“Clara,” he says. “Wait there just a second.”
He serves two more customers then returns to me. “Spoke to my boss. Are you looking for day shifts or night?”
I look around. “It’s open during the day?”
He nods. “Reid and Ryan just turned it into a bar slash restaurant during the day, so it’s open from nine AM until late.”
“Either is fine,” I reply. I’ll take anything I can get.
“But you would prefer…?”
“Day…,” I say, quickly adding, “but night works too though.” Catching a bus home at night isn’t exactly ideal, but I’ll do it if I have to. I won’t even complain.
Tag’s eyes narrow almost imperceptibly, but he nods once. “Day shifts would be Tuesday to Saturday, nine until four. Would that work for you?”
I nod, trying not to jump for joy. “That would be perfect.”
“How old are you?” he asks, tilting his head to the side and thrumming his fingers on the bar countertop. “I probably should have asked that already. Fuck, I’m a shit interviewer.”
I try and hide my grin. “I’m twenty.”
His eyebrows rise. “That’s… young.”
“Why? How old are you?” I ask. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s twenty-four, but I’ve never been good at that sort of thing.
“Twenty-six,” he replies, lifting his chin and saying hello to a customer as he walks by the bar. “So you can start tomorrow, if you like. Wear all black, and bring in your bank details for me tomorrow. Any questions?”
I shake my head. “No, I’m good.”
I watch as a beautiful woman walks up behind Tag. He looks down at her and wraps an arm around her.
“Summer, this is Clara, our new employee. Clara, this is the boss’s wife, Summer.”
“Nice to meet you,” I tell her, flashing a smile that she returns.
“Welcome to the mad house,” she says, giggling. “Tag, you can have a smoke break if you want.”
He nods. “Good idea.”
He steps out from behind the bar and nods his head towards the exit. “You sticking around for a drink or going home?”
“Going home,” I reply.
“Come on then. I’ll walk you out.”
I say bye to Summer then follow Tag outside. He leans back against the building wall, one foot up in a casual position. Pulling out a packet of cigarettes, he lights one up and takes a drag. I check out the tattoos covering his arms, wondering what each one means to him.
“You smoke?” he asks.
“No. I better get going.”
He nods and glances over the car park. “Which ride is yours?”
My cheeks heat, but I don’t know why. I’m sure many people my age don’t own a car. “I took the bus.”
He drops his leg from the wall, his eyes darting to me. “Why didn’t you say something? I would have picked you up.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s five o’clock. I still have an hour or so before the sun goes down. I’ll be fine.”
“Fuck that,” he murmurs. “How far do you live from here?”
“About fifteen minutes. Not too bad.”
“I’ll give you a ride. Stay here,” he demands, putting out his cigarette on the wall and throwing it in the trash. He then heads back inside the bar. Rubbing my arms, I wait a minute before he returns, keys in his hand.
“Come on, Clara,” he says, nodding his head towards a white four wheel drive. “If you ever need a ride, let me know, okay? I’ll give you one home after work too. I’d take you in the morning, but I have to drop my daughter off at school tomorrow and then you would be late.”
My head snaps to him. “You have a daughter?”
I don’t know why, but that little fact surprises me.
He unlocks the car with the press of a button then opens the driver’s side door. “I do.”
Is he married? I ignore any disappointment I feel because it has no reason to be here.
My apartment isn’t in the best neighbourhood, but it isn’t in the worst either. It is a small, one bedroom unit. To most, it may not seem like much, but it’s clean and it works for me. I have some awesome neighbours too.
“I know these apartments,” Tag says, glancing up at them through the window. “Knew a girl who lived here.”
I could only imagine how he “knew” her.
“Thanks for the ride. You didn’t have to, but I appreciate it.”
He rests one hand on the steering wheel and turns his body to me. “Couldn’t let a pretty thing like you go home by yourself.”
I roll my eyes at him. “I’ve managed thus far.”
His mouth twitches. “Never heard a woman say ‘thus’ before. Do you want me to walk you in?”
“I think I can manage,” I reply in a dry tone that makes him laugh.
“Give me your phone.”
I hand him my phone, and he presses buttons. “Now you have my number. Call me if you need anything, alright?”
I nod. “Sure. Thanks again.”
I get out and close the door, making sure not to slam it. When I walk up the first floor’s stairs to my door, I turn to see him still waiting there for me to enter. I open the door then turn to wave at him. Only then does he pull out of the car park. Smiling to myself, I lock the door behind me.