Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“Look at her. I’m so proud.”
We’re in the locker room getting ready to hit the floor. Today marks one week since I started working at Aura, and either I’ve proved I’m ready to graduate to full-fledged server or Hugo needs to pull Annika away so she can train some other girl, because this will be my first shift where I’ll totally be on my own. No shadowing. No more hand-holding.
“Think I can do it?” I ask them as I finish buckling my heels.
“You’ll definitely get a few drink orders wrong and screw up a—”
“Annika,” Simone chides.
“But we all do! You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be hot. Remember that.”
I roll my eyes and stand.
She looks to Simone. “What? Am I wrong?”
Simone shrugs. “It’s true.”
“Now, c’mon. I want to make sure our sections are all near each other just in case you need us for something,” Annika tells me.
I loop my arm over her shoulders then grab ahold of Simone, too, so I can pull them close. They groan about it, but I know they don’t really mind. I’ve only been on Ibiza a week and a half, and the three of us have already grown close. We’re all in our mid-twenties with similar interests. Not to mention, Annika and Felix share an apartment in staff housing on the same floor as Simone and me. For the last seven days, we’ve worked and hung out nonstop. We usually walk home together after our shifts, and on the nights we aren’t scheduled to close, we find ourselves lounging around in one of our apartments and staying up way too late. Simone and I have been going for long walks in the morning before lunch, and occasionally Annika will join us if we can rouse her in time. I’m itching to go surfing but haven’t gotten the chance yet. Next Monday, though, I’m off, and I’m going to make an entire day of it.
“Did your boobs grow overnight or something?” Annika asks, scrutinizing my chest as we walk out into the hall.
I look down and adjust my top, trying in vain to cover more of them. “No. It’s the uniform. I accidentally put it in the dryer yesterday.”
Annika winces. “Yeah, you have to be careful. It’ll shrink.”
I’m well aware of that fact now, unfortunately.
“Since we’re off at midnight tonight, let’s do Chinese takeaway,” Simone suggests as we ascend the stairs to the main floor. “I’ve been craving it all day and there’s a place that stays open really late.”
“Sounds good. Mind if I invite Ethan?” Annika asks, raising her voice. The music is already blasting up here.
Simone and I share a knowing glance, and Annika sees it.
“We’re just friends! Swear it.
“Oh!” Annika suddenly grabs my arm. “I forgot to tell you! He’s here! Felix texted before we left the locker room.”
“Who?”
Her eyes go wide. “Cristiano! The boss!”
My heart leaps with excitement, then dread. Immediately I start to scan the crowded club, looking for anyone out of the ordinary. I check the bars and security points. No one is talking to Ramón, and I recognize all the bartenders at their stations. There’s a chance Cristiano is downstairs with Hugo, but I can’t go check now. I’ll have to scope things out when I go down for my break in a bit.
I realize it’s probably best for me to fly under the radar here considering the unconventional way Simone helped me get this job. Hugo might have vetted me, but Cristiano didn’t. What if when he meets me, he doesn’t deem me up to snuff? What if he takes one look at me and sends me packing?
I try not to worry over the possibility, which turns out to be relatively easy because of how busy I am during my shift. There are two other servers assigned to our section, and I try to keep out of their way. The crowd starts to fill in while the opener performs onstage, but I have no problem staying on top of things. I might have managed just fine the whole night except that a group of women who seemed tame enough when they first sat down turns out to be moms on a girls’ trip, free from the burden of their husbands and young children and ready to live it up like they’re twenty-one again. I’ve never seen humans inhale espresso martinis at their rate. It’s almost terrifying. They were dancing on their table and trying to pull me up to join them before I promised shots on the house if only they’d please let me go.
“Those moms are wild!” I tell Annika when she joins me by the computer. “I’ll be picking pink boa feathers out of my hair for days. Switch with me, please. I’m begging you!”
She’s unbothered. “I can’t. That table of guys love me, and I know they’re going to be big tippers. Just hang in there! I’m sure it’ll be fine!”