The bar was empty when I arrived, but I could already tell I liked it. It was small, clean, and surprisingly homey.
Immediately at ease, my gaze wandered, taking in my surroundings. A jukebox to my left flashed, alongside a computerized game. In front of me, an enormous bar sparkled. Behind it, a massive back, wearing a white button down shirt stood, counting the money in the register. He was bopping his head to the familiar nineties song playing over the sound system, his longish, ashy blond hair swept over his collar as he continued to rock-out.
When he finished counting, he used his hip to push in the drawer mid-lyric, then did a double take as he turned around to find me standing there.
I put my hand up and slowly waved, embarrassed for having found him that way.
Not the least bit ashamed, a big smile spread across his face. “And you must be Evangelina.”
“The one and only.” I flashed a toothy smile at him. I needed this to go right.
He walked over, extending his tanned hand. “I’m Rick. Nice to meet you.” He was a bit older than me, possibly mid-twenties. His eyes were a light, cloudy, friendly blue, and his features were kind of . . . pretty.
“Eva. Please.” I gripped his hand in a firm handshake. “It’s nice to meet you, too. Thanks for doing this for me. I really appreciate it, especially on such short notice.”
“No problem. Jessie’s my girl. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. Come, have a seat and we can get to know each other a little better.”
“Lead the way.”
We walked through a large opening, down a couple of steps to a dance floor where there were a few tables and chairs set. Pulling out the closest one, he gestured for me to sit before walking around to take the seat across from me.
“So, Eva, tell me a little about yourself.”
“Well, I just moved here from Colt’s Neck, where I spent my whole life. There isn’t much to do in a small town so, of course, I grew up mixing drinks at house parties.”
He nodded his head, giving me a friendly smile. “Didn’t we all?”
My body relaxed even further, seeing how relatable he was. “I left because I wanted a fresh start and just enrolled in my freshman year of college. That’s where I met Jessie. I know Jersey isn’t a ways off for most people, but it’s a ways off for me, so this is all pretty new.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled, and he folded his hands on the table, allowing me to continue.
“Anyway, I have a very nice, very expensive apartment that needs to be paid for somehow. I figure this kind of job is probably the only one that can afford me to do that and,” I shrugged, “I’m good at it. Plus, I’m sure it’s good times. Am I right?”
He nodded and chuckled. “Indeed.”
“So Jessie mentioned she had a friend and that she thought I’d do well here and . . . well, here I am.”
“Fair enough. My turn.” He leaned back in his chair, extended his legs, and crossed one over the other. Clasping his hands behind his head, he looked like he was sitting in his living room, talking about a baseball game rather than conducting a job interview. “This bar is my home. It’s my life. My family. It’s everything to me. If you want to come on board, you become my family and you treat it the same. Those are the rules.”
I looked at him through a tilted view. “Are you saying I have the job?”
His lips spread into a bright smile. “Let’s see how you do tonight. If all goes well and we mesh, then sure, you have the job.” He sat up straight and leaned in, taking inventory of me from head to toe. “I think you’ll fit in perfectly. Just remember how important this place is to me and always respect it. No drama. No jealous boyfriends. Just, as you say, good times. Deal?”
“Deal.” I nodded, unable to contain my excitement. “Thank you so much! You won’t regret it, I promise. Just tell me what you want me to do.”
He laughed at my rambling. “You’re starting to sound like Jessie now. Come on, let’s show you the ropes.” He stood up and made a sweeping motion. “This is where the bands and deejays set up. We have a dance floor and a few places to sit and hang out. Pretty standard stuff.”
He walked toward the back corner to a long staircase that led to the lower level, which was set up like a cushy lounge. It was a different atmosphere from the bar area we’d just left. Deep plush couches and giant ottomans were scattered inside purple walls with bubbles crawling up them. There was another bar in the far left corner. It was just as big, and even shinier than the one upstairs.