it’s time to hire.” She went back to typing whatever it was she’d been working on.
I froze, taking in her words. It was time to make a decision. I used to think I was perfectly fine where I was, that I didn’t want more than this. But I was beginning to understand just how much I needed a change at work. I always tried to be happy and easygoing, but I was sick of staying quiet for fear of rocking the boat. Sick of being afraid to ask for more. And now was the time, before it was too late and Sasha hired someone else.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that,” I clicked my phone off, shoving it back in my pocket, and turning towards her.
She stopped what she was doing, no doubt hearing the serious tone of my voice. “What’s up?”
I took a deep breath, telling myself I needed to be brave and ask for what I wanted, just as I'd asked Nikki to do with me. “I’ve been thinking, and I actually want you to consider me for the position.” I held my breath after I was done speaking, waiting to see how she would respond. It’s not that I necessarily thought she wouldn’t be happy about it; I just had no idea how shewouldrespond. And I was so used to going through life never asking for more, I had no idea how to not fear that asking for me would be met with rejection.
Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t look upset or anything. “I didn’t think you’d be interested? You always say, and I quote, ‘fuck paperwork, it’s stupid.'”
“Damn, woman, do you always have to remember the things I say?” She threw a wadded up napkin at me, and I ducked out of the way, laughing. “OK, seriously, though,” I let the laughter die out from my voice, so she knew I was taking this seriously. “I’ve realized recently that maybe I wasn’t as happy staying where I am as I thought I was. I’ve felt kinda stuck for a while now. I think this could be a good change of pace for me. And you know I work hard. I know this bar better than anyone besides you. Ithink I could do it. No, IknowI could do it.” I straightened in my seat, my words growing more confident.
Sasha appraised me.for a moment. “OK.”
I blew out a relieved breath, “OK? You’ll let me apply for the job?”
Sasha rolled her eyes. “No, dumbass, I’m offering you the position. But hey, if you would rather apply and go through a full round with other applica—”
“Nope, no, that’s good. Yes, of course I accept!” I jumped out of my seat and picked her up in a tight hug. Relief and elation washed through me.
“OK, that’s enough of that now." She reached up and patted me on top of my head after pushing me away. I was too happy to do anything other than continue grinning at her. Damn, maybe I should try this “asking for what I want thing” more often.
Sashaimmediatelygotstartedon training me, and the next five days passed in a blur. We figured if she was ready to step back, and wasn’t trying to train a new person from scratch, we might as well power our way through it so Sasha could get right into spending more time with Lauren.
It had been five days of paperwork, computer training, more paperwork, backend learning, and oh, had I mentioned paperwork? But it had also been five days of not being stuck at the bar talking to annoying people and flirting for tips. And honestly? Worth it.
When I had told the roommate group chat that I was going to be manager, they’d responded in a range of support from heartfelt congratulations (Nikki), to confirmation that this still meant free drinks for life (Will), to playful ribbing if I even knew what a manager did (Collins). I’d responded to Nikki and Will, and ignored Collins.
It was Saturday night now, and for the first time in what felt like forever, all four of us were home together. We were in the living room watching a Netflix romcom, shouting encouragement and derision in equal measures at the couple on the screen. It was one of our favorite roommate pastimes.
We were all laughing at the hero inevitably saying something dumb to upset the heroine when my phone buzzed. Lifting my hips from the couch, I reached underneath me to pull it out of my pocket. Out of the corner of my eyes I swore I saw Nikki’s eyes on my hips as I did, but when I looked over at her, her eyes were on the screen.
