Page 23 of Cosmo

Cosmo sat on the stool behind the bar and took the glass in both hands. “Thanks. I really needed this, and I’m not a drinker.”

“You’ll have people buying you drinks all night. A couple, I don’t worry about, but if you drank all the shots and drinks these horny assholes buy you, we’d be mopping you up off the floor by midnight.”

“So, we, what? Politely turn down the drinks?”

Murphy laughed as he slammed a double shot of his own. “Hell no. Never turn down money. There are three bottles behind the bar that are water, like for vodka shots, tea for whiskey and so on. You’ll notice the three slightly to the back, in the right hand corner.”

“Isn’t that…like…stealing?”

Murphy watched him to gauge exactly how offended he was about theft. “No. Whether or not you drink a shot, they’re paying for it. Most insist. It’s policy now. Why? Does that bother you?”

Cosmo took half of his drink and swallowed, blanching a little at the strength of it. “No. I mean, it seems a little skeevy, but you’re right. They’d feel worse if you just didn’t accept.”

“Skeevy, sure, but like I said, you’d be drunk off your ass if you really drank booze all night.”

Cosmo gazed heavily at all the liquor. “Fair point.”

“It’s a rough time, weekend nights. I will not lie, no matter if you jog, walk miles or workout hours a day, like Goldie, your feet are going to hurt. Under the sinks of all the bathrooms, you’ll find Epsom salts. I suggest you use it. Do a bath, soak your feet, whatever, and then you’ll feel it even harder the next night.”

Cosmo finished his drink after that revelation, but Murphy wouldn’t lie.

“Welcome to the pub, kid. It’s going to be good to have you.”

Chapter Seven

Liam was a wreckwhen it was time to head down to the bar. He came out of his red and white room, stretching his arms over his head, and Abs walked right over to him with that little shimmy of his hips he had. “What are you wearing?”

“Clothes…”

Abs was beautiful, like a real pretty boy, and the makeup just made it more obvious. He had on plenty that evening, thick eyeliner, eyeshadow that was nearly as dark, and his hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail. Well, what hair he didn’t shave. From the middle of his ear down, he shaved his head. It only made him prettier, too.

“Those are not clothes you wear when you’re trying to get tips. Come on,” he huffed in exasperation, then grabbed a fistful of Cosmo’s loose black T-shirt, one with which he knew he could easily move for the busy night and pulled him back into his room.

“We’re supposed to ask before we come into another guy’s room. Can I?” Abs asked, though he was already inside the door.

Almost afraid of the small, stick-thin guy, Cosmo stuttered, “S-sure!”

“Thanks,” he said, distracted as he let go of Cosmo’s shirt and opened the nearly empty closet.

“I thought Eazy was getting you a few clothes until you could buy some for yourself.”

“They’re in the bags down there. They’re…not my style.”

“What is your style? Homeless man? Middle-aged bus driver?”

Unable to comment on those, he simply shrugged.

He felt guilty, but he didn’t know why he would. Abs was no shy man, however, and his confidence and powerhouse personality were a bit intimidating. And that was from a guy who’d fought guys twice his size in prison.

Abs took the bags to the bed and started pulling them out, shaking his head at some, grunting at others. Finally, he held a red V-neck sweater and stone-washed jeans. “These aren’t great, but they’ll do. Change and we’ll do something with that hair. I wish I’d have thought to get ahold of you before this, but we haven’t had a new guy in a while. I’m out of practice.”

“A sweater? Aren’t we going to be sweating?”

“Sure, but this is light. I can take the sleeves off, but not in the time we have to get down there.”

He took the sweater, afraid of what else he’d take from it. “No, this is good.”

“Okay, I’m gonna run and tell the others we’ll be a minute. Get dressed and I’ll be back to do your hair.”

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