"Belikov! You're early? What did I tell you Janine? The boy's always early!" Abe said, throwing his arm around me and squeezing my arm. I grinned and felt a surge of happiness in my chest. Janine smiled and shook her head as Abe walked ahead of us, talking about all the finer points of his club. Janine's hand landed on my arm and she gave it a gentle squeeze.
"He always did love his boys," she said softly, her eyes watering. I swallowed the lump in my throat and followed after Abe.
"Does the place get busy often?" I asked. Abe laughed and nodded, clapping his hands together.
"During semester time we make a killing off of the students. Plus, for a guy like you they will tip well," he said, cupping my cheeks and grinning. "This place is becoming my best investment."
I smiled and nodded. "That's great. I'll work any hours you need…to pay you back for how much you have given me," I said quickly. Abe's eyes fell onto mine and his grin slipped.
"Nonsense. Your education comes first! This is an investment in you Dimitri. I want to see you achieving your dreams in life. This job is to help you. Heaven knows I have enough money," he said, his jaw clenching. "There is no way I'd see one of my boys struggling," he added, pulling me in for a hug. My jaw clenched and hugging him back, I swallowed the lump in my throat. Janine shook her head and watched us both with watery eyes. I suddenly felt guilty for my moment with Abe. This was Andrew's family. It should have been Andrew's moment. I cleared my throat and looked at Abe.
"Menu?" I asked, averting the topic. Abe nodded, back into business mode and began showing me all of the different drinks we had. Finally. Something new to occupy my mind. It had nearly killed me this morning to think that Rose believed I didn't care about her…and now I had a way to distract myself from her.
"Two Buds and a Vodka," I nodded and grabbed the drinks, handing them to the man in front of me, taking the money and putting it into the register.
"Two cosmos!" Someone else shouted. Leah laughed and nudged me.
"I'll get these. You serve those two," she said, nodding in the direction of two blondes who had been sitting at the bar most of the night, deliberately waiting for me to serve them. I rolled my eyes and flipped Leah off before making my way over to the girls.
"What can I get you girls?" I asked, making eye contact with the one holding the cash.
"Hmmm…how about White Russians?" She said boldly, flashing me a flirty grin. I shook my head and began making them.
"My speciality," I said as I sat them down in front of the girls. I heard an all too familiar scoff to my left and the hairs on my neck raised. Rose. I didn't even have to look I could feel her gaze on me. I took the girls money and gave a polite smile when they slipped me a tip. I turned to face Rose and arched my eyebrow.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. Rose smirked and glanced at Lissa.
"Ohhh…I wonder what we would be doing at a bar. Use your head, Belikov," she said, taking a sip of her drink.
"Leah…make sure you don't serve these two…they're underage!" I said, smirking at Rose. Ha.
Rose laughed and tapped her nails on the top of the bar counter, her eyes developing the challenging glint.
"Don't you think they know that? My dad owns the place. I can have anything I want. Isn't that right Leah?" Rose said, smirking at me. I felt the corners of mouth twitch up and I shook my head.
"Yeah, yeah. What do you guys want?" I asked, glancing between Lissa and Rose. Rose took another sip of her drink.
"Can I have a cosmo please?" Lissa asked softly.
"Ooooh, how about whatever your new girlfriends having," Rose said sarcastically, glancing at the blondes. I shook my head and arched my eyebrow.
"A surprise it is," I said grabbing some ingredients and beginning to make a cocktail. Rose focussed her eyes on me and pursed her lips.
"It better not be a virgin cocktail, Belikov," she said. I sat the drink in front of her and then put a shot of tequila beside it. I put Lissas cosmo in front of her and smiled at her. Rose glanced at hers and looked up at me.
"What's it called?" She asked.
"A Rose Hathaway," I said, turning away from her and beginning to serve the other customers at the bar. Leah smirked and reached past me for a bottle of beer.
"Flirting with the bosses daughter? Bold move for a new guy," she teased. I froze and met her eyes.
"We weren't flirting," I said defensively. Leah laughed and shook her head.
"Uh-huh," she said.
Work was supposed to be a way to get my focus off of Rose. But, here she was in the bar and always on my mind. I sighed and shook my head as Lissa stumbled over to me.
"You two are getting cut off soon," I said, resting my chin in my hand. Lissa laughed and shook her head.
"We're having fun!" she said, covering her cheeks and smiling at me. I shook my head and scanned the club for Rose.
"Where is she?" I asked. Lissa made a vague gesture towards the dance floor. My eyes landed on Rose and my heart froze in my chest. She was dancing with some guy, whose hands were sliding dangerously low. I clenched my jaw and focused back on the customers in front of me. One of the blondes from earlier than night sat down in front of me and smirked.
"What time do you get off?" she asked. I shrugged and glanced in the clock.
"Soon," I said curtly. The girl blinked in surprise and she glanced back at her friends, before leaving quietly. I clenched my jaw and began cleaning random glasses to occupy myself. Leah snickered and shook her head.
"Are you always so nice to girls who are trying to get your attention?" she asked. I glanced at her.
"She's drunk. There are plenty of guys around her in similar states," I muttered. My eyes scanned the crowd and couldn't see any sign of Rose. Lissa was curled up in the corner with Christian. I let out a frustrated growl. Leah shook her head and smiled at me.
"Your shifts over anyway, you can go home," she told me. I began to protest and she shook her head.
"You're practically useless right now anyway," she teased, swatting me with a cloth. I shook my head and made my way over to Lissa and Christian.
"I'm about to leave, I'll see you guys at home. Call me if you need a lift," I said, making my way outside. My eyes fell on Rose as I left the building and I felt a wave of rage wash over me. She was pressed up against the wall, kissing some asshole whose hands were getting a little too grabby. I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him off Rose and throwing him away from her.
"What the hell are you playing at?" I hissed, grabbing Rose's arm. Rose tugged against my grip and scowled.
"Wasn't it pretty obvious?" she snapped. I pulled her towards me car.
"You're coming home. Now," I snapped. Rose scoffed.
"Let me go!" she snapped, fighting my grip on her arm. I let go, forcing her into the car and sliding into my seat. I ran a hand through my hair and began to pull away.
"For God's sake, Roza! What on earth were you thinking?" I asked. Rose avoided my eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. I ran my tongue over my teeth and tried to calm myself.
"It's none of your business," she snapped. I ground my teeth together and slammed my hands down on the steering wheel.
"God damn it, Rose you can't just go throwing yourself at people," I snapped. Rose scoffed and looked at me.
"Newsflash, you don't own me. I can do whatever I want," she snapped. I scoffed and shook my head.
"And apparently whoever," I muttered, pulling into our driveway. Rose scowled, getting out of the car and slamming the door behind her.
"You sound like a jealous ex," she snapped, opening the door to our apartment complex. I followed in behind her and shook my head. Rose spun round to face me and she locked her eyes onto mine. "That's exactly it isn't it? You're jealous," she said accusingly, her eyes lighting up as if she knew all the secrets of the world. I narrowed my eyes.
"No, Rose. I just don't like you throwing yourself at anything that moves," I snapped. Rose laughed.
"Is that your subtle way of calling me a slut?" she snapped. My mouth fell open and I tried to tell her that wasn't what I meant. Tell her that I was jealous. Rose grabbed my shoulders and pushed me against the wall, pressing her lips against mine. I wish I could say that I pushed her away immediately…or that I didn't kiss her back. But, I did. I pulled away after a few minutes and grabbed Rose's arms.
"Don't ever do that again," I hissed. Rose smirked.
"Don't kiss me back then!" she countered. I shook my head.
"You're drunk," I snapped, opening her door and pushing her inside. Rose shook her head.
"I might be tipsy but that doesn't mean that I don't know when someone kissed me back, and youkissed me back," she hissed.