Page 62 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B
“And doin’ it in front of her?”
He shakes his head.
“That was unprofessional
“and disrespectful as fuck.”
His words go down smooth,
but has that 80-proof aftertaste—
a bold, brutal burn.
“From one bartender to another?
“Lemme give you some advice.
“If you see a guy sittin’ with a girl,
“you want a decent tip? Don’t play flirty.
“You give your energy to her.
“Make sure she’s taken care of.
“Because when she feels disrespected?
“You lost both of ‘em. That tip? Gone.
“Especially when she’s footin’ the bill.”
She nods, and he swings the bill forward between his fingers.“You’re real lucky ‘cause her bein’ solid? That’s what saved your tip.”
When I head back to the table, Andrew spots me from across the bar and stands, coat in hand. “You good?” he asks when I slide up beside him.
Ricky’s eyeing us.
“Hold up. Y’all takin’ off?”
Andrew’s halfway through a hand clap,
half-turned, about to answer,
when over his shoulder,
the Grim Reaper has his eyes set on us,
heading right this way.
I grab Andrew’s arm. “Drew—”
But before Andrew has a chance to turn,
Reaper’s palm slams into his shoulder.
Andrew stumbles back a half step,
catching his balance,
