Page 195 of Waiting Game

Because his focus is on my face, I hit out and slam him in the junk. As he releases a howl, I hiss, “If you threaten me again, I’ll call the cops. If you step foot on these premises again, I’ll call the cops. If you come anywhere near me or my staff, I’ll call the cops. Are you getting the picture, Jason?”

With a wispy groan, he rocks onto his knees then sidles onto the floor as he cups himself.

Sniffing, I step over him and stride toward the counter. “Eyes on the game, folks.”

Heads whip around to the screen, but Dionne warbles in my ear, “W-Was that wise?”

That the bastard made my intrepid server stutter like that? Oh, yeah, Jason definitely deserved a knee to the balls.

“He needed to learn his lesson. If he comes in again,” I warn, “you call the cops.”

“Will they do anything?”

“Maybe not, but he’s a bully and we have to face off against those types of jerks.” I tip my chin at the game on TV. “If I’ve learned anything from hockey, it’s that.”

Jarvis shoots me a weak grin at my play on words, but I can tell he’s nervous.

No one so much as offers Jason a hand up, and a couple minutes later, he staggers out.

When he turns back to look at me as the door closes, I flip him the bird.

This time, he leaves my A-frame sign alone.

I doubt it’s the last we’ll hear of him, but it feels damn good to assert my authority.

Chuck’s, after all, is mine.

And if I want to throw out handsy motherfuckers who can’t take ‘no’ for an answer, that’s my prerogative.

Donotask me why, but it’s that moment when I remember Cole and his jersey thing.

Fuck, this is such a nuisance.

But it doesn’t stop me from running into the back office, earning myself worried looks from my staff, dragging on his jersey, and taking a snapshot for him.

Mia: xo

*Mia sends image*

Cole: Fuck.

Cole: I’m not playing, but keep up the good work, babe. ??

Cole: Thank you xo

Combined with my Wonder Woman act out front and his ‘xo,’ I can’t deny that I’m walking on air when I return to the bar. Jason’s going to be a problem, but I find I don’t care. Maybe I’ll have to walk home with Dionne for a little while, just to be on the safe side, but it doesn’t kill my mood.

How that man makes me feel should be illegal, and I can’t be anything other than relieved it’s not.

Hanna: What are you boys doing?

Kow: In general or specifically?

Hanna: That you have to ask is terrifying in itself.

Gracie: I thought they were mostly behaving?

Hanna: Two of them are injured, and Liam’s only just over his stomach flu!

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