Page 12 of Cuffed to my Roomies
“You bet your ass it’s delicious. He only makes it like twice a year. He only did it tonight because Peter and Cynthia brought him back a huge box of fresh peaches from their vacation,” I said.
“Who?”
“I don’t know. Peach people. People who like sangria. It’s some kind of a big deal,” I shrugged, “I’ve only been tending bar a week. But everybody’s acting like it’s Oscar night or the Super Bowl around here, and I’m all for it. We’re moving tons of nachos and artichoke dip and wings, and that means tips.”
“Sounds like you’re having fun,” Derek said, “Can I trade this in for a beer?”
“Absolutely,” I said, “How was your day? Any breaks in the case?”
“We’ve got a new witness to question tomorrow, or rather we tracked him down and the detective on the case will question him,” Derek said.
“Well, that sounds like progress if you can turn it over to the detective. So are either of you going to try to become a detective?”
“Well, I’ve thought about taking the exam, but that would mean a new partner and less patrol work,” Derek said.
“I’m staying on the streets. I don’t want the paperwork a detective has to deal with when I could be out in the trenches stopping assholes from beating up their wives and selling drugs,” Brett said.
“So it would basically be a promotion that broke up the band,” I said, “I can see how that would be a big decision.”
“It’s not worth the sacrifice right now. If I had a situation where I needed to go up in pay grade or I wanted more of a desk job and less time behind the wheel, that would be different,” Derek said. I wondered if he really wanted to be a detective, though, and that he just didn’t want to hurt Brett’s feelings by going for it. I didn’t want to pry.
I went down the bar to fill some drink orders while Jason gave out samples of his sangria and people raved about it. Gloria came to the bar to deliver a plate of sliders to a customer. I slipped her a sample of cold sangria. She threw it back gratefully, leaned over to me, “Thanks, sweetie. Go get yourself a decent bra this week,” she said. I laughed, but I wondered if she was right. I got good tips. Cammie garnered way better ones. Either it was because she was obviously a better, more experienced bartender, or because she had her jumbo boobs out in a scoop neck tank top. I decided it was time to listen to Gloria, who had a pretty impressive rack of her own in that v-neck.
I was busy slinging refills and laughing at jokes, but I managed to snitch a couple of chips off the guys’ artichoke dip platter.
“That’s coming out of your tip,” Derek said.
“Right, whatever,” I told him, stealing another bite, “it’s not like you’re gonna leave a tip anyway. We’re family. You know I’m buying your drinks.”
“No way,” Brett said, “We’re paying customers.”
“Crap, then I better quit eating off your plate,” I said, “But I’m totally buying your drinks tonight. I owe you more than a couple of beers, I can tell you that.”
I smiled at them, slowing down for a second, dropping my sarcasm and letting them see the genuine fondness I felt for them, the gratitude for their friendship, even as I bit back an attraction I didn’t want to explain. Derek said, “Get over here,” with an eyeroll that told me he wasn’t a big fan of sentimental displays.
I rounded the bar and he slung an arm over my shoulders, “Don’t go thinking I’m gonna watch Hallmark movies and crap with you, but we like you, and you don’t owe us a damn thing,” he said.
“I bet you buy drinks for your friends, right? So let me. I’m not saying I can afford to do it every time you come in, but tonight, because I know you’re only here to check up on me and be sweet—don’t roll your eyes, you’re being sweet whether you admit it or not—I’m covering the tab.”
I cut my eyes to Brett who gave a sigh, “Fine, just this once, and we’re leaving a tip. It’s good to see you happy at your job. Did they give you any more shit about the schedule?”
“No, it’s working out just fine. Thanks for the idea.”
“The idea?” Derek said.
“Didn’t Brett tell you he was the one who suggested I should try for a bartending job? Since the hours weren’t working out for me as a waitress?” I said. I was surprised he hadn’t mentioned it, but this was obviously the first Derek had heard of it.
It occurred to me at once that maybe Brett hadn’t mentioned that conversation to Derek because it was the same night I kissed him. I wondered if Brett had told Derek about that, and why I felt relieved thinking Derek didn’t know. It was like, in my crazy mind, I’d lose my chance with Derek if he knew I kissed Brett. Like I had any intention of getting involved with either of them. They were totally off limits. They were my roommates. My first friends in the city. I wasn’t about to screw that up just because I felt a pull of attraction, a tug low in my belly whenever I was around them. Derek still had his arm around me. I shrugged away, trying to ignore the fact that my heart pounded from his touch, and an answering pulse throbbed in my panties. I swallowed hard.
