Bad Rep (Bad Rep #1)(14)
Author: A. Meredith Walters

We both said our thanks and went to find the schedule. Once we found it, we looked for our names and started writing down our shifts. I was working three nights through the upcoming week, which didn’t conflict with my classes or my shifts at Bibi’s. It seemed Riley and I had opposite schedules and I was bummed we wouldn’t be working together.

I couldn’t help but look for Jordan’s name and my stomach dropped when I saw that we pretty much had the same schedule. Just great. Clearly avoidance wouldn’t work. “Looks like I’m being thrown in the deep end this evening. Let’s get back to the apartment so we can grab our stuff and head to the library. I’ve got to be here at 4:00,” I said, trying not to show how freaked out I was at the prospect of working with Jordan tonight.

Riley tucked her handwritten schedule into her pocket and we headed back through the kitchen, calling out our goodbyes to Moore as we walked by.

We spent most of the morning in the campus library. It was dead since most students were away for the summer. I was able to finish the rest of my statistics homework and got a good head start on my biology research paper on natural selection. We went to a deli around the block to get lunch and I sent a text to Eli, letting him know I had to work.

I didn’t hear back from him, which wasn’t surprising. I guess whatever had been up with his behavior that morning was fleeting. We finally headed back to the apartment around 3:15. That gave me enough time to eat something and get changed for my shift. I went ahead and laid out clothes for tomorrow. I had to open Bibi’s in the morning and knew that I would be wrecked from having to help close tonight.

Riley was heading to a movie that night with some of her friends, so she let me borrow her car. My little VW Bug was in the shop with a dodgy alternator. I’d have to use some cash to pay for that now that my parents had closed their wallets. I tried not to panic over how fast I was accruing debt.

I pulled into Barton’s and hurried inside. I clocked in and went to Moore’s office to let him know I was there. It looked as though he hadn’t moved. He was still sitting behind his desk, pecking away at his keyboard. Did this guy ever go home? He gave me a shift checklist and instructed me to go through it. I was to use this as my guide until I got into the swing of things.

Pocco and Fed were manning the industrial dishwasher. Fed tried to squirt me with the hose as I walked by, making a suggestive comment about my ni**les through the wet shirt. I chose to ignore them and headed out to the dining room.

Damien was working again and I was happy to see Jaz as well. She squealed and ran up to me. “Yay! I’m so happy you’re working tonight!” she said in that perky way of hers. She was sitting at the bar. I was relieved to see Jordan hadn’t come on yet and it was only Lyla.

“Hey Maysie. You ready for tonight? It’ll be absolutely crazy,” Lyla said, handing me the soda I asked for. “You’re lucky to be on the schedule. Servers kill to be on Saturdays,” Damien said, sitting on the stool beside me.

Barton’s usually had a band on Saturdays so I hoped to make good tips. “Yeah, Devil’s Stone is playing at 8:00. But Generation Rejects has the stage at 11:00!” Jaz enthused. My heart plummeted. Jordan would not only be working the bar tonight but his band would be playing.

“Oh, yeah?” I asked weakly, drinking the rest of my soda so I could get started with my shift checklist.

“They haven’t played here in almost six weeks. So I’m sure the place will be packed! Wait until you hear Jordan sing! He’s unbelievable!” Jaz gushed.

“I thought he played the drums,” I said, intrigued despite myself.

“Oh, he does. But he does some of the singing too. What I wouldn’t give to have that guy’s moves. He’s usually knee deep in pu**y by the end of the night,” Damien commented crudely. Jaz leaned over and smacked his arm. I frowned.

“But he has a girlfriend,” I pointed out. God, this guy was a complete player! I was so thankful I had wised up before being sucked into his rock god pants.

“Don’t listen to Damien. Jordan isn’t like that. Sure he’s a flirt and everything, but he has never cheated on Olivia. He likes to give off the bad boy vibe and lord knows he plays the part. Unfortunately, he has remained faithful,” Jaz sighed, clearly disappointed by that fact.

I wanted to shout, faithful my ass! Lyla was counting the bottles of tequila behind the bar and she looked up at Jaz’s statement. “Well, he always has been before…but things change,” she gave me a look and I flushed, staring down into my empty glass.

Jaz huffed. “No, he’s whipped. He’s had more than enough opportunity to hook up. Especially since Olivia’s out of town. But there’s nothing that would make that boy stray. I mean, who can compare to Olivia Peer? She’s gorgeous!” Jaz said. I swallowed around the lump in my throat. I was officially over this conversation.

I handed my glass to Lyla who looked at me a little too perceptively. I gave her my best I-don’t-care-about-anything grin and headed over to what would be my section for the night. The rest of Barton’s evening staff clocked in over the next forty-five minutes. Aside from Jaz, Damien and me, a girl named Ginny, who I recognized from my biology class this summer and an older guy named Leo also clocked in.

Then, around a quarter to five, Jordan came in through the kitchen doors. I almost dropped the bottles of ketchup I was holding. He looked amazing. Of course he looked amazing! I bet there wasn’t a day in his life he didn’t look like sex on a stick. His dark hair was freshly buzzed and I could see the gleam of his eyebrow piercing. I hated that I noticed he had replaced the ring with a silver barbell. His polo shirt was snug over his muscles and his cargo pants hung low on his hips.

Lyla gave him a quick hug and he called out a greeting to Jaz and Damien, whose sections were closest to the bar. I tried really hard not to watch him as he scanned the rest of the dining room. But I felt the moment his eyes found me. It was like my entire body thrummed with it.

“Hey, Maysie,” he called out. I grudgingly looked up and our eyes met. And just like that first time I saw him, the air hummed with electricity. The chemistry between us was palpable. I jerked my eyes away from him and lifted a hand in greeting, not trusting my voice at that moment.

I felt him watch me for a few seconds longer and then turn away. I snuck another look in his direction but he was talking to Lyla and pulling the rack of glasses off the counter to put them away. I busied myself with finishing up my prep work.

By the time I was done, it was 5:15 and I had my first table. And then another one and another one until all five of my tables were full. I ran around like crazy. But at least tonight I got to keep the tips. And so far they were fat. By 7:30, I had $60. I was glowing, I was so happy.