Page 14 of Waiting on Life
Kyle was true to his word about how hard he was willing to work. He’d been at No Angels for nearly two weeks now, and I don’t think he ever stopped moving. Whether it was hauling more ice to the bar or washing glasses, Kyle was constantly in motion. I knew I hadn’t let him on the floor yet because I didn’t want him scared off, but I had to trust him at some point.
“Scott, did you need anything else?”
Scott peered up at Kyle, and a slow smile showed on his face. It was the first one I’d seen since Donnie had been kicked to the curb. “No, but thank you for asking.” He put my drink order on top of the bar. “Toby, your stuff is reay.”
I went to the bar and picked up my tray. I also grabbed a stack of bar napkins for my table, who seemed to dribble half their drinks on the floor.
“Did you want me to clean that up?” Kyle asked.
He’d been paying attention. That was a good sign. “No, I got it.” I glanced at the clock we had over the door. “It’s pretty slow, so you can go ahead and punch out. You did good today.”
His chest puffed up a bit. “I had fun. Thank you.” He turned to Scott. “Today was great. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.”
“Me too. You did ,” Scott replied absently as he pulled two bottles from the rack and set about making another round of drinks.
“Hey, Kyle?”
He turned to face me, his smile bright and genuine. “Yes?”
“Tomorrow how do you feel about working the floor?”
His eyes widened. “Really?”
“Scott’s right. You did good, and I think it’s time you get out and meet the people.”
Though with Kyle having survived almost a whole month, he’d already gotten to see the patrons at their best. Arguments over pool, a disagreement about the Space Invaders game, threats, and one brandished knife, which led to me kicking the guy out of the bar with a reminder of the rules and telling he was no longer allowed to return.
Yet through it all, Kyle hadn’t run screaming. In fact, he’d stood his ground pretty well, all things considered. I hated the fact that I was impressed, because it made me seem like I thought he was too weak to do the job. And maybe I had, I don’t know. Kyle was making me face all kinds of things I thought were true, but showing me how wrong they were. He reminded me of my sister in that way. She never failed to take me to task if I said something she told me was homophobic. Tammy might be a foot shorter than me and weighed about a hundred pounds less, but in many instances, she had balls bigger than me.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, then,” Kyle chirped before he rushed out the door, a wide smile on his face.
As I watched him stride away, the sway of his hips, the gentle curves of his body, I was struck again by Kyle’s beauty. I couldn’t understand his effect on me. I could try to pretend he was a woman, but despite his soft voice and his gentle ways, there was no way I could ever mistake him for anything other than a man. It confused the hell out of me, and I had to stop thinking about it because that was the way madness lay.
I turned to Scott. “You really think he’s got the stuff to handle it here?”
Part of me wanted him to say no, and I didn’t understand why.
He looked up. “Sure. Why? Don’t you?”
“Yeah, I think he’ll do fine.”
And I did too, but that wasn’t the problem. I was desperate for a server, and if nothing else, Kyle provided that. But the thought of Kyle dealing with these guys? Okay, I’m going to come right out and say it, and I know it’s going to come across as me being an asshole, but I can’t help it. Yes, Cary and Scott were gay, but they could also pass as straight. I mean, I know the customers were aware they were gay, but they’d never had anyone as… open about it. What would they do or say? It was one thing when Kyle was doing busy work for the bar, but another entirely for him to be at their tables taking their orders. My stomach clenched at the thought that Kyle would be hurt, physically or emotionally. Not that I cared for any particular reason, of course. The fact that he lived across from me made it awkward already. If things went south here, how bad would it be at home?
Then again, the nice thing about having Kyle here was even though I was still putting in way too many hours, I got caught up with the paperwork, the orders, and everything else I needed to get done on a nightly basis. It also meant I was able to get out of work by three in the morning and wouldn’t have to haul my ass back until eight. Waldo got fed on time, I was able to sleep an extra hour or so, and the fact that I time go grab something to eat at the bar was a bonus.
The rest of the night passed in a blur. As much as I wanted to get Kyle out of my mind, he stayed lodged there, front and center. It was as though he’d claimed a little corner for himself, and I couldn’t evict him.
“Toby?”
Scott’s voice startled me. “What’s up?”
“These drinks are ready. Did you want me to take them?”
I shook my head to clear it. “Nah, I’m good. Thank you.”
The tray was loaded with six plates of appetizers and eight bottles of beer. I hefted it up to my shoulder and made my way through the group that clustered right in the middle of the fucking floor.
“Get out of the way, assholes,” I shouted.
