“I really enjoyed it,” I told her eagerly. “It was fun, once I got the hang of it. And Ron and Gavin are really nice.”

She grinned. “Good. Yeah, they are. That’s why I thought tonight would be a good night for you to try it out. Ron’s great at keeping people calm. He’s actually my boyfriend.”

I perked up. “Is he? He seems like a great guy. He did keep me calm.”

Her big, sharp-toothed grin was affectionate. “I’ll let him know. He’ll be pleased.”

Glancing back at the desk, she picked up a white envelope and held it out. “Your pay for tonight.”

When she didn’t mention me getting the job, I couldn’t stop my shoulders from sagging in despair. Stepping forward, I pasted on a smile and took the envelope. “Thank you so much.”

Blinking fast as my eyes started to burn, I hurriedly grabbed my coat and slipped it on. Mani laughed, straightening up from the desk.

“Hold up, Beryl. You need to tell me if you want the job or not.”

I froze, staring at her. “Huh?”

She gestured at the door. “You did great. I think you’ll fit in well here. You’re efficient, fast but not sloppy. You’re polite and friendly to the customers, but I can already tell you won’t put up with the drunk assholes who get too mouthy, which you absolutely don’t have to. If you want the job, it’s yours.”

Oh my god. Gulping down a breath, I nodded quickly. “Yes. I’d love to take the job. Thank you.”

“Awesome.” Mani grinned at me, then gestured at the computer monitor on the desk. “I’m going to do next week’s shift schedule tomorrow, so if you can start next week, I’ll get you in there.”

“I can start as soon as you need me to,” I said quickly.

“Great. Well, this week’s schedule is already done, so it’ll most likely be Monday that you’ll start properly. That okay?”

“Yes, sure. Of course.” I swallowed. “Thank you so much, Mani.”

“No problem. I’m looking forward to having you on the team. I’ll text over your shifts sometime later in the week, and I might be in touch for a last-minute shift if anyone calls in sick. You don’t have to say yes, but—”

“I can do that,” I said eagerly. “If anyone calls in sick, I’ll be happy to come in. I only live around the corner, so I can get here quickly.”

Mani chuckled, patting me on the shoulder as she headed for the door. “Trust me, babe, you won’t be so eager in a few months. But I appreciate it. Now go home and relax. Or if you want a drink on the house—”

“No, it’s okay, thank you.” I smiled at her. “My… friend is waiting for me outside.”

“No worries. Another time.” She opened the door. “Oh, text me your email address so I can send over your contract. See you later, Beryl.”

Must remember to ask Greid to help me set up an email address.

“Okay, will do. Bye.” I grinned at her and waved at Gavin and Ron as I slipped through the crowd to the doors.

The cold air outside prickled my cheeks after the humidity in the bar, but I was instantly distracted when I saw Greid leaning against the wall of the closed bakery next door, his dark face illuminated as he stared down at his phone.

He glanced over, and when he saw it was me, his face lit up as he straightened from the wall and pocketed his phone. He was wearing a long woollen coat over jeans and a sweater that looked soft and worn. He looked so handsome. And familiar. And safe. All I wanted to do was bury myself against him and breathe him in.

But when we met on the sidewalk, and I tipped my head back to grin up at him, I realised—no. That wasn’t all I wanted to do.

I wanted to kiss him. So bad.

“How did it go?” he asked, and my eyes locked onto his mouth before I forced myself to look away.

“I got the job,” I told him, beaming so wide my cheeks hurt.

Greid’s yellow eyes flared in the streetlights before he wrapped his arms around me and yanked me into his chest, squeezing me tight.

A second later, I felt him stiffen against me. “Uh, sorry, is this oka—”

“Yes,” I interrupted, squishing my cheek against his warm sweater.

“I’m so happy for you, Beryl,” he said hoarsely, then stepped back but kept his hands on my shoulders. “I hope you’re proud of yourself.”

“I am.” I realised my fingers were curled into his sweater, so I reluctantly let go. “I start officially on Monday.”

Shoving my hand into my coat pocket, I pulled out the envelope. “And look! I got paid. I can buy us dinner tonight.”

He grinned and shook his head as we started heading down the street. “No way. I’m getting it to congratulate you. Do you want to try the champagne tonight? To celebrate?”

“Yes.” What I really wanted to do was hold his hand, but they were stuffed in the pockets of his coat as we walked side by side. “Does that mean you’re not gonna smoke tonight? If you’re drinking?”

“Nah, I won’t smoke.” He was silent for a moment. “Well, maybe.”

I laughed, swaying into him to nudge his arm with my shoulder. When he grinned down at me, the artificial light from the streetlights sliding over his hair and making his yellow eyes gleam, my insides throbbed with dizzying warmth and excitement.

In that moment, it had nothing to do with how proud and happy I was over what I’d achieved tonight. How everything felt like it was finally clicking into place, and I was actually forging a new life for myself.

It had everything to do with him.

OceanofPDF.com

Chapter Twenty-Three

Greid

“How’s it looking?” I asked, trying to keep my head perfectly still as I watched the TV.

I was sitting on the floor in front of the couch and Beryl was behind me, perched on the edge as she messed with my hair. She’d told me she wanted to put it into space buns. Obviously, I couldn’t say no to her.

Getting to feel her small fingers running through my hair was just a bonus. My face spikes flexed in a gentle, continuous wave from the pleasure. Her warm thighs were bracketing my sides, and I had my arms hooked over them so she wouldn’t have to spread her legs stupidly wide for me to fit between them.

I didn’t want to move, ever. This was heaven.

She grunted, trying to secure one of the buns. “Your hair is really slippery.”

I chuckled. “Slippery?”

“It’s like, the most perfectly conditioned hair I’ve ever seen in my life. You could side-gig as a model for shampoo commercials. Do you use hair masks?”

“Yeah, sometimes I’ll do a hair and face mask.”

“Can we do them together?”

I grinned. “Yeah, of course. I also have those really good pimple patches. Not that you get pimples.”

“I get pimples. I’ve got one right now.” She leaned down until her face appeared right beside mine and pointed at her chin. “See?”

My breath caught as I turned my head, my eyes almost crossing as I tried to focus on the little red pimple on her chin from so close. Her mouth was right there. Clearing my throat, I said, “Oh.”

“That means my period’s on its way,” she said with a sigh, leaning back and raking her fingers through my hair again.

I quickly tried to catalogue what was in the millions of boxes in my Room of Shame. “I might have a hot water bottle you can use when you get it.”

“Thanks, Greid,” she said with a smile in her voice, squeezing my shoulders before returning to my hair. “Sure you’re not bored sitting there? This is harder than I thought it’d be.”

“No, I’m fine,” I said quickly. Please don’t stop playing with my hair. “Totally comfortable.”

“Good. Oh shit, I missed what Ashi just said.”

I focused on the TV. “She told Huna that she’s going out for dinner with her girlfriends, but she’s actually going to meet Golir for a sexy rendezvous.”