CHAPTER 6
Even though the guys inquired about whether I worked the next night, they didn’t show up. I figured they must’ve been out doing something with their club or whatever, but it was still disappointing. I had been looking forward to their company, especially after the shit that went down between the four of us. It made me nervous that they hadn’t come back in, and I wondered if they really had just used me as a fuck toy.
I tried to push the thoughts out of my mind as I went in for my Thursday shift. Maybe putting some distance between myself and the Grove Brothers would help me to screw my head on straight. I had a lot of things that were quickly developing in my life. The offer was officially put in on the warehouse, which meant that Lindy and I were making more plans for how to proceed with our clothing shop. My mother had been absent for the past two days, and I was beginning to wonder what type of trouble she had gotten herself into. The last thing I needed was to be distracted by the likes of three hot brothers.
Especially brothers my mother would eventually try to hit on.
For the second night in a row, they didn't show up, which was fine because I was busy as fuck. The bar was stacked with members from most of the numerous clubs that surrounded Lucas Corner, and I was trying to make sure that everyone stayed civil. My manager called in another bouncer for the door once we hit one hundred people, so I was trying to pay attention to everyone ordering multiple drinks.
After all, the more intoxicated these men got, the rowdier the fights tended to be.
I heard two people take a seat at the bar as I was down below grabbing beers. I slid the beers across the bar to a burly man in a red leather jacket. He was eyeing me lasciviously and it was slightly unnerving. But once he had the beers in his hand, he turned and walked away.
“Got any specials?”
I turned my eyes to the two men who had sat down, and I recognized them instantly. It was the twin Grove brothers, Tanner and Tyler. They weren't accompanied by the other three but they were staring at me with these cheeky little grins on their faces.
I started wondering if they knew what had taken place between their brothers and me.
“Five-dollar fireball shots and three-dollar long-necked bottles,” I said. “And it’s nice to see you two again.”
I could see Tyler openly staring at my tits before his eyes raked up my body.
“A fireball shot sounds nice,” he said.
“I’ll take whatever my brother’s having,” Tanner said.
“Two fireball shots coming right up.”
The brothers were silent as I handed them their shots. They tossed their heads back and swallowed the alcohol down like professionals, then set the glasses back on the bar. I watched their faces for any reaction to the drink, trying to figure out if I should recommend something else to them. It was one of those shots people either loved or hated, but instead of giving me a reaction, their faces stayed blank.
They were a hard pair to read, unlike their other brothers.
“Would you two care for anything else?” I asked.
“Another one of those shots would be nice,” Tyler said.
“And I’ll have what he’s having,” Tanner said again.
I made them both up another fireball shot before things started getting rowdy. I saw one of the bouncers come in and pry a guy in a red leather jacket off a guy in a black leather jacket. The brothers turned around to see the commotion that was going on, and I saw their eyes turn to stone. The little bit of expression they did carry in their faces melted off in a heartbeat, and I wondered what was wrong.
The twins watched as the bouncer dragged the guy in the red leather jacket out the door. People were calling out all sorts of drinks for me to make, and I was thankful for the distraction. I was turning them out as fast as I could go as sweat beads gathered at the base of my neck.
The bartender that was supposed to work alongside me that night didn't show, so I was drenched in sweat by the time one in the morning rolled around. I tried to get my manager to call in Lindy so I could have some help, but part of me was glad he didn't. Being the only bartender meant I got one hundred percent of the tips.
And with being so close to having my own place to move into, I was going to need all the money I could get to furnish it.
“The two of you are much quieter than your brothers,” I said.
“Hard to get a word in edgewise with those three,” Tanner said.
“Well, would the two of you like another drink?” I asked.
“What do you recommend?” Tyler asked.
“I make a kick-ass LIT but, I’ll warn you, it’s fucking strong.”
I saw Tanner grin as he shot a glance over at his brother.
“Two LITs then,” Tyler said. “And do your worst.”
I concocted their third drink of the night and I made sure to make it strong. I handed them their small glasses, and they looked at me with this mischievous glimmer in their eyes. It was a very misleading drink, a Long Island Iced Tea. It came in a small glass and people didn’t think it to be a stiff drink.
Until they took their first sip and realized it was made solely of liquor. Five different kinds to be exact.
The way that I made it, there isn't even any soda to top it off.
“So?” I asked. “What do you think?”
“I think you should know that we’re a little jealous,” Tyler said.
“What? Can’t make a drink that good?” I asked with a wink.
“Come on Emma. You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Tanner said.
I was frozen as my eyes darted between the two brothers. Their gazes were hooked onto me, their eyes dancing around my face. I tried not to show my shock, but I knew I wasn't doing a good job of it.
At least the air had been cleared.
“Why are you jealous?” I asked.
“She’s asking us why we’re jealous,” Tyler said, grinning at his twin.
“Adam told me she was intelligent,” Tanner said.
“We don’t like it when women play dumb, beautiful,” Tyler said.
“I’m not playing dumb,” I said.
My eyes locked onto Tyler’s as he leaned forward onto the bar.
“They got to fuck you, and we haven’t been graced with that same opportunity,” Tyler said.
“Well,” I said, my mouth taking over before my brain could catch up. “I’m sure something can be arranged. You know, if your hearts are truly broken up over it.”
“And who do we have here?”
Of course, my mother, who had been gone for two days, would resurface at this very moment. Tyler and Tanner looked over at her as she approached the bar, their eyes looking her up and down before a small grimace crossed their faces. I tried to stifle a giggle as my mother leaned against the bar, her tits hanging out and her shorts riding too far up between her legs.
“Let me guess. Grove Brothers?” she asked.
But all Tyler and Tanner did was sit there and study her.
“The silent types, I can get behind that,” my mother said. “But don’t worry. One night with me changes that tune.”
Tyler actually smiled, and I felt a twinge of disappointment.
I wasn't going to stand by and listen to my mother talk to them this way. Nor was I going to stand by and watch them play into whatever disgusting hand she was playing.
I sighed as I moved to the other end of the bar, tidying it up and serving other customers who were sitting there. I was pulling out beers and throwing away caps, refilling drinks and offering water to those who were too drunk to order coherently. I cut a couple of men off, and they got rowdy, which prompted me to call the bouncer over to escort them out.
Freeing up their stools, meant more could fill them and my pockets at the same time. Occasionally, I peered over at my mother. She had now wiggled her way in between the twins, laughing at something they were saying. Though I had no claim to either man, it boiled my blood to see her hands caressing their chests. I caught Tyler's gaze at one point and thought maybe he was going to get up and approach me, but then his eyes dropped back down to my mother, and I lost hope. I was hoping Tanner would turn his head and look back at me. Give me any sign that they were not enjoying the attention my mother was giving them.
But I never caught their eye again, and I gave up on my attempts to level the playing field between them and the rest of the brothers.
I'm not sure why it made me angry that she was flirting with them. I mean, I had slept with three of the five brothers a couple of nights ago. I'm sure that was something even my mother couldn't boast of. Watching her act the way she was with the twins made me sick to my stomach. I had done something so sleazy that even my mother couldn’t claim.
I needed to talk to Lindy, and I needed to do it soon. I went into the bathroom and called on my cell phone.
“Hello?” Lindy said.
“Hey,” I said.
“Emma. You at the bar?” she asked.
“I am. My mother’s back,” I said.
“Oh, wonderful. Need some company?”
“I just can’t stand the fact that she’s here. She disappears for two days, resurfaces, and moves right in the middle of a couple of guys who were talking me up tonight.”
“Oh, shit. Are you serious? Wait, were they hot?” she asked.
“Lindy, not the point. I thought maybe they were nice guys, different from most of the rest. Then Gracie shows up and their tongues are hanging out like all the others. It just pisses me off,” I said, still unsure as to why I was so upset about it. Did I really want to be with men who wanted to be with my mother? Gross.
“I’m so sorry, Emma. You sure you don’t want any company?” she asked.
“I’m sure. I just had to fucking vent. I’m gonna have to go back out there and watch her get wasted and make a fool of herself. She’s probably already told them I’m her daughter, which means they’ll now think I’m like her.”
Maybe you are like her, I thought to myself, remembering being filled by three men at once.
“You're nothing like your mom, Emma.”
“It’s just irritating, that’s all,” I sighed into the phone, wishing I could tell my best friend the whole story. I wasn’t sure how she would react though, so I kept my mouth shut.
“Anyway, I gotta get back to work,” I said.
“Who’s bartending with you tonight?” Emma asked.
“No one. Just me tonight,” I said.
“Why the fuck has no one called me?”
“Because the manager’s an idiot. You know that. It’s fine, anyway. The more money I can make, the quicker I can fix up the loft and get the fuck out of my mother’s house.”