Page 24 of See Me

I drop my face into my hands and squeeze my eyes shut. “Am I being punked? What’s happening?”

Enzo clears his throat and I look up to see Luca standing at the bar. I stand up straight and flip my hair over my shoulder and smooth my hands down my hips. His eyes meet mine and I toss him a fake smile and grab the bin of silverware to take to the kitchen.

He focuses his attention on Enzo. “The seasonal drafts are delayed again. Try to push the other beers and run a special or something so we don’t have to disappoint any customers. We should have them in a day or two.”

Enzo nods. “Sure thing. I’ll put up a couple lunch specials and run a cocktail happy hour or something.”

I grab an apron and strap it around my waist and tie itaround my back. When I look up Luca is turned around, eyes focused on my chest.

Oh no. Stay soft.

Stay soft? What?

I head toward the bar and grab a towel and spray bottle to clean the tables. Yes, we just opened and they are already clean but I need something to do.

I hear Luca saywatch herto Enzo and I spin around.

“Watch me? Watch me what?”

He points at me. “We don’t need any more trouble today.”

I rear back at his accusation. “I’mtroublenow?”

He takes a step toward me. “You’ve been trouble since the minute you walked in here.”

Enzo and Benny’s heads bounce back and forth like they’re watching a tennis match.

I take a step closer. “How? How am I trouble?”

“Maybe I should just dock your paychecks until that four thousand dollars I had to eat is paid off.”

“Why did you eat it? He asked for top shelf, I gave him top shelf.” I cross my arms over my chest. “He consumed the scotch, he should’ve paid for it.”

“You of all people know how much that bottle costs. You knew what you were doing. You just didn't expect it to blow up in your face because in all your privileged life no one has ever pushed back.”

My head shakes at his nonsense. “Oh, me of all people? Because I have rich parents? You don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”

He takes a step closer and invades my bubble. “I bet you didn’t expect him to put his hands around your throat, huh?”

I take a deep breath and tip my head up to look in his eyes and see the small smile on his face.

“Never been choked, have you, Princess?” He winks and Ipicture all the butterflies in my stomach strapping on spiked collars. He leans down and whispers. “Or did you like that part?”

“That’s enough.” Benny barks from the end of the bar.

Luca’s head snaps up like he just remembered other people were in the room. I drop my eyes and dig my hands in my apron so he doesn’t notice them shaking. Luca walks away, sulking like a toddler chastised, and I see Enzo, chin rested on his fist and a smirk on his face. He makes an explosion sound and mimics fireworks with his hands as soon as Luca leaves the room.

“Whatever, he’s an ass.”

“The twins disagree.”

“Twins?”

He gestures to my chest and laughs.

I look down anddammit.

Benny chuckles. “There’s Band-Aids in the first aid kit.”

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