“Let me know when she’s here next,” I say. “I’ll let you take a break if you want to talk with her.”
“Really?”
“Sure.” We finish with the glasses and he’s definitely got more spring in his step as we do. I wonder if I would make an offer like that if not for how I feel about things with Vanessa. I like to think I am the kind of boss who does things like that, but who knows?
The girl doesn’t show up that night, but it is hard to feel bad for Mike when Vanessa sings and my love for her grows.
Love.
Damn, where does that come from?
It’s true though, or at least it will be. There’s no question in my mind that our relationship is well past the point of being casual. I am falling in love.
The girl doesn’t show up the next night either but on the third night he nervously asks if I’m still willing to cover the bar and the first thought that hits me is how lucky he is to make his approach just as Vanessa gets ready to sing.
She is perfect, as she always is. I notice Mike appears to be doing a pretty perfect job with that girl he likes, too. I stare at the way she smiles and hangs on his every word. When he looks up, I wave for him to stay. Then, when a cocktail waitress comes by I have her drop a message that I’ll cover the bar for his whole shift.
Everything is simply wonderful.
Vanessa finishes her perfect set, and everyone applauds like normal. I pour her wine and step around the bar to greet her.
“Another perfect set,” I say.
“Oh?” she asks, eyes flashing. “Then why were you staring at another girl all during the show?”
I realize she’s serious and I shake my head. “That’s enough, little girl.”
“You’re my Daddy, not anyone else’s!”
“That’s enough!” I say sternly.
“That’s all you’re going to say. Guess it’s a little too hard to give me words of wisdom about why you’re allowed to leer at any girl you want to.”
“I said, that’s enough!”
She throws her wine in my face.
As we stare at each other, Mike comes up with his girl.
“Thanks for covering the bar for me, Micah! This is Jocelyn, Josie. We were sweethearts in high school.”
She’s holding his hand tightly and she smiles and says, “And we’re sweethearts again. Geez! I’ve been coming to this club for weeks just hoping he would ask me out again.”
Then Mike notices I’m covered with wine. “Oh, man!” he says. He reaches over the counter and grabs a bar towel for me.
I take it as Vanessa, angry now because she was wrong, turns around and hurries away.