Chapter 1
CHAPTER
ONE
ONE YEAR LATER
The throbbing in my temples was unrelenting.
While pinching the bridge of my nose, I squeezed my eyes tightly and pushed out a sigh.
Something had to give. I opened my eyes, refocusing on my computer screen.
I winced as another wave of pain spread across my forehead.
Brushing my hand across it, I attempted to relieve the ache.
When that didn’t work, I pulled my dreads from the haphazard bun I’d put them in this morning.
I massaged my scalp while expelling a deep, gruff sigh.
Reaching in the drawer of my desk, I blindly searched for an aspirin.
Once I found the bottle, I washed down a pill with water, then turned up the music humming from my Bluetooth speaker.
Miles Davis and his trumpet crooned throughout my office as I finished my closing duties for the night.
“You wanna talk about it?”
Summer stood in my doorway with her hand propped on her hip.
“Talk about what?” I replied while returning my attention to the closing reports on my screen. After relaxing my eyebrows and straightening my posture, I changed the subject. “I thought I asked you to leave?”
“Don’t deflect,” she told me with a slight smirk.
“No, don’t you deflect.”
“Nadir,” she whined, and I bit back a chuckle.
I was impervious to her pouting. When we were younger, it was annoying and I’d give in just to shut her up. Now, it was adorable, especially since her lips and cheeks were fuller thanks to my nephew.
“Come and sit down at least.” I chuckled as she waddled over to my desk while rubbing her belly. “What are you still doing here?”
It was a quarter to three, which was well past the time I told her to leave.
“Don’t worry about all that.”
“Sunny,” I groused, but left it at that.
I was exhausted—mentally and physically—and couldn’t waste energy on trivial arguments, especially not with my childhood best friend.
She didn’t deserve the stress either. A yawn fell from my lips, earning a side eye from Summer.
Last night, I slept all of four hours. My mind raced as I refused to accept my current reality.
After greeting patrons, and putting out a couple of fires, I came to my office to finish reviewing financial documents from last quarter, which eventually led me to reviewing the closing reports.
I’d been running on fumes all day and had gone into autopilot around ten when the lounge was its busiest. There were a few interruptions from my staff, but nothing pressing enough to pull me from my desk.
“You need anything else before I leave?” Summer asked moments later.
I chuckled while shaking my head. I tore my eyes from the laptop screen long enough to look at her. My gaze bounced from her protruding belly to her tired, copper-colored orbs.
“Nope. I told you to leave three hours ago,” I said.
She smiled while rubbing her belly. My Sunny was having a baby.
I was still tripping off the news, even though she’d told me months ago.
Witnessing one of my closest friends on her journey to becoming a mom was surreal.
I remembered the days when she used to play with dolls, imitating her mom’s gentle nature.
She forced me to play the dad, showing me how to hold them properly.
I feigned annoyance whenever she brought them around, but eventually I just went along with it.
There was no doubt in my mind that she would be a great mom.
“Nadir, you hired me to manage the lounge, so let me do it. No one else gets dismissed early, so why should I?”
“Technically, you're the assistant manager. And if this were Kenya or Peyton, I’d tell them the same thing. I need you to take it easy, lil mama.”
Summer rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Back to my original question.”
Leaning back in my seat, I told her, “Nah. You can head out. I’ll do another walk through, then lock up.”
“That’s not what I'm referring to, and you know it.”
“The answer is still the same.”
Her phone rang and an instant smile spread across her face. I assumed it was Ryder.
“Hey, babe,” she cooed, making me chuckle.
While she talked to him, I shut my laptop down and placed it into my messenger bag. By the time her call ended, I was ready to leave my office.
“He picking you up?” I asked as we walked toward the kitchen.
She nodded. “Yup. He’s coming after he picks up food from Over Easy. I've been craving their pancake platter all week.”
I pushed through the swinging doors, then held one open for Summer.
We hung our bags on the hooks next to the kitchen entrance before looking over the stoves and chef stations.
Running my hand along the cool, silver surface, I nodded at its shine and lack of spots or crumbs.
Updating the kitchen had been my latest investment and the return had been fruitful.
We had the vibes and drink selection down pat. But to give our patrons a more well-rounded experience, we created a menu consisting of small plates. Since we were the only place in town offering tapas style servings, it became pretty popular, and soon I changed our brunch menu too.
“The place is spotless, Nadir,” Summer said while I continued my inspection.
“Did we order the new silverware?”
I forgot to remind Summer about it earlier. My head was elsewhere when I arrived. By the time I finally saw her, there were more urgent matters to discuss.
“Ordered them last night. They’ll be here the week after next.”
“Cool, cool.”
Once I was done with the kitchen, I moved to the bar and lounge area.
So far, everything met my standards.
I did a quick sweep of the room, making sure everything was ready for tomorrow.
All the tables had been cleaned; chairs were lined against the wall near the bar as the floor dried.
Hanging on garnet-colored walls were pictures of jazz musicians and poets.
Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, and Ella Fitzgerald were a few people who graced the walls of the lounge.
The photographs were the same ones my dad had framed many years ago.
No matter how many renovations and upgrades I did, I kept mementos of the original decor.
Summer remained near the bar, smirking at me when I glanced at her. I turned forward and inspected the mahogany flooring. I noticed crumbs under two tables near the stage, so I went behind the bar to grab the broom.
“Who had floor duty tonight?”
Summer pursed her lips while walking over to me. “Keep in mind, it’s only his second week.”
“Keith,” I groaned while cleaning up his section. “Sunny, you can’t protect him forever.”
Not too long ago, Mel all but begged me to give his cousin a job at the lounge.
It took me a while to consider it, but thanks to Summer’s insistence on giving him a chance, I caved in and hired him.
Keith had recently turned twenty-one and needed the extra income after losing an internship at a prestigious finance firm in Baltimore.
I knew from his first day that he wouldn’t last long.
If it weren’t for Mel being one of my closest friends, and Summer constantly vouching for Keith, I would've let him go already.
Ray’s had a reputation for having great service, good vibes, and unique entertainment. And I wouldn't let anyone ruin our prestige or my dad’s legacy.
“He’s going through a lot right now with midterms and commuting.”
“Come on, Sunny. Keith isn’t the kid we used to babysit with Mel as teens. He’s a grown man and needs to be treated like one.”
“All I'm saying is we’ve all been through some shit. Show some compassion.”
Once I finished sweeping, I emptied the contents into a trash can behind the bar.
“I’ll show him compassion after we talk tomorrow.”
I patted my pockets in search of my phone to set a reminder to pull him aside. Once I realized my phone was still in my office, I sighed.
“Nadir,” Summer groaned as I finished inspecting the floors. “I think we should talk about what’s got you in this… funk.”
“I’m not in a funk.” My gaze met hers and I chuckled.
Her mouth twisted. “You’ve been in a mood all day. What is it?”
Summer followed me as I walked to the bar.
Although I didn't need to, I checked the area to make sure it had been disinfected and cleaned. I nodded, not surprised that Kenya and Peyton left the bar spotless. Kenya had been here for nearly seven years. Her bartending skills elevated patrons’ experience at Ray’s.
If only her hardworking nature could rub off on her coworkers, mainly Keith.
“Sunny, I'm not in a funk,” I told her once I finished inspecting the bar.
“Not only are you in a bad mood, but you’re also delusional. Maybe you should take off tomorrow and get some rest or something.”
The humor in her tone didn’t reach her eyes.
A glint of concern flashed in them before turning pensive.
Summer’s phone chimed, offering a welcomed reprieve from this conversation.
While she talked to Ryder, I considered telling her what was up.
The thought was short-lived, I couldn’t vent to Summer about this particular problem.
“Ry’s here,” she said once the call ended. We headed back to the kitchen to retrieve our things. I grabbed Summer’s bag and tossed it over my shoulder. The short walk to the front entrance was silent. Before walking outside Summer grabbed my arm, fixing me with a disconcerting look.
“I don’t need a day off,” I said with a smirk while handing her bag off.
“You haven’t even considered it.”
“Did you consider leaving early?”
Summer sighed. “I needed to stay.”
My eyebrows met as I asked, “Why?”
“Everyone saw you weren’t in the best mood and wanted to steer clear of you tonight. Notice how they barely bothered you once you went to your office?”
All I could do was laugh. “I didn’t notice actually.”
She patted my shoulder. “I hate to be the one to break it to you, but no one wants to be around Grumpy Nadir.”
“I’m good. Tomorrow I’ll be better, trust me.”