Page 23 of The Naughty List
“Nobody’s perfect.” I grab some regulars refills from the tap. “But you didn’t deserve that.”
Once I’ve handled all of the patrons at the bar, I return to where Jonah is turning his half-empty glass around and around in his hands.
“So what kind of crimes did you commit when you were a kid? Were you more on the graffiti end of the spectrum or grand theft auto?”
“A little of both actually. They called me pretty boy when I was young. I didn’t like it. Guess it put me on some kind of mission to prove them wrong.”
I don’t know whotheyis but I’m not about to interrupt when he’s sharing.
“Such a rebel.”
He finishes the last of his tea and shrugs. “That’s the worst part of being a kid. Giving a damn what everyone else thinks.”
“You don’t anymore?”
He can sell that lie somewhere else. There’s a reason he stays hidden away up in his high-rise. Not that I blame him.
Before he answers, my brother Mikey walks in and begins to make his way through the crowd.
Charging toward us like an angry bull.
“Incoming,” I warn Jonah.
He approaches quickly and Jonah stands.
Mikey reaches his right hand out once he’s within reach. “Hey man, my bad about today. I was out of line.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, I watch as they shake hands. For the next few minutes I do my best to keep a watchful eye on the situation while waiting on my customers. They seem to be multiplying by the minute—especially for a weeknight. There isn’t a big game tonight so I’m thinking the masses have more to do with Jonah than what’s on the big screens.
I watch Jonah and my brother chatting easily for a few more minutes, my nerves tensing when Tony joins them. But by the time I make it into hearing range, the three of them are all smiles.
I arrive to the conversation just in time to overhear Jonah say, “It’s not like that, I swear. It’s never been like that. It willneverbe like that.”
There’s so much certainty in his voice. Their eyes all turn to me and instantly I know exactly what he’s referring to.
Me.
I don’t know why it hits me so hard.
I already know Jonah doesn’t see me like that. Even after today, I don’t think anything has changed. Except now he knows my bra size.
And it’s not like my goal was to get in his pants or win his heart. I want the job. That’s all.
Keep telling yourself that, kid.
Why Addi is the voice of my subconscious is beyond me. But there are inexplicable tears threatening to form as a painful lump constricts my throat.
It will never be like that.
“Tony, I’m taking my break,” I choke out quickly while I can. “Cover the bar for me.”
Without another word, I whirl around and make my way to the back alley exit.
I shove my hand against the door so hard it stings, but once I breathe in a face full of fresh air, I forget the pain.
Damn Jonah to Hell.
I don’t know why he has this affect on me. It’s excruciatingly obvious I have little to no affect on him.
