Page 52 of Don't Break My Heart
I roll my lips. “Not working for me anymore.” Another question I wanted to avoid.
They pin me with their stares. “What the fuck happened to you, girl?” Myriah asks, her voice more serious than it ever is.
I sigh heavily, feeling the weight of the last few weeks pressing down on my shoulders. “It’s a long story. Can we just pretend I never left and get on with it? I need me some normal.”
Myriah glances at Sally, and they share a look. “Got you, girl.” She laces her arm with mine. “Do you want to hear about why I hate yourbrother so much or about my awful date last night?” She smiles at me, all hopeful.
This is why I love this girl. I offer her a half smile, grateful for the distraction I know she’s about to provide. “Why don’t we start with the awful date, while we get this place ready to open.”
“Since I have already heard this story, I’m going to let you two catch up while I set up the bar.” Sally gives me a lopsided smile like I’m going to be rolling my eyes in no time and wanders off toward the main bar.
Myriah runs a hand through her hair and tosses it up into a high ponytail. “I only went out with him because I was trying to get over… well, Asher. I’m sorry, I know he’s like your brother, but the man did a number on me. And I know you warned me away a million times and I should have listened, but shit, girl, I think he’s got some sort of magic powers.”
I take a stack of drink menus and start placing them on the empty tables. Myriah follows along beside me. “Okay, enough about Asher, what happened on your date?”
She grabs my arm. “I didn’t think dates could be this bad. First, he picks me up on his bicycle.” Her eyes go wide. “Turns out he’s lost his license from a DUI. And after the first hour, I knew why. He took me to the Precinct. I thought that was a strange choice but was willing to go with it at the off chance it might just erase my thoughts of you-know-who.” She rolls her eyes. “But the asshole spent the entire time drinking like a fish and talking about his ex-wife who he was clearly still in love with. It was a disaster. Jagger had to kick him out after an hour because he was so out of control. I spent the rest of the night watching some football game I didn’t even understand with Jagger just so I didn’t have to go home alone.”
“How bad did it get while I was gone, Myriah?” I ask, and I’m mostly talking about with Asher.
“Oh, so bad, sis. I’m out of dating options in Ravens Hollow. You’re so lucky you got to go to Italy. I’m so jealous.”
“Don’t be. I would have preferred to be here.” Even as I say it, I know the words are a lie. This club feels so small now. I got a taste of the world, and I hate to admit it, but I want more from my life than just wasting away in the same place I grew up in. “But I did mean with Asher?”
“Oh, yeah, it’s bad.” She pulls a face. “Erica is pissed with him as well. You know he was fucking her at the same time as me. I mean, it wasn’t like we ever said what we had was exclusive, but I thought it was implied.” She rolls her eyes, spotting him and Romeo coming out from the back office together.
Romeo’s eyes meet mine, and they scan the whole way down my body like he’s seeing me for the first time. Then his eyes meet mine and he smiles like I don’t hate him right now. Something in it warms me up inside. And I hate him even more. Why does he have this stupid effect on me? “I fucking knew it. Romeo thinks the staff like him, but I knew this shit would happen with Ash in charge.”
She watches Asher as I watch Romeo walk across the room. They say something to Sally, then Asher leans on the bar, watching us as Romeo moves in behind the bar with Sally. Myriah leans into me closer. “We don’t not love him,” she says, her eyes still locked with his.
“Oh, dear God,” I mutter as a massage my temples.
“He’s just so lovable, you know. But I’m pissed with him as well. He just has no sense of responsibility for anything he does. One day soon he’s going to come across a girl who fucks him over like he does all of us. I hope it’s real soon. I would love to see him suffer like the rest of us have.”
I can’t help but laugh. “We canonly hope, sis.”
“Right.” She smirks, and I can see she’s imagining it. The only problem is I don’t think my brother will ever fall for a girl the way they all fall for him. He’s just not capable of those kinds of deep feelings. Something to do with our fucked-up childhood. Maybe that’s what’s wrong with me as well.
“Least I’m back now. You won’t have to see his ugly face around this place every day.” I laugh, trying to lighten the mood for her.
“Don’t get rid of him. Didn’t Romeo tell you profits are up big time? Especially in this bar. I don’t think we have ever been so busy even during the week.”
It all clicks for me why profits are up so much, when I have worked on this shit for years trying to make improvements. “Let me guess, we have a new market of single ladies drinking here.”
She grins and her entire face lights up. “Sure do, and you know how much they love designer cocktails. Sally has a whole new menu going just to cater to them.” She flicks the one in my hands, and I look at it properly for the first time. “We have been hosting bachelorettes and everything.”
I shake my head, looking over the new drinks, impressed with what Sally has come up with. They are pricy as fuck. No wonder Romeo is loving this new team dynamic, it’s lining his pockets nicely.
When I look up, I find Myriah staring at Asher. He’s leaning over the bar chatting to Sally with a menu in his hands. She looks at him like he hung the moon. “What is wrong with the women of this town?” I mutter for her benefit. She knows how much of a manwhore he is, and yet she still is infatuated with him. All I see is my big dumb brother.
She takes my head in her hands and positions me so I’m staring at Jagger. “Look at him, those arms, those tats, that ass, sexy as hell.” She sighs.
I cringe. And like he knows we’re talking about him, he turns around and winks in her direction. “You need to get out more.” I spin back toward her, having a fabulous idea. “Actually, maybe not out. Maybe we need to bring the hot eligible bachelors here. Romeo and I had this idea that we could play a love-matching game in the new VIP club. It would be to make a shit ton of money and have a bit of fun as well, while attracting new wealthy dudes. But doesn’t mean we couldn’t find people a date for the night as well. It could turn into something real.” I wiggle my eyebrows playfully.
Her eyes twinkle with delight at the idea. “A game? And I could play?” She points to her chest.
I shrug. “I don’t see why not.”
Her grin widens. “What would I have to do?”
