So were we.
“Jesus, Georgia,” Lissa laughed as she headed for the bathroom door, “anyone listening in on this conversation might think we were getting ready for a night of street walking, not bartending.”
“Some nights there’s no difference, really.” I arched an eyebrow and she smiled in response as we headed back behind the busy bar.
Even with my heels, I was still a couple of inches shorter than Lissa. She was waif-ish, with a dash of untreated Anorexia. Our differences in appearance worked to our advantage. It was easy to spot within a few seconds which patrons were eyeing whom, and we used that, to the delight of our wallets.
I’d been counting on Celtic Cross to draw a huge crowd, which would translate into great tips. Their last minute cancellation had me panicking until CJ walked in this afternoon. It was almost like it was a few years ago; the last time we saw each other in person. Almost.
I hadn’t done a very good job of keeping in touch over the last few years, but he’d done his part and kept quiet about my reasons for leaving Massachusetts.
“I love when you wear your hair down, you should do it more often.” Lissa was counting her drawer and I was counting mine.
“I guess.” My reverse bob was an easy choice for looking good tied up or left down. Mostly, I favored it up in a bandana. I looked to the clock and to the crowd. CJ better show.
Lissa pulled out the cutting board and a bin of limes. I grabbed a small knife and stood next to her, carving out perfect wedges the customers would barely notice. She elbowed me playfully. “When are you going to stop slumming it with us and finally open that bakery?”
I let my head hang as I sighed. “I’m not opening—”
Lissa cut me off as she rolled her eyes. “I don’t want your excuses, sister.”
“My hours are too irregular to successfully operate it. I’m here till three, at least, then I’m tired, Liss. I just want to go to bed.” I tied my apron around my waist and smoothed out the front as my lie prepared to wrinkle up the truth.
Just before I got sucked into another “get the hell out of here” conversation with Lissa, CJ burst ceremoniously through the door and walked straight toward me. To onlookers, he might be intimidating. He was probably 6’3” but his shoulders were so wide it made him look like a brick wall. His dark hair was shaggier than it used to be, but it looked good on him.
“Hey, gorgeous, do you ... wanna wear some clothes behind that bar?” He lifted his pierced eyebrow as he tossed his drumsticks on the bar.
“Are you suggesting I put on more clothes?” I leaned back and grabbed the Jack Daniels, mixing CJ’s drink before he ordered. It was always the same, and, sometimes, same was nice.
He looked up and pensively ran the barbell in his tongue across his lips. “No. What was I thinking?” He stuck out his tongue and I smacked his shoulder. Sex addict.
“Do not stick your tongue out at me, Ceej. Lord knows where that thing’s been since we last saw each other.” I slid his drink to him. “So ... where the hell are your friends?”
CJ looked over his shoulder, and as if choreographed for film, Regan strolled through the door with a violin case slung over his shoulder with a red strap. His loose jeans were tattered at the knees and pockets. I couldn’t tell if that was from a lot of wear, or if he’d spent too much money and purchased them that way. He was wearing a white long-sleeved button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Black converse sneakers and his hair tied back away from his neck in a messy ponytail completed his homage to carelessness.
Regan nodded to me and CJ as his long legs carried him to the bar. Before I could say hi, he was followed in by a god and goddess.
I shit you not.
The guy was a couple of inches over six-feet with thick hair as black as Lissa’s. It was styled to look messy but he didn’t look like he tried very hard. I was annoyed already. He held hands with what was easily the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen. Her long auburn hair had beach waves I just knew she was born with, and I felt my shoulders stretching back and my spine lengthening, as I stood straighter. I hated her. The effortless perfection of others got under my skin. Like God was mocking me.
“Thanks for waiting for us, Ceej.” The girl rolled her eyes and she and the guy set down heavy-looking guitar cases I’d totally missed them carrying in, what with all the good-looking air hovering around them.
“I’ll always wait for you, sweets.” CJ stuck out that goddamn tongue ring, and she flipped him off as Regan and the other guy laughed.
It seemed she was well acquainted with CJ, and thankfully for her, hadn’t slept with him. I cleared my throat and shot a snooty look to CJ, encouraging his social skills to make an appearance.