31. Present Day – January
31
PRESENT DAY – JANUARY
SCOTT
‘ F uck, I wasn’t expecting a turnout as good as this,’ Nate murmurs as the pub groans with customers. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen the place this busy.’
A lot of people I recognise are locals, like Geoff, one of my regulars, plus there’s Nate’s crowd; Chunk’s standing a head above everyone, even his army mates. But there’s plenty of people I don’t know, too.
I look over to a local called Steve, in the corner, still in his work dungarees. ‘I guess all the people giving their services have also come.’
Nate shrugs like of course . ‘It’s a good chance to network.’
‘Didn’t have to come dressed for the job though. Steve’s gonna be flaking paint over the pub.’
‘And it’s really going to ruin the vibe in here,’ Nate deadpans. Casting his eyes pointedly at the tired décor.
‘You’ve got a point,’ I succeed.
‘You should bid on him.’
‘Gonna take more than a half day with Steve to sort this place out.’
This pub. I sigh. Honestly, I don’t really know what I’m doing with it. It feels like I’ve been bogged down in the trenches with it for years. Too caught up in my … shit … to raise my head and see what needs to be done. Redecorating. Re-invigorating. Recently, Nate’s been trying to help, trying to drag me through. The Bull deserves better than what I’ve done for it. It needs more than just me. It was never supposed to be only me.
‘Might be a start though, man.’ Nate claps me on the shoulder. ‘Right. Better go and get this auction started!’ He flips the mic over in his hands and heads out to the far end of the pub, where he and Ella have set up a staging area.
Ella tosses her hair over her shoulder and clutches a clipboard, giving Nate a huge grin when she sees him coming over. I’m happy for my brother, I am. Just wish I had someone look at me like that.
Not someone.
Josie.
No.
I serve some more drinks and listen to Nate introduce each lot in turn, calling out bids as the locals try to snag themselves a bargain. Lucia scores eighty pounds for a catered meal for two. Steve gets a hundred pounds for half a day's decorating — I really should have bid on that one but I’m slammed.
Both Jamie and Enzo are working this evening. It’s so busy, we barely have a chance to acknowledge each other, but we seamlessly work behind the bar like we’ve choreographed it. Enzo has become everything I could hope for and more in a deputy manager, and Jamie has settled in behind the bar like he’s been doing it his whole life.
‘Hey man, a pint of cider please,’ says a guy across the bar.
I recognise him, something about his blond quiff is familiar, but I can’t place him. He’s probably been in before. You meet a lot of people in this trade.
I place a full glass down on a bar mat and he pays, narrowing his eyes as if he’s trying to place me, too.
As he turns away and takes a swig, I hear him murmur, ‘Jeez,’ under his breath. Following his gaze, I see Josie crossing the bar. This time, her hair’s a pastel rainbow of pinks, lilacs, blues and mint greens. I’m not sure what she’s wearing as she’s smothered it in a tiny apron, cinched tight around her waist. What’s underneath must be short, as the apron barely reaches her mid-thigh and it’s entirely covered her, giving the illusion she’s only wearing an apron.
She struts up to Ella, wielding a paint brush. Apparently, she’s dressed for the job, too, but it’s having a different effect on me than Steve in his overalls, that’s for sure. As Josie turns to hug Ella, a blue dress peeks at the back.
Fuck, I’m going to hell with the thoughts flashing through my mind right now. And not just about Josie. About how I want to throttle the blond guy at the bar who is now lowkey perving on her.
‘Really?’ Jamie mutters sharply nearby, pulling me from my musings.
‘Alright?’
‘My sister cannot be going out like that.’ His eyes bulge, gesturing to Josie.
‘She’s your big sister, dude. She’s an adult. Don’t think you’ve got much control over it.’
‘Ugh,’ Jamie grumbles, shooting daggers at Josie and the perve.
My cheeks start to heat as I think how he might look at me if he knew what I’d been thinking, so I turn away. And like that, there’s another reason why Josie and I are not okay.