Page 25 of See Me

I throw my towel on the bar and grumble all the way to the locker room.

Today’s shift has been forty-three hours long but it’s finally over. You’d think I’d be happy the day took so long when the alternative is sleeping in a parking garage I have to spend money on, but I’m glad it’s over. Luca stayed all flipping night and playing theI don’t see you, you don’t see megame was exhausting.

I spray and wipe down the last table and put the chairs up as Enzo sweeps the floors behind me. Luca appears in the hallway and walks to the service window with a clipboard. Hiseyes dart around the room until they land on me and immediately back down. He flips through pages and makes notations.

Enzo digs his phone out of his pocket and taps for a few seconds. “You remember my friend Matt I was telling you about?”

I turn to Enzo and he purses his lips and tries to gesture behind him with his eyes but just ends up looking like he’s having a seizure.

I barely contain my smile. “Oh, yeah.”

“He wants to take you to dinner tomorrow night.”

I paint a fake smile on my face. “Oh really?”

“Yeah. Wear something short and tight.”

Luca drops his clipboard. My instinct is to roll my eyes at the blatant misogyny but I refrain and giggle instead.

Barf.

“But I work tomorrow night.”

Enzo waves off my protest. “I’ll have Tomi cover a few hours for you. She took a couple days off this week anyway and you’ve been here every day.”

Luca tosses the clipboard through the service window and marches back to his office, kicking a box out of his way.

I whisper when Enzo comes closer. “What are you doing?”

“Exactly what you want me to but are too stubborn to admit,” he whispers back. “I’ll text you the details,” he says louder.

I hesitate while studying Enzo’s face.

“C’mon,”he mouths.

I blow a long breath out of my nose. “Sounds good.”

Enzo pumps his fist in the air and dances in silent celebration.

“I’m gonna take off. See you later.”

“Later, Blaze.”

After a quick trip to the locker room, I say goodbye to Omarthrough the window and head to the end of the hallway. Luca’s office door is closed so I look down the hall and make sure no one’s watching. I dig the supplies out of my purse and shove the penny in the door mechanism and cover it with tape. I test it to make sure it works. The door shuts and with the weight of the steel it closes with a thump, seeming to latch. I push on it and it slides open.

Yes.

Enzo parked out front today because the lot was full this morning so I just have to make sure Omar or Luca don’t come out this way and lock the deadbolt.

After fifteen minutes, Omar comes out, a bag of trash over his shoulder, and slides a key into the lock and I hear the deadbolt slide home.

No.

He turns to leave and his eyes meet mine through the windshield. He waves, I wave, a weak smile on my face. He walks to the dumpster and heads over to my car. I slide the window down.

“Goodnight, Miss Ella.”

“Goodnight, Omar. Give that baby a kiss from me.”

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