42. Waverly
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
WAVERLY
T he club doesn’t open for another half an hour, and I can’t help but think about how it’s going to transform in such a short amount of time.
The lights are still on, the cleaner is doing one final sweep over the floors with the vacuum, and Elias is setting up one of the stages for a scene.
Soon there will be people everywhere, and sex will fill the air. Something I’m not sure I’m ready for after all the sex I’ve had in the last twenty-four hours.
I’m going to be walking funny if Emmett keeps this up.
Abigail is behind the bar already, and I’m starting to wonder if she lives here because she always makes it here before I do.
“Hey babe!” She grins as I approach. Her tight black dress shows off her impressive cleavage more than usual, and I wonder if maybe I should have worn something a bit more revealing to up my tips on the busiest night of the week.
“Hey.” I smile and shove my bag under the bar before stepping up beside her.
“You’re glowing.” She eyes me suspiciously. “You’re either knocked up or you got some dick.”
A startled laugh escapes my throat, making the few people milling around look our way, and I immediately drop my gaze to the paperwork spread out in front of Abigail.
“So it’s the second one then,” she says smugly. “I didn’t see you leave last night, so I should have known the good priest was showing you how bad he can be.”
I shake my head at her crude sentiment but can’t stop myself from smiling. “When I left, you looked like you were about to get your own railing,” I joke. It’s never come naturally to me making friends, but there’s something about Abigail that makes it easy.
She rolls her eyes. “He wishes.”
I nod down to the papers in front of us. “What’s all this?”
“Elias asked me to do the ordering for the bar, but I honestly have no clue what I’m doing.”
“I can help,” I offer. “I’ve managed a few dive bars here and there, so I’ve done it before. The systems might be different, but I’m sure we can figure it out together.”
“Oh my god, you’re a lifesaver.” She wraps an arm around me in a half hug that makes me smile a little wider.
If I knew it was this good to have friends, maybe I wouldn’t have put it off for quite so long.
T he bar is busier than I’ve ever seen it, and I’ve been run off my feet since the first patrons walked through the door a few hours ago.
But that also means I’m making tips hand over fist, and I’m beginning to feel lightheaded at the idea of having spare money, something I’ve never had.
Every cent I’ve ever made has had a purpose. Rent. Food. Utilities. Clothes if I could swing it. But that’s about it.
This is money I’ve never dreamed of having, and it’s honestly making me feel a little unwell thinking about it.
What if I get used to this and then lose this job?
Or I have to run again?
I’ve been in New York for longer than any other city, but it’s been so long since anyone has found me, I’ve allowed myself to get complacent.
“You need a break, babe,” Abigail says, her hair still perfectly styled in a sleek high pony. It doesn’t seem to matter how many hours she works, she always looks perfect.
“I’m okay,” I insist. “I don’t need to take a break.”
“Yes, you do.” She nods toward the table in the corner that I haven’t allowed myself to look at since it got busy. I know he’s there because I can feel his eyes tracking my every movement, but he’s in Abigail’s section, so I haven’t had an excuse to go over there. “The good priest wants to see you. He’s getting antsy, and I’m afraid if I don’t send you over soon, he’s going to come get you himself.”
I laugh, thinking she’s joking, but when she doesn’t so much as crack a smile, I realize she’s not. “Oh.”
“Take as long as you need. Everyone seems pretty settled at the moment, and a few of the booths are getting freaky, so you’re good.”
I follow her line of sight where a woman is trapped between two men, her legs spread over their thighs and their hands moving beneath the table.
Yeah, Saturday nights are much more hectic than weeknights.
“Okay, but if you need me, just let me know, and I’ll come straight back.”
She gives me a quick nod as she finishes pouring a whiskey neat and slides it across the bar to me. “He’s due for a refill.”
Before I can think better of it, I turn on my heel and head toward the corner where our resident voyeur is sitting.
“You called.” I smirk as I slip into the seat across from him and slide the glass toward him.
He chuckles. “Like an hour ago, but better late than never, I suppose.” His tone is lighthearted, but his eyes pinch at the corners with worry, and my stomach rolls.
Is he getting ready to end things?
It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been dumped after a couple of fucks, but after repeatedly being told he wanted more, I kind of started believing him.
I nibble at my lower lip as I twist my hands together in my lap. I’m not ready for this to be over yet. I want to explore my sexuality more, and while I may have more opportunities while working at the Scarlet Lounge, I’ve felt comfortable with Emmett since that first night. I don’t want to have to start all over again.
“I need to tell you something,” he finally says, twisting his fresh glass of whiskey around in front of him.
“Okay.” I nod slowly. Yep, this is definitely a breakup.
“I don’t know how to tell you this without freaking you out,” he admits.
“Oh my god, are you married?” Unease rolls over me at the thought. Surely not. He’s a pastor for God’s sake. Surely he wouldn’t step out on his wife.
“No.” He frowns. “No, I’m definitely not married. It’s just…there are things you don’t know about me that I probably should have told you before I allowed this to go as far as it has.”
His eyes settle on mine, and a fresh wave of anxiety hits me. The longer he puts off spitting it out, the more my anxiety spirals in my chest because there are only so many things that could be about to come out of his mouth, and none of them are sitting well with me.
“I have a twin,” he tells me. “An identical twin brother.”
“Okay…” My brows tug together in confusion. That’s not so bad. In fact, I don’t even understand why he’s bothering to tell me at all, especially not when he’s made it sound like whatever he wanted to tell me is a huge deal.
He swallows heavily, and his eyes flick over my shoulder. “You’ve actually met him.”
I open my mouth to respond, but before I can get the words out, a man sits down beside Emmett, and my stomach rolls uncomfortably.
Dressed in black jeans and a tight black T-shirt is an identical version of Emmett, except kind of rougher.
His hair isn’t styled like Emmett’s is. His five o’clock shadow has been allowed to grow rather than being removed, and there’s a wild look in his eye that I recognize a little too well.
My hand comes up to cover my mouth as nausea rolls over me. This afternoon I wasn’t with Emmett. I was with his brother.
I allowed a perfect stranger to fuck me over the back of his bike.
How could I not see the difference between them? They may look identical, but there are stark differences now that I’m staring at them sitting next to one another.
“I know this is probably a shock, Waverly,” Emmett says slowly, his shoulders tense while his twin’s are relaxed.
“A shock?” I ask incredulously. “This isn’t a shock, Emmett. This is fucking insane.” I turn my attention to the other brother, who is smirking as if he finds the situation amusing. “How dare you.”
“That’s not what you were saying when you were bent over my bike, babe.”
“I thought you were Emmett,” I snap. “And you made no effort to correct me.”
He nods. “You’re right, I didn’t. But don’t lie and say you didn’t love every fucking second.”
“Kade,” Emmett warns. “She has a right to be upset. You should have told her who you were.”
“Like you should have told her I existed?” He turns his attention to his brother.
“I can’t believe this.” I shake my head and shove myself out of the booth. “I don’t know what the hell you thought you were going to achieve by pretending to be Emmett, but I’m done. With both of you.”
Before I can talk myself out of the decision, I walk across the bar and continue around to the back office that the bar manager uses when they’re not on leave.
As soon as I’m out of sight, I slide down the wall and cover my face with trembling hands.
I should have known things were going a little too well for me. I should have known it wouldn’t be long before everything came crumbling down.
I’ve never considered myself lucky, but this feels like a particularly hard kick in the teeth from the universe.