I straightened and gave him the finger. “Tie this up.”
“Ooh, baby, with pleasure,” Theo sang. His cheeky grin helped lighten my terrible mood. “What’s up anyway?” he asked, standing beside me.
I unstacked the washer and rubbed the inside of the glasses with a clean cloth. Theo cut lemons into perfect wedges and arranged them in a bowl. There was something comforting about the familiar routine.
“I need a pay rise or a winning lottery ticket. Either would be good, and both have about the same chance of happening,” I muttered.
“Is it about your mama?” Theo asked.
The gentle sympathy in his voice made my throat tight. Holy shit, I had to get it together. I didn’t cry, period, never mind at work.“Prices have increased, staffing costs, food, heat, and medicine too.”
“That’s shit,” Theo murmured.
I nodded. Something I loved about Theo was that he never made me feel like I should be more positive or told me to look on the bright side. Sometimes, there wasn’t one. He commiserated with me, and it was what I needed.
“You know my friend is still looking for someone for that music video,’” he added.
“Really? But he’s a rising star, and I’m no one. Also, according to Rafael, I’m the opposite of sexy, so there’s that, too,” I muttered.
Theo dropped a lemon wedge in mock outrage.“Rafael said that? How’d you piss him off that much? That’s way out of order. Unacceptable.”
“Yet you’re not denying it,” I snapped, slightly hurt.
“Honey, we’re not angsty teens. We know where we are on the scale of human attractiveness. You’re a beautiful woman, but you’re too high class for this place. Men here wouldn’t understand your kind of beauty. If it’s not fake tits and ass, they can’t see it. My buddy’s music isn’t about tits and ass. It's indie rock, so no tits and ass allowed,” Theo said, making me laugh.
“Well, that’s good to know. What’s the pay if you don’t mind me asking?”
“It’s enough to cover a few months of bills. I’m setting up a meeting tomorrow. If he likes you, and you like him, get that money, and get famous.”
“Oh, who’s getting famous?” Federica, or Fede as she was known, bounced over to the bar and leaned on it.
I bet Fede would have no problem getting a side gig dancing. She was beyond gorgeous and all-natural. With her Spanish ancestry, she had an enviable hourglass shape, waist-length black curls, and olive skin.
“Our Lori here when she gets on my buddy’s music video. He’s going to blow up any day. Your face will be everywhere,” Theo said with his customary OTT optimism.
Getting my face everywhere wouldn’t be a bad idea when I thought about it. I couldn’t find Kirill anywhere in this damn huge city, but maybe there was a chance he could find me.
If he wanted to, wouldn’t he have already done it?
The poisonous inner voice that parroted my father chirped up before I shoved it back in its box. Not tonight. Anyway, I hadn’t made it easy to be found with my expensive fake identity.
“Oh, is that Austin? I love his music,” Fede said. “I’ve heard he’s a real player, so don’t sleep with him unless you’re cool with it.”
“Ha! Lori, have a one-night hook-up? Excuse me, have you met Lori? She doesn’t have sex. In fact, I’ve asked my new boyfriend to put out an APB for a missing sex life.” Theo chortled, making Fede grin.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I’m glad you make yourself laugh. At least that’s one person.”
“Tucker likes my jokes just fine,” Theo said, unfazed.
“So, you’re still seeing him? He doesn’t mind that you work here?”
Theo snorted. “Where, a club?”
Fede tossed her hair and leaned in, lowering her voice. “A Navarro club. You know who Rafael is, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it all. A kingpin or narc in witness protection. There are a million stories about the man. I bet the reality is boring as hell. He’s probably a rich little trust fund prince playing at being a businessman,” I quipped.
I wiped the bar, failing to notice Tanya, the terrifying line manager extraordinaire, looming over my shoulder. Theo gave me a meaningful look, and I bit my lip, bracing myself for her crushing set down.