Page 7 of Devil in the Details
He scoffed as if what I said was silly. “You got this, Olive. You’re smart and you know your shit. If they don’t hire you, I don’t know what they’re looking for in an employee.” His expression was serious.
“Yeah, but it’s not like I have a whole lot of experience, and to be fired certainly doesn’t look good on a resume.”
He shrugged, acting like it wasn’t an issue at all. Michael had been at the same job for the past five years. He had job security.Unless this place went belly-up, Michael had a job. Hell, the owners thought of him as family.
“Listen, if things don’t work out with these interviews, it’s not the end of the world.”
That was easy enough for him to say.
He started wiping down the bar but kept glancing at me. “I’m serious, Olive. You’ll find a job. This is a big city, and lots of people need skilled, intelligent employees. And that’s what you are tenfold.”
I smiled, because I didn’t know what to say to that. Michael was very optimistic. Always. He was also always there for me. And that went a long way in making my confidence rise.
Michael went off to help a customer, and I sensed someone sit beside me. I glanced to my left and saw an older man take a seat, a smile on his face.
“Hey.”
I could barely hear him, but I read his lips, so I just nodded and smiled back.
He looked old enough to be my dad, with creases at the corners of his eyes, and his skin tanned and weathered as if he was out in the sun a lot. He had salt-and-pepper coloring at his temples, and a nose that looked like it had been broken once or twice.
He leaned in close and I smelled a potent, concentrated whiff of his cologne.
“Hi.” I gave him a friendly smile but didn’t engage.
“I noticed you’re here alone.”
I just smiled again. I’d been living in the city long enough that just because a guy seemed nice didn’t mean he was. If he was trying to pick me up at the bar, chances were he was only after one thing. And that one thing was not something I was willing to give up to him.
“I’m actually here visiting my friend.” Before I could gesture to Michael, the guy moved in a little closer. Great, he was already becoming a clinger.
“Can I buy you another drink?”
I shook my head and lifted up my nearly full piña colada. “Thanks, but no thanks. I think I’m good.”
I saw Michael glance up at me, his gaze going to the guy sitting beside me, lifting his eyebrow and cocking his lips in amusement. I hid my amusement as well. He chuckled softly and shook his head before walking over to me, a rag over his shoulder. The guy beside me kept talking about his work, and I just wanted to rip my hair out. I was not a confrontational kind of person and didn’t want to be rude. But I wasn’t interested. Not in the slightest.
“So, maybe you’d want to get dinner or something sometime?”
I looked to my left. I think he said his name was Barry. Or Bob. The music was so loud I hadn’t even heard him clearly, and I hadn’t been interested enough to have him repeat it.
“Hey, buddy.”
I glanced over at Michael after he spoke. He had his focus on Barry/Bob, this serious, stern expression on his face.
“The lady isn’t interested. Go spit your game on someone else.”
Barry/Bob looked between Michael and me, and after a few seconds gave me a sheepish smile before nodding once and getting up to leave.
Clearly, I hadn’t been something he wanted to fight for. Thank God.
I looked at Michael and we stared at each other for a suspended moment before both of us burst out laughing. “I swear,” I said and leaned in to take another sip of my piña colada. “I always attract ones like that.” I took another drink,sucking a little bit more down this time. The burn was starting to fade as I got used to the alcohol.
“I mean, it could’ve been worse.”
I lifted an eyebrow in skepticism. “Believe me, it could’ve been a lot worse.”
I started laughing as I looked around the bar full of people. “True that.”
