33. Rhys

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Rhys

To say things are going well is an understatement.

In the last week since Knox’s party, Everest and I have been more inseparable, if that’s even possible. We’ve abandoned all pretenses of sleeping apart. Even if we don’t end up having sex—which we’re having a lot of—we fall asleep together every night. He’s consumed my entire life, infiltrated and established himself in every crevice, until I can’t go more than a few minutes without thinking about him.

I whistle as I dry the martini glasses, tapping my foot to the beat of the new track Cassius is trying out in the background. Normally, this is the part of opening the bar that bores the shit out of me, but it’s giving me time to think of where I should take Everest on our first date. We’re way past the awkward point of a relationship where we’re getting to know each other, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to wine and dine my guy. Despite having been sleeping together for two months now, we haven’t actually been out together.

Even though it’s summer, it’s way too hot to go to the beach. We could see a movie at that retro theater in Dolphin Mall or explore the art scene at Wynwood Walls. I know he’d probably like Bayside Marketplace, so we could walk around and look at all the boats. Either way, with how hard Everest has been working during the tail end of his semester, he deserves to go out and do something fun.

With his boyfriend.

I smile like an idiot, continuing to whistle as I dry another glass. Britt rounds the corner of the bar, two registers under either arm, and smirks. “What’s got you so happy?”

“Nothing,” I say, but my smile only widens when my phone buzzes with a text from Everest.

Britt hums under her breath, brushing past me to set up one of the registers. “If you say so. You got everything set up for tonight?”

“Yeah. The fruit has been cut, the bar wiped down, the liquor stocked. I just have to finish these glasses and refill the ice before we’re good to go.”

“That’s why I like when you open.” She gives my shoulder a pat. “Bless Skylar, but he’s always scrambling to get things done.”

“He’s more of a hands-on people person,” I concede, knowing that between the three of us, Skylar is the best at actually working the bar. Customers love him and he has this natural ability to calm people’s bullshit.

“Speaking of which,” she begins, setting down the last register as she turns her brown eyes toward me, giving me all her attention. “How do you like working here?”

I raise an eyebrow. “I like it just fine, I guess?”

“You guess?” she presses. “Let me put it this way. Do you see a future here?”

“Why are you asking?” I question, wrinkling my nose at the look of impatience on her face. “What?”

She sighs deeply, a bittersweet smile on her lips. “I’m leaving, Rhys.”

My eyes widen. “You’re what? Why?”

“I want to be an actress,” she says, throwing her hands in the air. “You know how hard I’ve worked over the years, but nothing’s come of it. I think if I want a serious shot, I need to go where the jobs are.”

“LA?” I take a guess. “Britt, have you thought this through?”

She narrows her eyes. “Don’t patronize me.”

“I’m not.” Raising my hands in surrender, I argue, “I… It’s going to be rough out there. If anything, I’m worried.”

Her face softens a touch, and she rests her hand atop mine. “That’s sweet, but I’ve always been able to take care of myself. I’ve squirreled enough money away working here that I have a nice hefty savings to tide me over until I find a job.”

“Which you will,” I insist. With a sigh, I shake my head. “Shit. We’re going to miss you.”

“And I’m going to miss you all too, but this is a risk I need to take.”

“How soon?”

“Within the next month.” She juts her chin up to where Davis’s office is. “I talked to the boss, and he said I was free to offer you the position of head bartender.”

“Me?” I point to myself as if another Rhys is going to magically pop up behind me. “I’m not qualified.”

She snorts. “You’re messing with me, right? You’re a goddamn genius and you’ve been working here for years. You know the ins and outs and Davis can trust you. What I need to know is how serious you are about XO. This isn’t like regular bartending. There’s so much more that goes into it.”

I nod. Britt is always busy and not just with actually working the bar. I know she does a lot of administrative work. Always the first one here and the last to leave. It should be a no-brainer for me to say yes, but I hesitate for some reason.

“It pays well,” she adds, wagging her eyebrows at me. “I don’t want to sound like a dick, but Davis pays me bank. You’d have enough to move into your own place.”

“Really?”

That definitely has some appeal. It’s not that I don’t love living with Elton, but I’ve been mostly financially reliant on him for years. He pays my rent, my utilities, practically everything besides gas and food. Not counting the times he’s had to pay for that as well when shit came up that left me short on cash.

I could be independent. Actually stand on my own two feet in a way I never thought I would. But still… “What’s the catch?”

“You’re really not saying yes right away?” She scoffs. “I thought you were supposed to be freaky smart.”

“I am. Smart enough to know that being able to afford my own place in downtown Miami means I’m going to get paid an unrealistic amount.”

As she nibbles on her bottom lip, her hesitation is clear. She glances up at Davis’s office, as if checking if he’s watching. Looking over her shoulder, she turns back to me and drops her voice to a whisper. “The catch? You keep your mouth shut. Whatever you see, whatever you hear, you keep it locked up to yourself.”

“Seriously?” I’m not one who usually gets nervous, but I do now. “What is Davis a part of?”

She shakes her head. “No details. It’s a don’t ask, don’t tell arrangement. If he wants you to know, he’ll let you in.” When I don’t say anything, she rolls her eyes. “Ugh, why are you making this difficult? What’s your hang-up?”

I’m not too sure, but accepting this offer seems so…permanent. Like if I do, I’m closing the door on all the possibilities of the future. It would acknowledge that this is the life I’m living now. Not studying or building roller coasters, but working at a club. Not that there’s anything wrong with that; it’s just not what I pictured my life looking like. I’d be committing to this and— shit —trusting this good thing being handed to me is hard.

Maybe before, I would have been bitter, but now, I’m just relieved. Relieved there’s upward movement, new opportunities, and that I can finally move on from the life I’ll never live.

Everest and I started a new chapter together, and I think it’s my turn to do the same for myself.

“I’m in,” I say, reaching to shake hands, which she does with a chuckle. “But I have one condition.”

“And what’s that?”

“It’s don’t ask, don’t tell? I never want to be told anything.” I’m not an idiot. I can only guess what Davis is getting up to, and I want no part in it. After my experience with the law, I’d rather stay away from anything even remotely sketchy. “Do we have a deal?”

She nods. “Easy enough. Let me tell Davis the good news and we’ll have you come in early tomorrow. Sound like a plan?”

“Yeah,” I say, smiling widely. “Yeah, that sounds great.”

“Awesome.” Leaning up on the tips of her toes, she kisses my cheek. As she goes to grab the last register, I continue on with cleaning the glasses, until the main door to the club opens, letting in the bright Miami sunset.

“What the hell?” I question, my body suddenly tense with agitation. I turn to Britt. “What is Knox Sanders doing here?”

Knox swaggers through the door without a care in the world, shooting me the biggest shit-eating grin before climbing up the stairs toward Davis’s office.

“Please don’t tell me he’s my replacement,” I plead. Fuck, I wouldn’t be able to take it without wanting to punch that smug grin off his face. “Britt?”

“Don’t ask and don’t tell,” she says, jamming her finger firmly in my chest.

I nod, but don’t let it go. I’m fixated on what could possibly be going on up there. I’m about to pester Britt for more information, but then my phone vibrates in my pocket.

Baby: I have great news! I can’t wait for you to come home :)

Damn. Is my chest ever going to stop the stupid flutters I get every time I hear from Everest? I quickly text back a reply.

Me: Can’t wait.

The whole thing with Knox is forgotten. The new job pushed to the back of my mind. Everything is blank with the spotlight shining on the one man I’d never thought I’d want with every breath I take.