Chapter 9
“Well hello stranger, I half expected you to come in yesterday to shoot the shit. What have you been up to all weekend?” Gus always knew when something was up.
“Gus, it was interesting.”
Gus raised an eyebrow. “The kid?” he asked.
“His name’s Jon.”
“What happened?”
“Let’s go to the backroom.”
Gus didn’t argue. As they walked to the stockroom, he didn’t press anymore, but his expression shifted from curiosity to concern.
“So what the hell happened that you wanted privacy to talk about it? You know those guys out there don’t give a shit who or what you do.”
Levi closed the door and took a deep breath.
“His sister went apeshit and kicked him out when I took him home. Apparently, she had pushed him to hit on me because she assumed I was straight and would hurt him. His parents kicked him to the curb about a week before, too. Don’t worry, he’s at my place, and he seems to be coping, but I’m worried about him.”
Gus shook his head. “Jesus, what the fuck is wrong with people? What are you going to do?”
“Well, he seems like a good kid. I offered to let him stay at my place and make sure he gets to the park and ride when he gets a job in Houston.”
“He doesn’t even have a job?” Gus was furious.
“Did I?”
“No, but that was different. I gave you a job and a place to stay, not anything more. You’re setting yourself up for headache and heartache if things don’t work out and he takes advantage of your good nature.”
“Well, that’s what I’ve got you for, old man. To make sure I don’t let him overstay if things don’t work out. I laid the cards out on the table, and he took the hand I was hoping he would.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“For now, we are going to be ‘roommates who date’ and he’s officially staying in the office. I’m going to move the desk out, so it’ll be more of a bedroom again, and he spent all day on the computer looking for work.”
“Was that what he was really doing?”
Levi laughed at the question. “Yep, and before you ask me how I know, he asked me about addresses and companies all day. I was glad to come in to get a break.”
Gus just shook his head. “I’m glad you can see the humor in it. What kind of work is he looking for?”
“Well, he said he would like to find something with his degree. Something to do with computers, but he said if he doesn’t get an interview by the end of the month, he would go wider.”
“Well, it sounds like he has a plan. The bigger question is, do you?”
“Gus, you know I don’t plan. I just float.”
The old man laughed, “I know, and that’s why you’re still here, not that I’m complaining. By the way, your little stunt the other night brought in $1,500 and some change. Looks like I’m getting ready for a trip soon. Have you thought about my offer?”
“I have.”
“Well?”
“I know you said you’d be around still, but would I have total control?”
“As long as you keep this place in the black. The more coming my way, the less I’ll interfere, but I’d still be coming around and I don’t know how comfortable I’d be in a gay bar, so maybe keep it simple to soften the blow.”
Levi had been thinking about what he would do if Gus would just let him for years, and while a part of him would love to run a gay bar, he knew Derecho was the wrong market for it. But Friday night had shown him that the bar itself wasn’t broken, it just needed something .
“Actually, I think maybe it isn’t much that needs to be done, maybe just freshen things up and make it look like a real Irish pub, not the ones in your movies, and use the stage more, open mic nights, performances to draw in crowds…and freshen up the courtyard.”
“Sounds expensive,” Gus laughed.
“Cheaper than rebranding. Besides, I’ll do most of the work myself. This place has good bones, and for a while, this will be my only time to myself.”
Gus cocked his head and looked at him. “Maybe you’ve had too much alone time. You never go out, and in all honesty, I was beginning to worry that you were becoming a little isolated. Who knows, maybe this series of unfortunate events will help you move on too. I know you put on a cheerful face, but deep down, you’ve never dealt with what happened that night.”
Levi looked away awkwardly. “Gus, I’ll take the promotion, or whatever you want to call it, and anything you think is fair that comes with it.”
“Levi, get back out there and start planning your vision for this place, and talk to the guys about scheduling a night off for yourself tomorrow night.”
“So I have to break the news to them myself? Talk about throwing me into the fire.”
“You know me better than that. I told them Friday before you showed up. Why else do you think I brought those nitwits in so early?”
Levi shook his head and chuckled. “What if I’d said no?”
“I knew you wouldn’t. Sometimes I wonder if you know how to say ‘no’. I’m going to call Mr. Ross to confirm my appointment for tomorrow. I’ll be going by his office to sign it in the morning, and you and Jon are coming over to my place for supper tomorrow night. We are going to celebrate, and I want to get to know Jon a little better.”
“Gus, I know you’ve always told me you didn’t want any thanks, but I have to say thank you. Not just for this. For everything.”