Page 74 of Bastard Bartender

We had a great few days. That fight in the parking lot put it all on the proverbial table for us. He was mine, and I was his.

Yesterday he came to the office in that spur-of-the-moment sexpisode, and even he said he knew I wasn’t the girl who banged and didn’t want to see him right after.

He told me to tell him what I wanted.

Damn it. I am so not this needy girl, so why am I behaving this way?

Call me Thursday.

There. I texted. I told him what I wanted.

My phone chimes.

Will do.

I smile. God, I’m such a silly woman sometimes. He said to say what I wanted, and I did just that. Maybe that’s the only way to date a Gemini. Be direct and let him know what you need while still giving him his space.

This might not be so bad.

* * *

“Hey, Evette. You have some free time?” Tom walks into my office with a huge, cheesy smile on his face. In his hands are a bottle of champagne and two plastic cups.

I lean back in my chair and eye him curiously. “It’s not New Year’s Eve.”

“No, it’s better.” He holds his arms out and shouts, “We got MSG!”

I drop the pen in my hands, and my jaw falls in absolute shock. “Madison Square Garden wants us?”

He’s dancing in his chinos. “Yes! They came lower than I would have liked in a salary offer, but at least we’re in the negotiating zone. They want us as a team to run the Events Department.”

I jump up from my desk and run around, throwing my arms around him in a huge hug. “This is the big leagues. I can hardly believe it.”

When we had our interview last week, I felt we were so out of our league. I honestly thought there was no way we’d get it.

“We’re moving to New York City.”

My heart thumps out my chest as I realize I’ll be leaving Vegas. A week ago, I was excited at the prospect, yet today, I feel hesitant.

“What’s the matter?” Tom asks as I step back with my palm on my chest and my eyes cast down. “You’re not thinking about turning it down, are you?”

Spinning toward my desk, I walk to the window and look out at the mountains and the orange hues of the outlying desert. They’ve been my home, my restart, for two years. I wasn’t expecting to leave them yet.

“I need a second. We applied, but it just felt like a shot in the dark, and now, it’s happening in broad daylight. This is a huge decision. I adore working with you, but I haven’t given myself the proper time to think this through. When I moved here, it was to stand on my own two feet, and this feels very much like I’m giving up that opportunity.”

“You don’t have the experience to get the job on your own, and if you pass it up now, you probably won’t be offered it again.”

“You’re right. It’s not lost on me, how monumental this is. I have to call Marie and tell her the news. Leaving this job means leaving this town and her. I also have to call …”

My mouth goes dry as I think about Nic. I should call him about my good news. I will. I’m just off because it’s Friday, the day after he said he’d be back from the retreat with Logan. He said he’d call. He didn’t. And now, I’m just wondering if what we have is something worth staying for.

“You’re not thinking about that bartender, are you?”

My eyes shoot up to Tom’s, and a deep crease forms in my forehead from how hard I’m frowning.

“Evette, I’m sure he’s fun, but don’t give up this amazing opportunity for some guy you just started seeing.”

“That’s not who I am.”