32. Phil
Phil
“J ohnny is the head bartender.” Mr. Moony walked toward the bar, and I followed.
The sun had set a little over an hour ago. Dusk was open, but there weren’t many patrons milling about yet. Things wouldn’t pick up for another two, maybe three hours.
“He’s been bartending at Dusk for over thirty years,” Mr. Moony said with a subtle hint of pride. Affection was there too.
“Evenin’, Lucroy.” Johnny dried a glass while his dark brown eyes flicked between Mr. Moony and me.
Johnny’s tiny fawn antlers peeked out from dirty blond hair.
His chest barely reached the bar top. There must have been a step stool or a riser that ran the length behind the bar because Johnny’s waist was suddenly visible.
Still, I couldn’t see his fur-covered legs and hooves on my side of the bar.
“Good evening, Johnny.” Mr. Moony’s lips tilted in a smile. Just like fairies, vampires rarely showed their teeth. To do so was either considered an act of aggression or poor manners. “I have a new hire, and I’d appreciate it if you’d take him under your wing.”
Johnny eyed me, the corner of his mouth twisted into a smirk.
“Looks like he’s the one with the wings.
” Johnny laughed, but it didn’t sound condescending.
Fawns were generally known for their congenial, easygoing natures.
I was glad I’d be working with Johnny and not one of the trolls Mr. Moony used as bouncers.
Johnny eyed my wings with a critical once-over. My wings fluttered, sending pink pixie dust into the air. Instead of sneezing, Johnny’s grin widened. “Nice. Do those wings work for more than just scattering dust everywhere?”
In answer, I lifted off the ground. Mr. Moony had told me to dress in my black t-shirt, jeans, and boots, but he’d allowed me to keep my wings out and on full display.
He’d also told me I could keep the hair but asked if I could pull it up at the sides.
He didn’t want any of my hair getting into the drinks.
Johnny cackled and pointed to an upper shelf. “I can already see you’re gonna come in handy. Those bottles are a bitch to get down.” Johnny leaned an elbow on the bar top. Completely ignoring Mr. Moony, he asked, “What’s your name, pixie?”
“Phil. It’s nice to meet you, Johnny.”
Johnny waved me off with his towel. “We’ll see if you still think that after the rush. I’m as easygoing as the next fawn, but I take this job and the customer’s satisfaction seriously. If you think you can keep up with me, Phil, then I’m happy to have you.”
I swallowed hard and shot a glance at Mr. Moony. I got a blank, unreadable expression in return. “I’ll try my best.”
Johnny nodded. “At the end of the day, that’s all any of us can ask for.
We’ll see how you work out. I hope you’re not shy.
You’re a bit big for a pixie. You’re bound to get a few stares here and there, and when people are drunk, their verbal filters don’t work so well.
Chances are you’ll get some pretty crass comments thrown your way. You think you can handle that, Phil?”
It was a fair question. Tightening my hands into fists, I thought of Dillon and Ruthie.
I could do this. I needed to do this. And not just for them, but for my mom and dad too.
I had to make this believable. Arie Belview needed to believe I’d been fired, that I no longer worked for Sedrick.
I’d do whatever I could to fit that mold.
Mr. Moony was being exceedingly generous.
Since it had been daytime when Ray called Mr. Moony, he’d had to leave a message.
I’d gotten a call from Ray just after the sun set, telling me to go to Dusk, that Mr. Moony had a position for me.
I’d had no idea what to expect and planned for the worst. Working as a bartender was far from the worst thing I’d imagined.
Turning Johnny’s words over in my head, I finally answered, “I’ll be okay.” After all, I was used to cruel words, pitying looks, and teasing comments. I’d survived it before. I could survive it again.
“Great!” Johnny beamed. “Then get your ass on this side of the bar, and let’s get started.” Johnny waved his hand, welcoming me into his world. His face lit up when I opted to fly over the bar instead of walking around it.
“It looks like the two of you are set.” Mr. Moony clasped his hands behind his back, barely shifting the crisp white, long-sleeved dress shirt he wore. “Philodendron, I’ll leave you in Johnny’s capable hands. If there is anything else I can do for you or Ray, don’t hesitate to inquire.”
I blinked as Mr. Moony glided away. His movements were so liquid-smooth, I couldn’t imagine how humans were fooled into thinking vampires were just like them but with a sun allergy.
Johnny slapped me on my back, hitting the area between my wings and jolting me forward. The fawn barely came up to my shoulders, but he had a lot of strength packed into that small frame. “You ready to get started?”
I pasted on a smile and answered, “Absolutely.”
* * *
“A re you okay, Phil?” It was the third, maybe fourth, time Posey had asked me that. Tucked into the back of the rideshare Mr. Buttons had kindly paid for, I couldn’t escape her prying eyes or worried glances.
“I’m fine, Posey,” I answered an equal number of times, each one the same lie as the last. “I’m just tired.
Dusk doesn’t close until four, and I didn’t get back to the boarding house until a little after five.
” Given that it was just past nine-thirty in the morning, I thought my excuse was more than believable.
Posey thought differently. “You’re very pale, Phil, and not in the typical way. There’s a grayish tint to your skin. I don’t like it.” Posey crossed her arms and jutted out her chin. My heart ached when her pout reminded me of Dillon.
“I just need a little more sleep, that’s all.
” I offered my best smile and patted Posey’s knee.
It was nice that she was concerned, but it was becoming too much, and I hated lying.
The truth was, I didn’t feel well. Each day was a little bit worse.
Nausea was a constant companion, and food had lost its appeal two days ago.
I was constantly tired, exhaustion that seemed soul-deep, and I couldn’t figure out why.
If things kept up, I’d need to contact a healer.
Maybe I’d speak to Mr. Buttons later and ask if his brother could take a look at me.
Pixies rarely got sick, but it wasn’t impossible.
Posey huffed, and for a second, I thought she’d continue arguing.
But then her shoulders slumped, and she leaned deeper into her seat.
“I’m just worried about you, Phil. I still can’t believe Mr. Voss let you go.
” Posey shook her head, sending her lavender-colored hair flying.
“Things seemed to be going so well, and I—”
“It’s okay,” I interrupted Posey by lying again. I didn’t want to talk about Sedrick or the children. Just thinking about them and the home I’d left made my heart stutter and my chest ache.
Posey opened her mouth to say something else, but Mr. Buttons leaned his head over the front seat and said, “We’re almost there. The weather looks to be holding. I think the sun will be out at its finest when Peaches’s bonding ceremony happens.”
Posey perked up, her attention diverted, and I sighed with relief. “I can’t believe it’s finally time.” Posey bounced, and her wings tried to flutter but were stymied by the back seat.
“Don’t worry, Posey, we won’t stay too long. I know being away from the boarding house is difficult for you.”
Posey waved Mr. Buttons off. “I’ll be fine for a few hours.” Posey was bonded to the boarding house, and the longer she was away from it, the worse she felt. The same would hold true for Peaches soon with his orchard.
“Okay. Just let me know if we need to take off.” Mr. Buttons grinned at us before turning around and flopping back into the passenger seat.
Thinking of Peaches warmed my constantly cold skin.
My life might not be where I wanted it, but Peaches’s was.
Today was his bonding ceremony. He’d become one with his orchard and permanently move out of the boarding house.
It wouldn’t be much different than it had been since I moved back to my room.
Peaches hadn’t stepped inside the boarding house since Sedrick “fired me.” In fact, Peaches wasn’t even aware I wasn’t working for Sedrick any longer.
I’d asked Posey and Mr. Buttons to keep my secret, and they’d reluctantly agreed, at least long enough to get through the bonding ceremony.
I didn’t want to do anything that might detract from Peaches’s big day.
As if reading my mind, Posey asked, “You are going to tell him eventually, right?”
“I will,” I answered and didn’t think that was a lie.
The truth was, I could keep it from Peaches.
He wouldn’t live at the boarding house, so he wouldn’t know.
I’d been fortunate he hadn’t been back the last few days.
I’d also been sad. I could have used Peaches’s friendship.
Goddess knew I could use a shoulder to lean on and an ear to bend.
“Good. I don’t like lying.” Posey gave me a pointedly disapproving look.
“I know. I don’t either, but we both know Peaches will be worried, and I want him to enjoy his day.”
Posey’s smile was full of understanding. “I know that, Phil. That’s the only reason Marty and I agreed to go along with it.”
The car lurched and hopped as it left the main road and turned down the lane leading to Peaches’s orchard.
I rolled down the back window and inhaled deeply.
The scent of apple blossoms permeated the air and soothed my nerves.
In the near distance, I could see Peaches’s apple trees in full bloom.
Their pink and white blossoms drifted in the light breeze.
When the sun broke through the clouds, they looked magical, just as they should for Peaches’s bonding ceremony.
Peaches’s trees were right to wait. They were magnificent, showing off their beauty and gratitude to the garden pixie who guided and encouraged their growth.
I could feel the adoration in the air and pushed the threatening jealousy away.
Only, it wasn’t jealousy, exactly. It was longing.
I’d had this too, and I’d walked away from it. I’d walked away to try to save it.