Page 7 of See Me

He reaches out to squeeze my hand. “Enzo, nice to meet you.”

“Don’t get too friendly, she isn't staying.”

Enzo winces and turns to him. “Luca.”

Luca.

I let the name roll around in my head.Luca. Why does that give me kitty butterflies? Maybe Ishouldgo.

I shoulder my purse and turn toward the door. “It’s okay. I can see I wouldn’t be a good fit here.”

Enzo grabs my wrist as I turn to go. “Wait.” Still holding onto me he turns to Luca. “Bro, we need someone. You know Tomi has shit going on. She’s going to need some time off. Why don’t I just train her for a few days and see what happens?”

He’s still shuffling papers on the table behind the desk and doesn’t even turn around. “No.”

Enzo grits his teeth. “Dude, there’s no one else.”

His shoulders sag and he runs his hands over his face. “Fine, but she’s all yours. Don’t come to me with any fuckups.”

“Great. Cool.” He shuffles meout the door and closes it softly behind him. “Wow, you almost blew it in there with your mouth, Blaze. And not in the fun way.”

“You were listening?”

“Yeah,” he laughs. “You were kind of sassy when I gave you the application and I remembered you from the Halloween party. Luca doesn’t do well with sassy. Wanted to make sure you got the job.”

“Wow, thanks. I owe you one. I don’t know what came over me in there. I’m usually more professional than that.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. Luca has that effect on people. He’s kind of intimidating. He usually ends up provoking a response that leaves people no choice but to leave. That’s what happened to all our other applicants.”

“So, it isn’t just me? Thank god, I thought I was losing my mind. He's infuriating.”

“He can be. But he’s my brother. I guess I’m used to him.”

“You’re related to him? You seem like polar opposites.”

“Yeah. Totally opposite. Watch this.” He waits for a second until we both hear the door open. “He wanted you to leave butdamn,do I want you to stay.” He licks his lips and boxes me against a wall. My eyes go wide and he winks.

“No fucking the staff.” Luca rounds the corner and I have to look up to see all of him. He has to be over a foot taller than my five-foot two frame. He tosses me a black t-shirt with no care where it lands. “And wear this and some tight jeans. ThisAnne of Green Gablesgetup you have going on isn’t going to earn you any tips.” He turns on his heels and out what I assume is the back door when the sunshine blinds me in his retreat. I dig out my phone and googleAnne of Green Gables.

Ash-hole.

TWO

PURPLE HEADED PEOPLE PLEASER

“You tipme out for making your drinks, and you tip out Omar for making your food.”

“So, I give you ten percent and I give the cook ten percent?” I organize the cash I have in my little cash bag on the counter while Enzo sweeps the floor.

“Not ten percent of your tips, ten percent of your bar total and food total.” He comes behind the bar and takes the register printout. “See these totals here?”

I see the totals and start to do the math in my head. I slap the money in his hand. “I’ll make my own drinks from now on, thank you very much.”

He hands me themoney back. “Here, you keep it.”

“No. What the heck? Is this a lesson on responsibility like a parent taxing a kid’s allowance?”

He grins. “No. You worked hard today. I made plenty from my regulars.”

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