Page 24 of Playing the Backbeat
“Humph.” That seems to be enough to satisfy her for now, because with a curt nod, she moves, unpacking the stemware. “I’ll work with her. You don’t need to worry.”
Relief flows through me. Not that I worried Vicki wouldn’t agree, but she’s the longest-standing bar staff and truly my best trainer. If I want to give Dee the best chance at feeling confident, even in a temporary way, I need Vicki’s help.
“I owe you one.”
“I’ll take you up on that one day.”
Chapter eleven
Dee
I’m wiping down the bar, maybe ten minutes from finishing closing duties, when Dylan approaches, leaning his elbows on the still sticky countertop.
“How did things go tonight?” he asks. It’s my third shift this week and no one is more shocked than me to admit it’s going well. Well, better than my last job at least.
“I made better tips tonight than in a week at the last bar. Next package of cookies is on me.”
“Yeah,” he agrees with a laugh. “I saw Sandy and her friends in here earlier. They always tip heavily.”
I start capping the liquor bottles. “I fucking love a woman who knows how to tip.”
“She was a bartender at the Bridge when it opened. She’s retired now but always comes to the first show of the month, so you can expect to see her again.”
“What if she hates the band?” I ask.
“Doesn’t matter.” He shrugs. “She says she needs to keep up on the music trends.”
“So…the EDM concert next month?”
He smirks. “She’ll be here. Ask her to show you her outfit the next time you see her. It’s lime green and neon orange.”
My jaw hangs open before a smile explodes on my face. “I want to be her when I grow up.”
“Great pick for a role model,” he says sincerely. Then shudders. “The two of you could take over the country, I’m sure of it.”
“And the world would be better for it.” We sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes while Dylan sits on one of the bar stools, boots up his computer, and starts working while I finish washing the remaining glasses in the three-bin washing station.
We’ve been carpooling to work since it would make zero sense to drive separately.
“I can’t believe the wedding is next month,” he says almost absently, scrolling through his phone.
“I know. Feels like just yesterday I was yelling at Bec about how Aiden didn’t deserve her.”
“You did not.”
“I sure as fuck did.” I wave my hand around, dismissing the thought. “But it turns out Bec was just being insecure and Aiden was already obsessed with her. So, it’s a good thing I didn’t key his car like Carissa and I were planning.”
“Remind me not to piss you off,” he mutters, returning his attention to his laptop.
“I wouldn’t keyyourcar.” He breathes a sigh of relief, but it’s short-lived because I can’t help myself. I lean over the bar, waiting for his eyes to find mine. “We’re roommates now. I could domuchworse things to you.”
“Pretty sure you’re not supposed to threaten your coworkers.”
“Pretty sure you know better than to provoke me.”
“You’re impossible.” He shakes his head. “So, who are you bringing to the wedding?”
“Ha!” He looks up, forehead wrinkled with confusion while he waits for me to go on. “I don’t do wedding dates. Especially not at my best babe’s wedding. Plus, I’minthe wedding. Do you know how out of place a date would feel attending the wedding with someone who’sinthe wedding when they’ve never met the bride and groom? No.Significantothers only.”
