Page 13 of Wilder Puck
Crew Nixon: Steady now, China Wall
I’m sitting in my truck in Addie’s parking lot. Nixon’s right. I need to break up with Hailey because this isn’t fair for anyone. And then I need to pull some strings to get onto Addie’s lease agreement.
Chapter 5
“See you tonight, Mr. Taylor,” I smile at the old man who loves his coffee. I’m grateful that the man owns a popular sports bar in town and is willing to hire me. I didn’t even have to do an interview. I was offered the bartending job when I handed him his Cryin’ Ryan coffee last week, and he said, “I appreciate your hard work and dedication. Have you ever thought of serving alcohol?”
The conversation exploded into possibly becoming business partners, so this bartending job is the interview. I need to do good at this place and prove that I can handle being a business owner and a hard-working employee, and who knows what’ll happen, I could potentially be co-owner of a future sports bar.
“Mr. Wilder,” Mr. Taylor calls out. I love the formality as I turn around to see Ryan’s smiling face coming around the corner. “You got a big game tonight, son.” He raises his coffee cup. “I got Cryin’ Ryan just to wish you luck today.”
Ryan smiles brightly, snapping his fingers. “Thank you. That’s what I’m talking about.” He pats the man on his back and says, “Excuse me, I need to talk with Addison.”
I walk behind the coffee bar as Ryan follows me.
He whispers, “You’re not answering my texts.”
“I’m not staring at my phone. I’m working,” I say as I clean up a few spills and refill the straws.
Ryan nods. “Right. Okay.”
“What’s up?” I ask, looking over at his eyes. He appears to be worried, but I don’t have the time for it right now as I restock the milk. “Is everything okay?”
I grab the coffee cups and start calling out names.
Ryan says, “Don’t worry about me. Can I steal one of those Cryin’ Ryan’s?”
I shout, “Another Cryin’ Ryan, please.” I smile. That name never gets old.
He walks over to the barista and offers to help make the coffee while I finish calling out names. He comes back with a fresh cup in his hands.
I ask, “Are you nervous about the game?”
Ryan takes a long, joy-filled sip and sighs after gulping it.
I hit his chest as he takes a few steps back to prevent the coffee from spilling. “China Wall Wilder, shouldn’t you be at the rink or something?”
“I need to break up with Hailey, I think,” he confesses, and that immediately makes me forget what I’m doing.What am I doing?
“Oh,” I say, stopping in my tracks. I look down at the coffee cups in my hand and call out more names. I smile at my customers, thanking them.
Once the fresh coffees are gone, I turn to Ryan. “So, that’s why you were so weird last night? You could’ve said something.”
“Right,” he says. “Yeah. I didn’t know how to bring it up. Isthere any way you can come to the game tonight? I need moral support.”
“Ry,” I breathe as Mr. Taylor comes up to the counter and says, “I’ll see you tonight, Addison. The town is going to go nuts with you as a bartender. I’m forever grateful.”
I smile kindly as Ryan gawks. “Thank you, Mr. Taylor. I’ll be there.”
“Good luck, Cryin’ Ryan.”
Ryan nods his head. “Thanks.” His tone sounds bitter, so I hit him in the chest and pull him to the back room.
“What’s gotten into you?” I ask.
“That’s your new boss? I can’t believe you’re bartending. I told you to move in with me and you won’t have to worry about anything.”
I’m terrifyingly annoyed as I stare at Ryan. What part of N-O does he not understand? “And I told you that if you mention it one more time. I’m not going to be friends with you anymore.”
