“That guy keeping you busy? I’ll have to have words,” he joked as he passed across a pile of paperwork. “I was told you’d need this and would explain all.”
“Not Luke this time, unfortunately.” I winked. “The besties instead and one flying back to join us at the weekend.”
“There’s another one like Isobel and Chrissie?” Robert’s eyes widened in shock as I slowly fingered through the pile of papers I’d been given with a list of caterers and cover staff that I could hire. “Shit, we’re all in trouble.”
I cast my mind back and realized Robert was hired under Mr. Granbler so he wouldn’t have met Dawson, or Everleigh for that matter. I didn’t know if that would be in my benefit or not.
“Everleigh is Mr. Parker’s other half…” I started before Robert interrupted.
“The CEO. Damn Fred and they’re coming back?” he asked cautiously, unsure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
“They are and I can’t wait. It hasn’t been the same without them here,” I replied as I saw a group enter the bar and my services were required elsewhere. “I’ll fill you in with the plan soon.”
Once I had explained to Robert that I hadn’t seen Everleigh in over eighteen months, he was happy to oblige in my plight of pulling off a party like no other. It didn’t feel right to go into the details of why she left or the death of Tye with him. I mean, that wasn’t exactly my story to tell, I thought, so I left it. Everleigh and Dawson needed time to reconnect together after becoming a couple again. It helped that I’d text Dawson, and he’d squared it with Mr. Granbler so that all our nearest and dearest could be off shift and celebrate together. A miracle, to say the least.
I guess Del was just glad that he and Anise could finally have some time together and he could go back to having less responsibility finally and move back to being in charge of Dawson’s finances, where he belonged. It had been a busy night, but if anyone deserved it, Everleigh did.
“You look exhausted. Do I need to be having words with the other employees?” Luke uttered as he took the seat across from me at the bar. At the same time, I finished up my call and placed the cell down. “I see you’re all alone.”
“Are you trying to say I’m not looking too good there, baby?” I gripped the edge of the bar with my hand and cocked my head to the side. “It’s break time.”
Luke leaned across the bar as I pushed myself up to meet his move, allowing his lips to caress mine softly in greeting before pulling back. Seeing him made me smile at him. “Not at all. I hope that means you still have a break to take.”
“I do.”
“Good, then afterwards I can just sit here and make lingering looks at my boyfriend for the rest of the evening until it’s last orders,” Luke uttered as I watched. We both flicked our eyes to the wall and the situated clock, ticking the seconds away. A few hours to go yet.
I wonder if there was a way to fast forward an hour?
* * *
Icontinued balancing the punter’s orders against the paperwork Dawson had emailed across from the caterers and placed a rush order, ticking another item off the never-ending list.
It clicked that I had been so lost in everything that Luke had just been sitting watching me with his elbows perched on the bar edge, not saying a word. It was as if he was intrigued by my every action.
“Sorry babe, what can I get you?” I asked, licking my lips.
“Well…” Luke trailed his eyes down the length of my body as he winked at me. “I’ll have to settle for a lager for now.”
“For now,” I whispered as I placed the napkin in front of him and gave his hand a quick squeeze. I headed over and grabbed a pint glass and tilted, allowing the nozzle to hit the edge of the inside before I turned the tap of the draught on.
I thought I was handling the pressure well of organizing a big party, but I knew the real reason behind it. It kept my mind busy and away from the panicked thoughts that maybe Everleigh and I wouldn’t be as close as we had been previously. It may be utter stupidity, but a lot has changed since she left eighteen months ago. What if she didn’t want me to be a part of her life any longer? What if I was too much of a memory of what happened with Stone and Tye and she just wanted to cut all loose ends whilst she could?
“Talk to me, baby. Where did you go? I lost you then,” Luke muttered as I noticed the overflowing top of his lager flowing down the glass and onto my hand.
“Shit. I’m sorry.”
“I’m back,” Robert announced, wafting his hands in the air. “I’m owed a drink by Chrissie now. I bet you’d be up here by the time I got back. Go and have your break,” he said, watching as I emptied the lager down the sink and washed my hands. “I’ll grab your usual Luke.” He raised his brow before pointing to the far booth for us in the corner we normally sat at.
“Thanks,” Luke replied as I nodded my head, rounding the bar and making my way over to the booth. “Come on now. What happened then?”
“I… I just…” I began, but I thought I needed a moment and changed the subject. “How did it go with Thomas?”
“It was good to talk to them. Everyone logged on together and it was great to see them. I had some bad news about Christopher though, and I’m hoping he contacts me soon.” Luke sighed in a dismissive tone as I realized I’d hurt him by not revealing everything to him. “I’d rather not talk about it.” The bite of pain hurt as I understood the pain he’d just thrown back straight at me.
“Luke,” I began. My mind began clicking that if anyone would understand my fractured heart, it would be my guy. He could see the way I wore my heart on my sleeve and if I didn’t deal with the thoughts, I’d drive my own barriers between Everleigh and I.
“Yes, Fred.” Luke held his palm out across the table in search of mine. I placed mine in his and pulled it closer to me.