Time and Time Again(2)

“Thank you,” I reply, clutching his shirt to my chest. “I really need this job.”

“What’s your name, sweetheart?” he asks, studying me.

“Clara.”

“Clara,” he repeats. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I swallow hard. Could it really be that easy?

I didn’t have anything to lose; that was for sure. A bar was a safe, public place, so nothing could go wrong.

I watch as Tag swaggers away, probably unaware that he just made my year. Smiling to myself, I head to the bus stop.

Maybe my bad luck was about to change.

*****

It’s a Thursday night, so I don’t anticipate the bar being too busy.

I was wrong.

Feeling nervous, I fiddle with the sleeve of my black t-shirt as I enter the bar, my gaze scanning the establishment. When I see Tag serving at the bar, I walk in his direction. He smiles when he sees me, calming my nerves a little.

“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?”