Page 55 of Silver Tears

I walk back over with their drinks, placing each one down in front of the correct person. I leave Seb until last, because, well, he’s pissed me off today. I place his drink down and he doesn’t say a thank you like the others.

“Oh Mills,” he says casually as I’m about to walk away. “My drinks wrong.”

I turn back around to face him and look down at the glass in front of him. “No, it isn’t. It’s a Jack D with coke. Just like you ordered.”

Seb grimaces and shakes his head. “I’m afraid you’re mistaken. I ordered a Jack Daniels with a diet coke.”

I glare at him. “No, you ordered a coke, not diet.”

He sighs and taps the table with his fingers. “I think you’ll find that the customer is always right. Now, if you can order the correct drink this time.”

“Yes, sir. Not a problem.” I grind out as I take the drink from him, fighting the urge to throw it over his annoying head. I stride back over to the bar and not so gently place the drink down.

“Is there a problem?” Jasper asks, looking up from his task of polishing up the glasses.

“Apparently Mr Collings drink is incorrect. He ordered a Jack D with diet coke not coke.”

Jasper frowns at me as he takes the glass and throws the contents away. “That will come out of your pay packet, Milly.”

I bite down on my lip as I nod my head and wait for him to make the fresh drink up. When I walk back over with his drink, Seb doesn’t even acknowledge me when I put it down in front of him. It’s Rafe, who takes the time to say thank you to me. Luckily, when I head back to the bar, Rachel has arrived for the start of her shift. I ask her to swap tables with me and she heartily agrees when she sees who is sitting at table eight. She’s welcome to them.

For the rest of my shift, I don’t look over at his table. I can hear them laughing and talking and ordering drinks like money is no object. Arrogant, rich fuckers. On my break, I hide myself away in the staff room. I have two missed calls and a text from Ruby. What with school, work, Charlie, and my fake boyfriend, I have hardly seen her of late.

Party at Will’s house this Friday. Come.

Not a chance am I going to a Hawk Bay High party. Ryan will be there for a start.

Nope. Not happening.

Purleeeeasssee! You have to come. Will has invited me directly today at school.

Ruby has had a crush on Will since year seven.

Come on. We haven’t hung out in ages. Or are HBH parties not posh enough for you anymore?

I frown at her message. She knows me better than that. I do feel bad about how little I have seen her, though, and she is my best friend.

Okay. I’ll come, but if Ryan gives me any hassle, I’m out of there.

Agreed. Yay! Party night with my bestie!

Sighing, I pocket my phone and head out to the bar to finish with the clean-up. I stop when I enter, and I find Seb sitting at the bar chatting away with Jasper. His table is now empty.

“Why are you still here?”

Jasper looks up at me, brow arched, clearly not impressed with my sass. “I’m waiting to take you home,” Seb announces.

“I’ll get a taxi. Besides, you’ve been drinking.”

He holds up a solitary finger. “I had one. I’m fine to drive.”

I openly glower at him. He’s been a total arse tonight, and now he just expects me to skip to his car and play the doting girlfriend. He can think again.

“I’ll see you Thursday, Jasper,” I say politely to my supervisor before I walk straight past Seb and out into the main entrance of the clubhouse.

“Mills, wait!” He chases after me, grabbing me by my wrist. “Don’t be stupid and just come to my car.”

“Ha, so I’m stupid now! I will not get in your car. There could be a thousand snakes surrounding this car park right now and I still wouldn’t get in your car, arsehole!”

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