Page 11 of Claimed By Two Alphas

One of them looked my way. Was she talking about me to them? God, I really didn’t care. I was exhausted and battling the voices that were whispering through my head. Another night of needles in my brain, so Janie could kick rocks.

“How’s your head tonight?” Misty and I were by the bar, waiting on our drink orders. Delvin and Joshua were around, but I couldn't see them. They must’ve gone to their office.

“Good.” I smiled at Misty, remembering the phone call I’d gotten from her. Maybe now was the time to set her straight. “Um, Misty?”

“Yes?” She smiled up at me with her big green eyes, bordered by thick black lashes. She had curves for days. Like I’d said before, if I were straight, she would have been my type.

“About your phone call last night…”

“I was just really concerned about you.” She looked away from me, at the crowd tonight. “Your headache was the worst I’d seen it last night, Shane.”

She was embarrassed, and I didn’t want to make her any more uncomfortable than she already was. I had to work with her, and if Janie was pissed at me, I didn’t need another coworker giving me the cold shoulder. Sure, there were other servers, but having two coworkers not talking to me would suck.

“Thanks for being such a good friend,” I said. “How’s your boyfriend? What’s his name again?”

She huffed as she turned toward me. “Lyle dumped me, Shane.”

“Oh.” I bit my lip. “Is that a good or bad thing?”

Misty shrugged. “It is what it is.”

Touchy subject. “So, any plans tonight?”

Her tray was filled with her drinks as I asked. She gazed up at me, but I could tell her smile was forced. “Nope. Just me and Kameron.”

Right. That was her son’s name. I’d forgotten that, too. Not that we were close friends. Work friends was what we were. Besides having a kid and boyfriend, I really didn’t know much about her. Hell, I hadn’t known that much about Delvin and Joshua, either. How shitty of a work friend was I?

“Well, I’m sure he’ll be great company tonight,” I said moments before she walked away with her tray.

“You okay?” Raymond, the bartender, asked.

He was tall, lean, and cute with big expressive brown eyes and a ready smile. The most laidback guy I’d known. “Define okay,” I muttered.

Raymond leaned his arms on the counter. He should have been making the drinks I needed. “Lay it on me, Shane.”

“Lay what on you?” I frowned. “Can I get those drinks?”

He chuckled. “Coming right up, but if you need to talk, my ears are here for you.”

“It’s Janie,” I said. “Possibly Misty.”

“Ah.” Raymond nodded as he filled the glasses with different beverages for a table with a family, including kids. “Janie is pissed that she once again had to cover for you, and Misty thinks you’re the bee’s knees.”

“Wait, you know all that?” I shouldn’t have been surprised. Raymond was the bartender, and most people unloaded their problems on people in that profession. Not that I ever had, but Raymond was easy to talk to, ready with a warm smile all the time.

“Tension in the air,” Raymond said as he set a few of the glasses on my tray. “It happens when you work with other people. Jealousy, being petty, the whole song and dance, my friend.”

“And you’re above all that.”

“Yep.” Raymond nodded. “I don’t get involved. Makes my life easier that way.”

I smirked. “But you’re getting involved now.”

That’s because I like Misty, but she won’t give me the time of day. She’s too stuck on you to see what she has right in front of her. Janie is just a bitch. Always has been. If only Misty would realize how much I care for her…

Raymond’s thoughts were ringing loud and clear. I pressed my hands to my temples, wishing his mind would go blank. I didn’t need to know all that. But it was interesting to know he was pining over Misty.

“I’m not getting involved,” Raymond said. “Just stating the obvious, things you already know.”

---