I rolled my eyes at whatever he was proposing. I wasn’t willing to put my newfound job in jeopardy to play his stupid games. “I’ll find someone else to serve you.”
“If you walk away, I’ll pull you in my lap and finish what we started in my Jeep the other night.” He leaned in closer. “You know I will.”
Clenching the tray tighter, I considered bashing him over his head yet suddenly the temperature in the pub seemed to shoot up by at least twenty degrees. Seeing the determined look in his eye, he seemed quite serious about making good on his threat. “You know you sound like an overbearing jerk.”
“You know I don’t give a shit,” he quipped without batting an eye.
“Fine.” I inhaled trying to remain calm, but I couldn’t control the sarcasm in my voice. “And what decision would that be?”
“Either you can spend the afternoon with me, with your job still intact, or you can spend the afternoon with me and be unemployed. Your choice.”
I scoffed. “You truly have lost it. My shift doesn’t end for another four hours, and I’m not going anywhere with you. And threatening me about my job?” I questioned in disbelief. “I’ll have the manager kick you out for harassment.”
He raised his eyebrows in curiosity. “You keep throwing that word around.” He gazed at me, not worried one bit. “You really think the manager will make me leave?”
“I know he will. He doesn’t tolerate unruly idiots bothering the waitstaff. He’s kicked people out for a lot less than what you’re doing to me right now.” What I said was true. Chris didn’t tolerate patrons disrespecting his employees. At least, I didn’t have to worry about drunk college douchebags treating me with disrespect. The same went for Roman. I was too busy patting myself on the back to notice how his expression didn’t change in the slightest.
“Unruly idiots,” he mused as he ran his finger against his shadowed jaw. “In that case, I think we should skip the first proposal and go double or nothing.”
“Roman.” I peered over my shoulder in exasperation, seeing Chris watching us. “I don’t have time for this. I need to get back to work.”
“I gave you five minutes, but you decided to stand here and threaten me. If anyone should be kicked out, it’s you for terrible customer service skills.”
“I did not threaten you.” Oh my God, this man was going to drive me to kill him. I had more to say but let it go because this was a never-ending conversation into Crazy Town. “What did you mean by double or nothing?”
“Oh, I’m glad you asked.” His voice was patronizing and my arms curled around the tray, bringing it close to my chest like a shield. He smirked as he watched me. “I think you’ll like this deal. It’s definitely in your favor if what you say is true. You get the manager and tell him I’m harassing you, and if he kicks me out, then I’ll leave you alone, permanently. But, if he doesn’t…” He reached out and ghosted his hand over my hip as though he was trying to see how far he could push limits. Or maybe he didn’t care one way or another. “You forfeit your position, spend the rest of the day with me, and have a good fucking attitude about it.”
Roman’s cavalier attitude should’ve been my first clue that he would never throw down the gauntlet if he couldn’t win. However my job had me on high alert as I saw patrons in my section giving me impatient looks, and I couldn’t stand here and argue about it. Chris’ eyes were narrowed in our direction as he poured out a shot of Patrón. “I need this job. Don’t ruin it for me,” I said softly.
He nodded in understanding eyeing me solemnly. “It seems like you have a dilemma, don’t you?” He clasped his hands together, propping them under his chin. I thought maybe he had an ounce of sympathy in him. Too bad, I was mistaken with his next words. “Make your decision, Theodora.”
His eyes bore into me like a cat toying with a wounded bird.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Do I need a reason?” he asked, fighting a smile making me hate him more. Was this a joke to him?
I glanced behind me toward the bar again, and Chris had a look of concern on his face as he tossed the towel in his hand aside, carrying a draft beer in the other. He walked around the bar, out onto the floor toward us. I was already picturing Roman being asked to leave and shown through the door. “Fine,” I rushed out. “Double or nothing.”
There was a brief flash of excitement that shone in his eyes. “Good choice.”
“Is there a problem here?” Chris approached and eyed me. Before I could speak he was reaching across me, holding a hand out to him. “Hey, Roman, is she giving you trouble?” He set the beer down on the table. “On the house.”
Wait. What? Is she giving you trouble? Free beer?
My jaw dropped. “He’s—”
“Not at all,” Roman said smoothly. “Theodora is my cousin, my closest cousin, and today is her birthday. I wanted her to hang out with me since she was so worried and too shy to say anything, I was wondering if you could cut her shift early so we could celebrate. You know. Do something nice for her with me being the only family member around.”
“Wait—”
“Sure.” Chris and I spoke at the same time.
“That’s not—” I started again, and Roman cut in.
“She was so afraid she would lose this job if she asked for time off since she’s only been here a short time. I told her it wouldn’t be a big deal, and knew you were such a cool guy.”
Chris peered at me with his tatted arms crossed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were related to Roman? Or that it was your birthday?”
Wouldn’t Chris know my birthday if he looked on the application I filled out? I guess he didn’t care. I thought my head might explode it was pulsing so hard and I could feel his eyes on me daring me to negate his story. I tried to form words, but nothing came out.
My manager turned away from my stunned silence to Roman. “I wanted to thank you again for the season tickets to the games. The platinum suite is awesome.”
“Anytime.” Roman was acting like the epitome of humanity and took a sip of his beer. Why was I even surprised anymore?
“Theo, take the rest of the day off and enjoy your birthday.” Chris patted me on the back like we were close friends. “Can I get you anything else?” He glanced at Roman.
“Yeah, two El Diablo burgers and an order of cheese fries fully loaded with jalapeños. And another draft beer for her.”
“You got it.” Chris snapped his finger and walked off. He wasn’t even going to ask if I was legal to drink, which I wasn’t? All it took was being a star player and hooking someone up with prime seating at a football game.
I glared at Roman, who was so smug I wanted to claw his face. He again patted the inner space beside him. “Sit down with me, cuz, so we can officially celebrate.”
Roman
She wanted to kill me, and I had to hold myself together to keep from laughing. I knew her game too well. Not to mention, it wasn’t a coincidence I was here since I knew where she worked. I went by her dorm earlier this afternoon, and her bulldog of a friend Kenzie greeted me. She almost slammed the door in my face, but I caught it just in time and good ole Justin was there to give me the information I needed.