Page 15 of Nick & Nora Martinis

“Good job the trousers ain't grey joggers,” Mary says.

The three of us start to laugh.

“Well they can look but they can't touch. Well not until I'm off work,” Owen says with a grin, looking at Jayne.

“And you?” she says pointing to Rob.

“Don't drag me into this.”

“Ya pussy.” Jayne says, laughing. “Don't tell me you're already under the thumb.”

Rob just looks in my direction, as Owen says, “No he's not, but I bet you'd like to be.”

Jayne and Mary burst out laughing, as I stand there looking at them.

“Sorry Ab, before we were so rudely interrupted, more to the point - are you ready?” Owen says.

Rob comes and stands beside me, leaning on the bar, so his one hand is behind me. He thinks it's a good idea to run his fingers up my back, sending a shiver down my spine. And Jay was right, they do look fuckin’ hot.

“Erm, yeah, I think so, well it has to be.” I'm trying to keep my concentration but it's hard with Rob looking and smelling so good while standing so close. “I don't know how today is going to go. It could be really slow, even for the first few weeks,” I tell them. I feel sick to the stomach with nerves. What am I going to do if it doesn't work out, I've put my all into this?

“We got ya Smithy,” Rob says.

“Smithy, really?” I give him a pointed look, unimpressed with his name for me.

“Yes really. I do have other names I could call you if you like,” he chuckles.

I turn to face him and roll my eyes at him and they all laugh.

“Okay here goes, this is all or nothing, we are ready for this. I've done all I can. I've advertised all over the place.” I go to the doors and open them wide.

“You got this,” Jayne shouts.

My heart sinks. Not one person. I walk back to the bar and plonk myself down on the stool.

“It's only just past twelve, give it time, you'll see,” Jayne says.

Owen moves towards the doors and walks straight out of them.

“Where the hell is he going?”, I ask aloud as I look on in confusion.

“No idea….” “Don't know”, Rob and Jayne say together.

Fifteen minutes later he’s back, “Where the bloody hell did you go, you can't just walk out of the workplace?” I tell him.

“You'll thank me later,” he says, as he goes behind the bar.

“I'll be back in a minute,” Robs tells me, as he walks off towards the staff door.

On that two girls walk in. They look nervous, they don't look very old, maybe they are underage. I turn to see Owen wiping the bar, all smiles as the girls approach him.

“What can I get you two lovely ladies?” he asks. One girl picks a menu up and starts to look at it.

“Umm, can I have an Apple Martini please, Lee, what do you want?” Her friend looks up, giving Owen the come-to-bed eyes. “Him,” she says as they both start to giggle. “No seriously, what’ll you have to drink?”, says her friend.

“Well if I can't have him,” she says, still giving Owen the come-on, “I'll have a Bikini Martini.”

Before I get to say something I hear: “Can I see some form of ID, ladies?”

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