Page 44 of Hot Shot

Dammit.

When I arrived at Conquistadors, I went in with Julia to make sure everything was still in place, and of course met up with Marco. I watched as he told Julia more about the business and showed her around. The restaurant and bar weren’t that busy, but Marco expected around five o’clock things would pick up.

“What time should I come back to pick her up?” I asked Marco.

“You’re not staying?”

“I’m not the one working off a debt.”

One corner of his mouth lifted. “So hanging out here would be punishment.”

He had no idea. Okay, maybe more like torture.

I keep thinking about him. All the goddamn time. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I thought about our meeting Saturday, how he was tough with Julia, but not mean. He definitely had Julia’s attention, but he didn’t terrify her. And once they agreed on the plan, he asked her questions with a genuine interest and softer attitude that made my heart flutter.

I have to admit he was right that Julia needed to face the consequences of her actions, and Iamworried about this gang that Julia told me about. This strengthens my resolve to make sure I spend more time with Julia, to make sure she isn’t getting into deeper and deeper trouble.

I broached the idea of Julia seeing a counselor on our way home Saturday. It wasn’t received well, although I tried to reassure Julia that lots of kids had a hard time dealing with their parents’ divorce and it’s not a bad thing. Julia was adamant she didn’t want to, so I didn’t push it, but I do want to make sure Julia has opportunities to talk about things.

“I’ll come back at eight,” I say to Julia. “To take you home.”

Julia nods, biting a fingernail, blinking rapidly. Is it okay to leave her on her own with a bunch of strangers? Maybe I should stay. But what the hell would I do for four hours in a bar? Okay, eat, sure, but that wouldn’t take long. Maybe I should ask for a waitressing job. Ha. That could be my next career.

God.

“You’ll be fine,” I say to Julia. “Marco will look after you.”

“I’m not her baby-sitter,” he growls, but Julia smiles and I realize that I totally trust him with my niece’s safety. “She’s here to work. Let’s get going.” He pauses and meets my eyes. “You should stay and have something to eat.”

I nod slowly. I have to eat, even if I go home.

“We can talk about the party plans,” Marco adds before heading back to the kitchen with Julia.

Julia waves.

I inhale a deep breath and release it, then walk over to the long wooden bar and hop up onto a stool. I still feel uneasy about deceiving my sister. Maybe I should be up front with her about what happened and what the plan is. Or maybe I’ll just wait until it’s done and Julia has repaid the debt and . . . I wince, thinking about Lauren’s possible reaction to what Julia was doing.

“Hey, Carrie.” Beck faces me across the bar. “Something to drink?”

“Just a glass of water.”

“Sure.” He scoops ice into a tall glass and fills it from the dispenser, then moves away to look after some customers at the other end of the bar. Some kind of chill indie music plays and I look around. This place is becoming like a second home, with all the time Hayden and I have spent here, and now this. I like the way the late-afternoon sun filtering through the venetian blinds warms up the white walls and dark wood.

A couple enters the bar and take seats on stools near me, greeting me by name.

“Hi, Joe. Hi, Helena.” The married couple are regulars at the bar who I’ve gotten to know. I smile at them. “How are you?”

“Eh.” Joe shrugs, “I’ve had better days.”

“Oh. Sorry to hear that.” I’m not sure if I should ask . . .

“He’s pissed at me,” Helena offers.

What else is new? These two always seem to be fighting about something. And yet, they’re still together . . .

“She watched two episodes ofGame of Throneswithout me,” Joe says bitterly.

I gasp and press a hand to my chest. “Netflix cheating?”

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