Chapter 7

Paisley

Since the incident with Blake, London has refused to serve any of them.

So, as the guys sang, I go back and forth like a blue-arsed fly, taking them beer and bringing the empty glasses away, plus serving everyone else who wanted to be served.

London wasn’t wrong that it was going to be a hectic night, and I’m kind of thankful I wasn’t stuck at home trying to work out what’s been going on with me.

Tania has been driving me crazy since she got out of her little sexcapade with the band member who “rocked” her world.

“You know, Paisley, you might just find the one who’ll do it for you in here tonight.”

I roll my eyes, not wanting to get any deeper into this discussion.

“Seriously, just look at all the studs out there.” Her eyes glisten.

“I’m not interested,” I bark back and head to the opposite side of the bar with the hope she’ll leave me alone.

“Hey, what can I get ya?” I ask.

“Thought I was going to have to suck some dude’s dick so I can be served”

“Excuse me?” I look at him. I have no idea who he is…yet he knows who I am.

“Well, you sucked some dude’s dick to get in here before everyone else, even though workers use the side entrance. And now I’ve stood here for twenty minutes waiting to get a beer.

“So it goes to reason. If I want service, I have to suck some geezer’s dick.”

I stare at him, dumbfounded.

“So give me a damn beer, will ya? And stop looking at me as if I’m stupid.”

“You’re serious right now?”

“As a heart attack.”

I reach for a glass and start to fill it with beer when I suddenly realize who I’m dealing with. It’s the asshole from outside. Anger enrages me once more. I stop the tap.

The guy has his back on me, eyeing up which girl he’s taking home.

I smile before tapping him on the shoulder and asking for the three dollars for his beer.

“Finally.” He sighs

I’m not sure what takes over me, but I pour his beer over his head and then slam the glass on the bar, past and present combining into one.

My anger mixes with his, and my body shakes with fight-or-flight reflexes. I know myself, it’s fight all the way, no matter who I’m up against.

“You little bitch, you owe me a fucking beer.”

“Fuck you, asshole!” I shout back. I won’t back down…ever.

“I’m going to…”

“Going to what?” I mock.

I watch him fidget and lose his composure. This is going to end messy, but right now I don’t care. I’m done.

“Is there a problem?” I watch the guy shrink back a little, as Jacob stands next to me.

The guy tells him everything, and Jacob gives him a new one. The problem is solved within a couple of minutes.

I, on the other hand, find it difficult to calm down, but I carry on with my work after a quick scolding from Jacob.

Hours pass by without any other major incidents. Each beer I twist open, every cocktail I make, and every barrel I replace refreshes me.

London calls me over. The guys need another pitcher of beer, and I just roll my eyes.

“You take it to them, I’m busy,” I holler at her, as I continue to wrestle with the order I’m in the middle of completing.

Tania is nowhere to be seen, which means she’s probably got her mouth wrapped around some poor guy’s dick. With a huff, I continue doing what I’m doing.

A couple of hours later we shout the last call. My feet are killing me, I stink of beer, and I’m shattered.

“Hey, sweet cheeks, can I get some service over here?”

I choose to ignore the ignoramus who thinks anything like that can work. I don’t even look at him. I continue to serve everyone else instead, popping top after top and pouring pitcher after pitcher.

“You know I’m here, right?” the customer speaks again.

“Oh, I know you’re there, but you can wait for your damn turn, asshole,” I snipe back. I’m not a girl to be told what to do.

After a while, the bar starts to clear. Finally, there is light at the end of this dark tunnel. Tania has returned from wherever she went, and London is working her ass off beside me.

I take a quick look around and notice it’s pretty clear, so I take the opportunity to go out and collect some of the empty glasses.

“Where do you think you’re going? I’m trying to get served here, and I have been waiting a shit ton of time.”

“Dude, you getting beers or what?” His friend joins in.

“Ask the new bar staff. She keeps ignoring me.”

I take a deep breath, closing my eyes

“Since when haven’t you been able to handle a piece of ass?” his friend says.

“Just who do you think you are? Can’t you see that I am—”

“Hey, good looking. Whatcha after?” Tania pipes in, cutting me off.

I take the opportunity to escape.

Tommy and Lee make their way inside, advising the rabble-rousers it’s time to drink up and get the hell out. I laugh.

The band is still in the corner somewhere, but I’m too busy to acknowledge any of them.

London helps me clean up the mess, and we both grumble about people who have no respect for others’ belongings. A quick check of the time tells me it’s 1 a.m. No wonder I’m tired.

It isn’t long before the doors are sealed, and I can finally breathe again. I put my earphones in with Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping” blasting in my ears and lose myself in the clean-up duty.

By the time the song finishes, all the glasses are on the bar. “Ooh Stick You” starts next as I bend over to pluck some trash from the floor.

A pair of muscular hands on my hips startles me, and I’m pulled back against a decidedly male groin. Although I hate the intrusion, the hands feel familiar.

I straighten up and snap open my earphones before turning around to see who was dumb enough to touch me.

“Woah there, sweet cheeks. Where’s the fire?” He sways slightly with his hands raised in surrender.

“Don’t fucking touch me!” I shout.

“Oh, baby girl, you should be begging me to touch you…to find that release,” he slurs.

The room falls silent, everyone watching us. Only my music can be heard in my left hand.

I poke him in the chest. “I said, don’t fucking touch me.”

The track changes to Vengaboys’ “Boom Boom Boom Boom, I Want You In My Room”.

“Oh baby, if you want me in your room…all you have to do is ask.”

I look at him as if he’s lost his damn mind. I’ve told him before, multiple times, I don’t want him near me.

“Zeke!” Tania screeches from across the bar.

It hurts my ears, and everyone else cowers, too, taking some sort of cover.

“Looks like your girlfriend isn’t happy you’re touching me, so fuck off and get back to fucking her in that room down the hall again.”

I storm off, not wanting to give him any more ammo to come back at me with. I’m done, I want to go home.

“London, I’m out,” I call out, ready to head for the door. I need my bed.

“Skank,” Tania mutters as I pass her, but I don’t have the energy to argue with anyone else.