After cleaning up my messy bun—the bad messy, not the cute kind—and smacking my cheeks a few times, I took a deep, steadying breath. I could do this.
“Hi, guys, I’m Madison, and I’ll be your server this evening.” I set the two beers I was holding on the table and then placed both hands on my hips.
“Your name tag says Curly.”
I pursed my lips, “They like nicknames here. You can call me either. Are you ready to order or do you need a few more minutes?”
“I don’t know about him, but I’m just here to enjoy some drinks and the impeccable view.” He lifted the bottle to his mouth, his tongue darting out slightly before his lips made contact, and he took a swig, eyes pinned on me.
“Oh, um. Perfect. Okay. How about you?”
The older gentleman across from him sat there trying to hide his shit-eating grin behind a menu, and for some reason it made me laugh. I had a feeling these two were going to be a handful tonight.
“Nah, but I’m sure I’ll crave some fries or something later,” he finally got out.
“You got it.” I turned to leave but paused when fingers brushed my wrist. I looked over my shoulder, holding a knife to my heart and threatening it to calm the fuck down.
“I’ll admit, Curly’s cute, but I think I like Maddie better.”
Licking my lips, I swallowed, meeting his gaze, “You know, you’re the only one who calls me that.”
Garrett’s eyes flared, and his knuckles whitened as he gripped the bottle in his hand, “Then I definitely like it better.”
My mouth opened, but realizing I had nothing to say that wouldn’t give away the butterflies taking flight inside of me, I snapped it shut, nodding to Harry and high-tailing it out of there.
I checked on the rest of my tables and then promptly staked out a hiding spot on the far side of the bar.
Nate whistled. “That man was looking at you like you were a snack he wants to partake in three times a day. I could feel the angst from here.”
I groaned, lowering my head to my arms. Of course, Garrett would not only show up when I wasn’t prepared, but also turn up the heat less than a full week after my self-revelation about being in love with him.
Tipping my head to the side and gazing up at my friend, I asked, “You really don’t recognize him?”
He raised his brows, grabbing a frosted mug and filling it with the perfect amount of beer to foam ratio. “No, why? Who is he?”
I groaned again, cursing Nate and his playboy habit of never remembering a single face or name. “Do you remember that night when I downed a guy’s beer over his lap?”
“No. Shut up. That’s the same guy?”
I nodded pathetically, knowing I needed to pick my head up and go check on my customers, but not having the courage to do it yet.
“And you still haven’t put him out of his misery? Curly, that man wants you.”
“I know,” I said, flicking pretzel crumbs off the bar that’d probably fallen from someone’s mouth. “He’s already asked me to play the benefit game.”
“And you haven’t—okay, you’re officially, certifiably insane, but we’ll circle back to that. I meant that man wants you, as in, wants you forever and ever.”
I shoved off the bar, steadying myself from the sudden change in equilibrium. “No, he doesn’t, Nate. He already told me to my face it would be a ‘no feelings’ deal.”
Nate flipped a few shakers, making some random concoction that was sure to be delicious. “Even better then. You always whine about not having the time to date anyway. So, what’s holding you back?”
The fact I was in love with him, and touching him would kill what was left of my beaten-down heart? Was that a good reason?
He popped the caps off two more bottles and slid them over to me, “Do something crazy, Curly. You’re a mom, and a great one, but don’t forget you’re also a woman. You have needs, and that matters too.”
I plucked them up, “Since when did you get all philosophical and shit?”
He paused mid-shake, sucking on his teeth and clicking his tongue. “Curly, I got all kinds of different sides to me. How else do you think I get all my dates?”
I rolled my eyes. Do something crazy, huh? I didn’t judge anyone who enjoyed one-night stands. Nate made it his second profession, and I loved his face. But could I move Garrett’s and my friendship in that direction and not want more? That’s what I wasn’t sure about.
But as I approached his table, and his eyes flicked up my body, I almost yelled, “Goddammit, yes!” and dragged him by his collar to the bathroom. Somehow, I don’t think getting fired was the level of crazy Nate had in mind.
Garrett watched every step I took like it was foreplay for him, and I suddenly forgot how to speak. Setting the new bottles on the table, I reached to grab his empty one, but he whipped his hand out at the same time, curling his fingers around my own. He yanked the bottle toward him, and it lurched me forward until I almost fell into his lap.
I placed a hand against his shoulder, propping up my weight, and stared down at him, wide-eyed. The position felt oddly similar to the last time I’d held a beer bottle over his lap, and the look he gave me said he was thinking the same thing.
I flushed crimson, scrambling back and wiping my palms on my sides. Turning my body away from the fucking sun, I asked Harry, “You still good?”
Harry was leaned forward, his chin resting in his bear-sized hand, a suspiciously blank expression on his face. “Yeah, I’m good.”
I cleared my throat, refusing to look to the man on my left who was staring a hole into me. “All right then, just flag me down when you’re ready for more.”
“I thought I’d already made it clear I was, but I can tell you as many times as you need to hear it, Maddie.”
My ears were so red, they burned, and I’d never moved from a table faster in my life. The sounds of the brothers’ laughter echoing out behind me.
The remainder of the night went on fairly well, all things considered. It didn’t take long for me to have a full section, including a large party, so I was too busy to over-think Garrett’s presence or his teasing comments.
He seemed to understand that, too, because the minute he saw me hustling from table to table, he toned down his gravitational pull and relaxed into his booth, chatting with his brother.
I was assisting another waitress, and had my arms covered in dishes from my elbows down, when they finally pushed out of their booth.
Garrett met my eyes across the room as he tossed cash and something else onto the table. Then he quietly followed Harry out.
I don’t want to say I sprinted over the minute my arms were free, but it was possible. Tucked under a wad of cash that was way too much for their total, was a folded, wrinkled-looking paper. I snatched it up like a crack addict, reading it, then re-reading it.
I’ll see you after work.
How those five words could be both thrilling and nerve wracking was as confusing as it got. I feel like he was both threatening and teasing me at the same time, and it made me feel like a fire was burning in my belly while ants crawled all over my skin. It was heady.
I stashed the note in my pocket, glancing at the window and half-expecting him to be standing there smirking at me, but he wasn’t.
The fact that I was mildly disappointed should have worried me. The fact that it would have turned me on, should have worried me more.
“You going to change it up tonight, Curly? Or just take your usual?”
I stuck out the tip of my tongue in thought, Garrett’s note burning a hole in my back pocket. Was he really going to wait for me to get home?
“Change it up, but nothing crazy that will hinder me from driving.”
“You got it.”
I left Nate at the bar and stored the broom I’d been using, switching it out for the mop. We’d closed right on time, and this was the last chore on my list.
My manager had long since stopped checking on my closing duties, trusting that I actually did them, so when I was done, I shouted a goodbye toward his office and met Nate on the patio.
“Your poison, my lady.”