Page 9 of Deviant
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It’s only a Wednesday night, but there has been a steady stream of customers. Nothing too overbearing, but enough that I’m getting a good introduction to what’s expected of me. Ian explains that I won’t be the lead behind the bar. I’ll be more of an assistant. Wine, beer, shots, and basic mixed drinks.
I’m not offended by his curt declaration. There’s no way I could make most mixed drinks at the speed he does, let alone remember all of them like a catalog in my head. I appreciate the designation. I can pour the fuck out of some beer or liquor, and that’s good enough for me.
“You good?” Ian asks me while cleaning up a set of glasses in the bar sink.
“Yep! All good here. What can I do now?” I question, since there is a lull now.
“Yea, it won’t pick back up for a while. That was mostly the after-work crew. They’ll trickle out before eight.” What he says makes sense. The lights are still mostly on, just slightly dim, and the music is low. It functions as a standard bar right now, albeit an upscale one with its darkened walls and opulent fixtures. Rich art déco designs coating the walls glow once the lights go all the way out.
I don’t know how my dad came up with this design, but it works, and the whole place transforms into the Onyx Club after eight o’clock hits. The main lights go out, flooding the place with only the black lights, and the music turns up and changes.
I’ve only seen it a handful of times and never when it’s actually open to the public, but I always remember the first time I saw it. Dad brought me here while some work was being done by contractors, and they tested it. I was in awe of everything I saw and couldn’t wait until I was old enough to frequent clubs.
The joke is on me because once I turned twenty-one, I fully understood that not all clubs or bars are created equal. Most of them are boring or basic. There isn’t any place in the city like Onyx and for obvious reasons, I don’t come here to let loose. It also doesn’t help that I hate going over to Morgan Creek because then we have to ride share home, and it takes too long. I get cranky.
Ian directs me to cut more limes than even I think are necessary and to start wiping everything down and front-facing bottles as we make small talk. Time passes quickly between the prep tasks, the talking, and the occasional person walking up to the bar.
I watch as the shot girls start to come out in their Onyx branded tank tops and black shorts over fishnet stockings before looking down at my own outfit.
“Do I need to wear that?” He looks up and shakes his head.
“Not if you don’t want to. More leeway behind the bar. The tank top for sure you can, but we have shirts as well. Actually, pretty much like the one you are wearing right now except for the brand on it. You’re good in your jeans and sneakers, though,” he tells me nonchalantly. I want to fit in, so I just turn and arch my brow at him.
He huffs, knowing what I want, “Size?” I falter for a minute, not because I’m exactly embarrassed, because I’m not. My size is my size, and I’ve learned over the years that my value isn’t determined by the size of my clothes.
My size also has never stopped me from getting attention from some of the finest men to walk planet Earth in my opinion.
“Extra-large for the shorts, probably. I’m definitely not wearing those tonight because I don’t have any stockings, and these thighs rubbing together with no barrier is a call for disaster. No, thank you. Large for the tank top and the shirt.” He just rolls his eyes at me, but I noticed his gaze drifting to my legs when I mentioned my thighs. I don’t blame him; I would have also if the roles were reversed. Friend-zone, but I’m not dead.
He walks away and comes back five minutes later with the items in cute little bags with the Onyx logo on them. I honestly didn’t expect that, hell I didn’t expect them to be in a bag, not even one of those plastic ones. Okay, Dad, I see you. Branding on everything.
I duck out behind the bar and head to the bathroom before pulling my shirt off. One of the shot girls walks in and eyes me up and down before smirking, “Nice tits.” I just grin back at her.
“Same to you. Pierced?” I can see the barbells poking out of her top, and her bra is thin enough to not conceal any of it.
I’m tugging on my own Onyx tank top while she hums a yes.
Looking in the mirror, I swipe my fingers under my eyes, cleaning up any of the mascara and eyeliner that has smudged until I look more put together.
“I’m Naila. We saw you behind the bar with Ian.”
“October. First night on the job and we’re just friends. Girl code.” She nods like she knows exactly what I’m talking about.
“Yea, we kind of picked up on it because there’s no way he could resist you. I barely can and that’s only because we don’t shit where we eat, ya know?” A flood of something enters my system. Desire, sure, but something else. I don’t even know what to call it, but it’s that feeling when a beautiful woman compliments you and is sincere. It’s heady but uplifting. It gives me a boost in confidence, which I’m not entirely lacking in.
Naila is beautiful. Curly, dark hair and warm brown eyes, along with her olive skin, remind me of the actress Shay Mitchell who I have a TikTok crush on. I blush a bit, thinking about it. Don’t hold it against me. That woman is fine.
“Colorful choice of words, but I get what you mean. I hope it’s a good night for you tonight, and I’m totally down to be friends with you and the other girls as well. Is that weird? It is, I know it is, but my dad always encouraged my outgoingness, so here I am just inserting myself into your guys’ friend group.” I give her a genuine smile and she just laughs. Throaty and deep before linking her arm with mine.
“You’re gonna get along just fine here with us, October. Just fine. Get your ass back behind the bar, and I’ll come flirt with you later when it picks back up.” We walk out of the bathroom before she gives me a firm smack on my left cheek, sending me on my way.
I think I’ll like working here, if nothing else, I feel like I’m going to grow my friend group and that’s reason enough for me to stay.
CHAPTER4
MAVERICK