Chapter Two

There's a dull throb in my head and heart, but that can't stop me from finding a job. Emalyn didn't come home last night, so the dorm room is empty and quiet which is refreshing but her help finding an outfit would have saved me an hour.

I take my resume to every establishment in sight, some looking more promising than others. I have wavering hope as I've spent the year abroad and there's tons of college kids looking for jobs.

At the last stop, I notice a run-down building with an "open for business" sign outside a door. I have one more resume, so it can't hurt to go inside and check it out.

I straighten my outfit and walk inside.

I'm met with an old wooden bar, mismatched furniture, and some light pop music playing in the background. There's nobody in sight but it looks set up for business.

"Hello?" I call out.

Somebody pops up from behind the bar and smiles. He's an attractive man, tall, tanned sink and brunette hair.

"Hi, how can I help you?"

"Hey, I'm looking for a job. I was hoping to speak to a manager and drop off my resume."

"Boss," he calls.

A door creeks open and Maverick saunters out. My stomach drops.

"Are you kidding me?" I grumble under my breath.

"She's looking for a job," he says.

"Oh." He smirks.

My mouth drops open.

Maverick tilts his head to the side and his smile widens.

I snap my mouth shut.

"Yes, I am."

"Do you have a resume?"

I hand him the resume and he grins at the page.

"Willow-Rose." When he says rose, his eyes meet mine.

"Yes."

He tilts his head to the side.

"Willow-Rose, that's a pretty name."

"Thanks. As you can see, I don't have any experience in bar-tending, but I can help clean and clear tables, wash dishes, clean toilets, whatever you need."

"Can you start work tonight?"

"Yes."

"Perfect, you're hired. I'll show you around the bar so you have an idea of things before you start."

"Sounds great."

"You've met Joey, he's the other bartender."

"I look forward to working with you." I smile.

"Follow me." He waves.

Maverick proceeds to show me around the bar - where to locate rooms, where to find cleaning products and other useful items. He points to the bar and his hand brushes my lower back as we shuffle into the small space.

"We're good at cleaning up after ourselves, but some support during rush time to help keep the garnishes stocked and the bar clean."

"Okay, sounds good."

"Hello," Emalyn calls out.

Mav grumbles and takes a step away from me.

Emalyn looks between us and frowns.

"Willow, what are you doing here?"

"Maverick hired me to work at the bar."

"Yay, does that mean we're working together?" Emalyn cheers.

"You'll both be working tonight so Joey and I can train you, then I'll adjust the roster depending on when I need you both."

"Thanks for hiring me," I say.

"Our last stop on the tour is the locker room which also has your uniforms. It's a plain black shirt with our logo and you can wear whatever pants or skirt you want," Maverick explains.

He rumbles through a cardboard box in the corner of the room and finds a couple of t-shirts and passes them to us.

"Thanks, Mav." Emalyn shoves our shirts into her tote bag. "Can we go now?"

"I haven't shown you around the bar, yet."

"I know where everything is, Mav. Just remember who helped you clean this place up when you first bought it."

"Fine, go." He rolls his eyes.

With a grin, Emalyn takes my hand and drags me outside the bar.

"If you're not comfortable with me working at the bar, I can tell Maverick I got a job somewhere else. I didn't know he owned the bar."

"Don't do that, we'll have fun working together."

* * *

Maverick's gaze shifts to me as we wander inside the bar for our shift. His gaze follows me as I walk around and into the locker room.

Maverick's eyes linger on my ass as Emalyn and I enter. I was against the booty shorts considering the circumstances, Emalyn believes we'll make better tips and it's hard to say no to her.

We stow our things in the lockers and I make one final attempt to pull the shorts down, but the fabric doesn't budge and you can still see the curve of my ass.

"Hey." Joey waves as we walk out of the locker room.

"What do you need us to do?" Emalyn asks.

"Someone to restock the bar and the other cleaning tables."

I look at Emalyn.

"I can restock the bar?"

"Sure." I agree.

Joey hands me a tray and a cleaning cloth and I get to work clearing tables.

On my break, I escape outside for fresh air and a cup of lemonade. I lean against the exterior of the building and take a sip. I wasn't expecting the bar to be busy considering it was a ghost town at lunch, but now it's packed and the music is thumping.

The door opens and Joey comes outside with a smile.

"How's your first shift going?"

"I hope it's going well. I only broke one glass."

"So far." Joey laughs.

"Maverick didn't seem too annoyed."

"It's just a cup and nobody got hurt."

"True." laugh.

"I like your laugh."

The door opens and Mav pokes his head out.

"Joey, can you tend the bar?"

"Sure thing, boss."

Joey wanders inside while Maverick comes outside and takes a packet of cigarettes from his pocket. He lights one up, takes a puff, and passes it to me. I hold it between my fingers before taking a drag.

We stand in silence, and it's horrible.

I take another drag before stamping it out with the end of my shoe. As I turn to walk inside, Maverick catches my hand. His fingers play with mine and my gaze creeps up to his eyes.

His warm brown eyes are like portals, stirring up memories and feelings.

I drop his hand and walk inside before I do something I regret.

Emalyn rushes up to me.

"Can I go on break now?"

"Sure."

Towards the end of the night, Emalyn approaches me with a pouty smile and fluttery eyelashes. I'm in trouble.

"Can I please go early? The guy from last night texted me and I want to hang out with him. I'll owe you one."

"Yeah, that's fine, I'll finish up."

Emalyn squeaks with excitement and ropes me into a hug.

"You're the best, thank you so much!"

When I'm finished cleaning the tables, I head to the bar where Mav is cleaning the equipment.

"Do you want a drink? I can make you an Aperol spritz."

I chew my bottom lip and glance between the wooden bar stool and the locker room door.

"Okay." I take a seat at the bar.

Mav smiles as he grabs a cocktail glass and begins mixing the drink.

"So, you own a bar?"

He looks around and smiles.

"Yeah."

We never spoke about details like our jobs, or full names, we just enjoyed each other and the moment we were in.

"Of all things, I never pictured you behind a bar."

"I majored in business and studied in this bar because the frat house I belonged to was always too busy. The owner sold the bar around the time I was graduating from college, so I decided to purchase this."

"Wow."

"It's a long-term project, but the aim is to make it a cool indie dive bar. I want to open a restaurant but I need to learn to walk before running."

"I can see that for this place. It's a cool place and there's potential."

Maverick passes the cocktail and I take a sip.

"Did you decide what you're going to major in?"

"Drum roll, please."

Maverick taps his hand on the bar.

"Marketing and media studies."

"Ah, nice."

"I was going to defer for another year, but someone wise told me not to. So now I'm in the pursuit of studying with the plan to expand and move into travel."

"They seem very wise." He smirks.

"We'll see." I shrug. "I'm missing the coast and this Aperol Spritz isn't helping."

"It's an adjustment, regardless of how much time you've spent somewhere. It's hard to leave a place or someone that's captured your heart but the future can be surprising and lead you to places you didn't realise you needed to be."

"You're right, it was lucky I ended up with Emalyn as my roommate. I need a best friend here and she's been very supportive and informative."

Maverick sighs.

He holds up a glass of his own.

"To friends?"

I clink my glass with his and polish off the drink.

"Thank you for the drink, I should go home."

"Can I walk you home?"

"I know what happens if you walk me home, I can't have that."

He flips the tea towel over his shoulder and raises his hands to show he comes in peace.

"I promise, I'll just be walking you home."

"Okay, let me grab my things."

Maverick locks up the bar and we wander down the pathway. He lifts his arm, but I shoot him a look and he lowers it.

"You can't do that either."

Mav sighs and shoves his hands into his front pockets.

"You don't have to walk me home," I say.

"I want to make sure you get home safe."

"I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."

Mav knocks his shoulder into mine.

"Sometimes the company is nice."

"Perhaps."

"You didn't mind my company once before."

"It was different, we were different."

"I'm the same person."

"And that's what I'm afraid of, Maverick."