Chapter 10
Maren
“You don’t need the Moonshots, Mare. There are plenty of opportunities waiting, plus your end goal is to choreograph on Broadway. I’m not really even sure this would have been a step in the right direction,” Sadie tries to reassure me.
“That’s bullshit, and you know it.” I take a long breath, “I appreciate the unwavering support, but let’s be real.
This job was exactly a step in the right direction.
You even said so. While the level of complexity in the routines is far from the same, choreographing for baseball players is the challenge I needed.
Not to mention, it’s a high profile job. ”
“Well, you are good at what you do, you don’t need it.” She smiles, but even I can tell she doesn’t believe her own words.
I grab my coffee off the counter at Base & Bean and kiss Sadie on the cheek. “I’ll see you after I get off.”
My walk from Base & Bean to Ruby’s is short, but today I wish it was a little longer. The air in Mango Bay is crisp and warm, and I can smell the saltwater in the air. The street is long and straight, with hills that rival San Francisco, making for the perfect amount of cardio before a shift.
The sky is slightly overcast, and days like this are my favorite, because it makes the bright colors of the various shiplap buildings pop against the sky.
When I walk into Ruby’s, the cool air outside is making the perfect breeze inside the open space.
“Sugar Plum, you look like you’re having the best day,” Ruby yells over the music when she sees me.
“I am, it’s beautiful outside today.” I lie before taking a small sip of my iced coffee and then setting it on the counter behind the bar and clock in. Glad my face isn’t showing the frustration and disappointment inside.
“Lucky you,” she smiles. “I saved the patio for you. Looks like you’ll be able to enjoy the day a little more.”
“Thanks,” I offer her one more smile before making my way to my section to check on a table that was being sat as I walked in.
“Honey,” she calls after me.
“Yeah?”
“How’d that interview thing go?” Her expression is full of mixed emotion.
I know she wanted me to get the job, but was also dreading having to hire a new waitress.
“It went well, until two of the guys started causing a little bit of drama, and the owner offered the job to the other candidate.” I sigh.
“Not meant to be, baby girl, but I’m very sorry.” She has a way of offering comfort without even trying.
The bulk of my shift flies by, and I’m looking forward to my date with my couch and new book, until I realize that’s not an option tonight.
The bar is slammed after the Moonshot game gets out, and Ruby looks more stressed than usual. Today they were giving away raffle tickets to fans for a meet and greet. It’s not something they do often, but when they do, the crowd is huge.
“Ruby, do you want me to stay for the night shift?” I ask, knowing she can use the help and I can use the extra cash.
“Oh, that would be amazing, sweets. I’ll rearrange the floor so you can keep the same section.”
My date with a book will have to wait.
“I’d love that,” I tell her.
My phone vibrates just as the words fall from my mouth. I pull it out of my apron pocket and see Moonshot Associates on my screen.
What the fuck do they want?
I watch the call intently, my stomach swirling in knots, a churning pit of nerves and bitterness.
My teeth clench and my palms become sweaty as I watch the number disappear.
A few seconds later I see that whoever called starts leaving a voicemail.
The transcription immediately fills my screen and I see that it’s Horner Banks.
Looks like I made a mistake. Please give me a call when you get this. The words sting.
“Hey, Ruby,” I say, closing the voicemail transcription, “ I’m going to go take a quick break and grab a little snack before I head back to my tables.”
“Go ahead, sugar. I’ll go check on them,” she tells me and her voice is so soothing and just what I need at this moment, and she doesn’t even know it.
Could I call him back? Yes.
Will I? Fuck no. He can suck a tit right now.
Instead I pick up the phone and call Sadie. She answers on the first ring. Of course she does. She knows if I am calling her in the middle of a shift, it’s important.
“Mare!” Her tone is urgent.
“Hey. I just got a call from Horner Banks. He said he made a mistake.”
“Holy shit. What did you say?”
“Nothing, I read the voicemail as he left it.” I take a deep breath to calm my nerves.
“Interesting.” She responds.
At first I think that's all she has to say. There is a long pause before either one of us starts talking again. I guess she knows I’m at a loss, so she takes the lead, and her next words catch me off guard.
“They can’t just suck a tit, Mare.” I chuckle, she knows me too well.
“You wanted this job. You need it to move in the direction you want to move in. You said so yourself.”
“Well, aren’t we fickle?” I joke before changing my tone. “Nothing he can say to me is going to make me cave and take a pity job offer.” I try to sound firm, but my voice wavers. We both know I’m lying.
“Mare.” This time my name leaves her mouth in a stern tone, not an ounce of compassion or understanding for my current situation.
“I know… I won’t be stupid. I promise.” I take another rapid breath, “But that motherfucker is going to earn me.”
“Damn right he is.” I can hear the smile in her voice. “Call him tomorrow after you’ve had a second to sit with your feelings.”
“Good idea,” I respond. “I’ll be home late, by the way. I’m working an extra shift. It’s a madhouse.”
“I’ll grab some wine,” she says as she hangs up the phone.
I grab a granola bar from my bag and scarf it down before heading back to work.
“I’m back.” I call over to Ruby.
“Ok.” She smiles at me. “You have a new table. I got them some drinks, so they should be ready to order some food… oh, and they are some mighty fine Moonshot players.”
My stomach drops. This is the last thing I need right now.
Don’t be a bitch. Don’t be a bitch. I give myself a little pep talk all the way to their table.
“Hey guys. What can I get you?” I ask, pasting on my best fake smile.
“Hi, gorgeous.” Jax’s voice is sultry and smooth, and his words, though meant to be flirtatious, are comforting and make my shoulders relax.
“Hi.” Oscar adds. “Hey, can we—”
I cut him off, not interested in whatever else he has to say. “What can I get you?”
Jax cuts the awkwardness with his smooth tone again.“Can we get some apps? Bring us three of your favorites.”
He smiles at me, and Oscar is staring a hole in the side of his face. If looks could kill, Jax would be dead where he sits. The tension makes me stutter a beat when I finally find my voice.
“Su–sure thing.” I turn away to place their order, walking as fast as my feet will move me.
About 15 minutes later, I return with a tray of steak meatballs, creamy crab dip with veggies and warm bread, and sweet potato fries to their table.
I set the food down, and the smile that Oscar tries to stifle is intoxicating.
I can’t help myself. “See something you like there, Grouch?”
“I’m just a little impressed, that's all. I was expecting you to bring pretzel bites and guac. Something a little more generic than this.”
“Yeah, I bet that’s what a guy like you is used to when it comes to women. Generic. Sounds about right.”
Oscar opens his mouth to respond but Jax beats him to it.
“Thanks for the food, Maren.”
When I look back in Oscar’s direction, his weak smile accompanied by his piercing green eyes, makes my stomach erupt in butterflies.
He’s the enemy, I remind myself as I back away from the table.
“Hey, Oscar and I are having some people over tomorrow after the game. You should come by. Bring a friend, and hang out.” Jax says over the noise.
“Maybe.” I smile, not wanting to hurt his feelings but unwilling to commit to spending any more time with the douche canoe sitting next to him. Even if he does delicious things to my insides.
An hour later, the entire team is gone, and the section they were occupying is being cleaned up and put back together for the next round of guests. Based on the chatter at the door, sitting in the section the team was just in is quite the honor and everyone wants it.
“Sugarplum, do you mind going to the back and getting me a few limes and a new jar of olives?” Ruby asks when I walk past her on my way to the kitchen.
“Of course.”
It takes me no time to gather the things she asked for so I’m surprised to see Oscar standing at the end of the bar when I return. My surprise turns to confusion when I notice Jax waiting in the background at the door.
Oscar takes both the jar of olives and bag of limes from me and hands them to Ruby. He then replaces them with a latte from Base & Bean. His fingers brush mine as I take the cup and the contact causes goosebumps run over my skin.
“I thought you could use a coffee. Ruby mentioned that you volunteered to pick up a double shift when we got here earlier.”
I’m speechless, so all I can do is stare at him. Then I look at Jax, who just offers me an encouraging smile.
“Anyways, I um… I’m sorry about the confusion with Horner. He’s supposed to call you and work everything out.”
Ruby clears her throat behind him, and when I look at her she mouths, “Tell him thank you.”
“Thank you,” I say, still unable to wrap my head around the gesture. “This was really sweet of you.”
He nods in response, and turns towards the door.
That’s it. He walked in, tilted my reality, and walked out.
Maybe he is more than a broken heart.
I’ve been sitting on the porch outside our apartment, sipping my coffee and contemplating what in the hell my game plan is when I decide to call Horner this morning.
Hard to get. That’s the game plan.
I pick up the phone and to my surprise he answers on the first ring.
“Hello, this is Horner Banks,” I can hear the tension in his voice from here.
“Hi Horner, this is Maren.” I keep it short, because he called me, and knows I’m returning his call.
“Good morning. What are the odds you can choreograph a walk up for Rikki, 15 second parade dance for the team, and a field dance before noon? That will give the guys a solid 5 hours to learn it and practice before tonight’s game.”
Between his frantic tone, the audacity, and my nerves, my heart and brain can’t process through the whiplash I’m currently experiencing. But the audacity is what sticks with me.
“Excuse me?” My response is clipped and cold.
“We have a game tonight,” he says almost as if I’m an idiot.
“I have the schedule. I’m just not sure what that has to do with me,” I chirp back.
“I told you in the message, I made a mistake.”
“Yes, you did.” I let my words linger.
“I’m sorry. I got ahead of myself. We’d love it if you would come work for us.” His tone softens and this is the man I met when I first applied.
“Horner, that is a lot to expect of someone on short notice.”
“We will compensate you for the inconvenience,” he adds.
“Not to put too fine a point on things, but just a few days ago I wasn’t worthy of the chance.
And now, because you’re in a bind, you expect that I will just fall at your feet.
That’s not the type of employee I am, Horner.
I need to know exactly what compensation looks like before I will agree to anything. ”
“To be honest, this entire scandal with Tatum and Rafael has made things very delicate for the program, so when it appeared there was tension involving Oscar again, I had to pass. It was nothing against you… But it was a nightmare.” He goes silent.
That makes a lot of sense, actually. “Let’s talk terms,” I suggest.
“$60,000 and all travel expenses paid as we originally discussed, plus a $10,000 signing bonus.”
“Horner, with that salary, I would have to work this job and still maintain shifts at Ruby’s to afford life here in Mango Bay.
I was willing to do that before, but I have a few applications out that would allow me the luxury of one job.
I can’t commit to that now. Things have changed. I’m sorry bu—”
“Give me a number.” His request is quicker than I expected.
I think for a moment, questioning if the numbers I rolled around in my head before I called are too high.
Fuck that. I know what I’m worth, and he needs me right now, not the other way around.
“$80,000, all travel expenses paid. Plus a $5,000 signing bonus, and throw in an extra $1,500 paid on my first check for the last minute choreography for tonight’s game. ”
I wait, fully expecting him to negotiate.
The lowest I’m willing to go is $70,000 and $1,000 for tonight. It’s not ideal pay, but it’s worth the doors it will open for me.
My heart stops when he responds, and I question if I’m hearing him right.
“Deal. I’ll send over the choreography we need for tonight, so you have a list of what we need for every game. But I’m still throwing in the signing bonus. It was a part of the initial contract.”
“$80,000 plus a signing bonus, travel expenses, and $1,500?” It comes out as a question, but I need to confirm that I heard.
“Yes. I’ll see you at noon.”
“See you at noon.” I sound completely calm and collected, surprising myself because inside, I feel like a hot mess.