Page 29 of Bee

His face softens, "You shouldn't have to. That's what I'm here for."

Those words hit hard, but I refuse to let him know just how much they mean to me. I've never needed anyone to save me, not even my sister though she tried her hardest. Maybe I can let this bear of a superhero be the first one to sweep me off my feet.

"That's what we're both here for." I correct him. "You've got me and I've got you. We've got each other's back. I'll let you know if I need you, okay."

"Swear it." He grits through his teeth.

I put up three fingers and snap my feet together, "Scouts honor!"

At once, the grim look on his face drops, and he smirks at me, "You're so strange."

"I'll take strange over drunk and deranged any day." I shoot him a wink and go back out into the fray to continue cleaning up.

By the time Rye and Barley is ready to close, I'm nearly dead on my feet. Rye and I never talk about my duties working here, hell we never even talked about pay, but I'm not sure how often I'm going to be able to do this. All I want is the bed.

"Go on, we're closed fellas." Rye rushes the last stragglers out of the bar and of course they come up with every excuse they can to get one more drink, but Rye stands firm.

"You can have another drink tomorrow."

I lean against one of the stools near the bar feeling my eyes already starting to droop. How the hell am I going to get back to the clubhouse like this. I swear I used to have more energy when I was drinking. I turn my gaze to the rows and rows of liquor behind the bar and once again I feel the urge to just reach over and grab one. I'm not going to. I'm doing so good.

To drink means I'll be failing the club, my sister, myself. It means I'll fail Rye.

Instead, I reach over and grab a bottle of water. It's nice and cold. Definitely not what I want, but it does give me a bit of a boost.

Rye turns to look at me and when he sees the bottle of water to my mouth, he smiles. "That's a good girl."

I shrug, "If you say so."

"I do."

With my help through the day, there's not much left at night for him to clean up. He closes out the till and hands me fifty dollars.

"This good for the night?"

Fifty? Just for picking up glasses? I wasn't expecting this much at all. "Super cool, in fact, it might be too much." I slide the money in my pocket.

"You earned it. Besides, it looks like you've cut my closing time duties nearly completely. Everything already is so clean. You're a lifesaver. Truly."

I humph not wanting to remind him that it's him who is the lifesaver. Just a few days ago I was banging on his door nearly one foot in the grave from detoxing.

He seems so docile and sweet, yet I know what's under it all. I saw him earlier with that gun pointed at Evan's head. I know Rye can get dangerous quickly. That only makes me want him more.

"So..." He says, looking around once all the busy work is done.

It's the end of the night, and he's about to go home.

Crap, that means I have to leave too.

"Oh, yeah right. I guess it's time for me to hit the bricks." I joke and chug the last of the water in the bottle.

"I didn't say that." He keeps his eyes glued on me.

"What exactly are you saying, then, Rye?"

"I'm just letting you know there's another option…if you want."

"And that other option is?" I plan on making this as hard for him as possible. I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. I love getting him riled up.

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