My Weakness

by Alison Mello

  “Later,” I say. When he walks away I look back and their chins are dropped.

  “You two are hot together!” Megan shouts.

  “Shut up, let’s go dance!” I stand, ready to hit the dance floor. The girls follow me, and Jonah and Ricky stay back to hang out and watch us dance.

  We head straight for the dance floor and start dancing in our own little circle. The area Logan set us up in has a bouncer right in the corner and I can’t help but think he stuck us here on purpose. The bouncer was probably told to watch us and make sure no one bothers us. I’m not sure how I feel about this. On one hand it’s sweet that he’s looking out for us, and on the other hand I have to wonder if he doesn't trust me after our conversation today and that kind of bothers me. I’m going to ask him about it tonight when we get to his house.

  We get back to our section after dancing a while and find Jonah and Ricky deep in conversation. We are tired and sweaty. We flag Kelly down and she brings us another round of drinks. We all sit down and relax for a few and then I notice Jonah is on one knee in front of Sadie with a box in his hand.

  “I know I screwed up today and you’re mad at me, but please know it was because I was nervous. Sadie, I love you with all my heart and hope you can forgive me. I want to spend my life with you. Will you marry me?” My friend is now crying and nods. Jonah slips the ring on her finger and they stand up and embrace each other.

  Logan comes over with a tray of glasses, and he tells Jonah congrats and that the champagne is on him.

  I’m not too happy with him right now, but this makes me ease up a bit. I’ll be bringing this up later; I don’t want to ruin my friend’s engagement.

  He sits next to me and asks, “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I don’t want to talk about it while our friends are celebrating.”

  “Promise we’ll talk later?” he asks and I nod.

  ***

  Logan

  “Are you ready to go?” I ask Skyler

  I have to admit I’m a bit nervous right now. She seems mad and I have no idea why. While I want to give her a chance to bring it up, at the same time it’s bothering me. She was fine until I came over with the champagne. I wonder if she’s disappointed that I was really busy all night and didn’t have the chance to hang with her more.

  Skyler managed to get Katie to stay so she could introduce her to Shane and they seem to be hitting it off, but I want to get out of here. I kick everyone out of the bar so I can lock up.

  When we get to my car I open the door for her so she can get in, then walk around to the driver’s side to get in myself.

  “Thanks for the VIP section tonight,” she says, looking out the window. “We had a lot of fun.”

  “You’re welcome, Skyler. You can have that section anytime you want. Just let me know and it’s yours.”

  She chuckles to herself and continues to look out the window. I let it go until we get to my place because I want to be able to look at her when we have this conversation.

  We pull up to the building and she lets herself out as the valet approaches. She heads to the door and the doorman opens it. “Good evening, Miss Skyler,” he says.

  “Good evening, Greg,” she replies.

  Greg nods at me. “Mr. Michaels.”

  I nod back. “Good night, Greg.”

  I race to the elevator to keep up with Skyler. The elevator arrives, and the tension is so thick I could cut it with a knife. For the life of me I have no idea what the hell I did wrong, but she’s cute even when she’s pouting and mad. The entire ride to my floor is taken in silence.

  As soon as I close my front door behind us, I take her arm. “Can you tell me what has you so upset? Because I’m totally lost right now.”

  Skyler shakes her head at me. “You have no idea?”

  “No. Are you mad because I had to work and couldn’t hang with you and your friends?”

  “What? No, I’m mad because you had me babysat on the dance floor. I opened up to you today and told you the mistakes I’ve made, and instead of talking to me about it you put a babysitter on me so I won’t dance with anyone.”

  “Skyler, you’re not doing this.”

  “I’m not doing what?” she yells.

  “You’re pushing a fight on us. Why? I did not have a babysitter on you. You were in a section of the club where I had a bouncer. He’s there to make sure things are safe. That is it.”

  She sits on the couch and buries her face in her hands.

  I sit next to her. “I can understand why your thoughts went there, Skyler, but don’t try to break us up before we even have a chance.”

  “Why would you even want me to stay after this?”

  “Sky, we click, don’t you see it? Our schedules are similar, we enjoy the same scene, and we have amazing sex. Why would I want to throw that away over a misunderstanding?”

  “I’m sorry, Logan. I’ll try harder. I told you I’m not good at this.”

  I rub her back to calm her down. “Let’s go to bed. It’s late.”

  Chapter 6

  Logan

  I’m sitting at my desk working when my phone pings. It’s a text from Skyler, and I’m pleasantly surprised. She felt so bad the other night that she’s been trying so hard to make it up to me ever since. Though I keep telling her it’s fine, she hasn’t stopped saying sorry. The text she sent me is a picture of her blowing me a kiss.

  Skyler: Have a good night, can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

  Logan: Don’t work too hard. You’re going to need your energy for tomorrow.

  Skyler: Tell that to my boss at Dugan’s. It’s a Saturday night it will be packed with guys watching sports to escape their wives.

  Logan: Maybe I should hire you to tend bar at my club.

  Skyler: Lol you're funny, you know what I mean.

  Logan: Yup, those lonely bastards get to stare at my sexy woman all night and yes I’m jealous. I want to stare at you all night.

  Skyler: You can tomorrow night and Monday night.

  Logan: and Tuesday night?

  Skyler: Lol. we’ll see. I got to go, Sadie’s here and I need to figure out what we’re doing about her apartment. I think she’s moving in with Jonah.

  Logan: Okay, talk to you later and please think about working for me I’m going to need a new bartender soon.

  I want to send Skyler some flowers to work tonight. I pick up the phone and call a local florist and ask if they can get me two dozen red roses delivered to Dugan’s this evening. She tells me it will cost extra because she’s closing in thirty minutes.

  “That’s fine, my girl is worth it.” I ask her to put a note on a card for me and dictate it to her:

  Missing you and your beautiful smile.

  Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

  xoxo Logan

  The florist promises to have a vase of roses delivered by seven-thirty. I smile, hoping this will put an end to the constant apologies and move my thoughts back to work.

  I’m thinking about promoting Shane after he has had to endure all of Troy’s crap, but first I want to make sure I can nab Troy for the thefts. I have checked the camera several times to make sure it’s working and that no one can tell it’s there. The staff will start to arrive soon and Troy knows he’s a runner tonight, so I’ll be spending a lot of my night keeping an eye on these cameras and working on the contracts for singles night.

  I found a caterer to do the food portion of the night, and their price is quite reasonable. I want to rotate entertainment for that night so I have hired a DJ to play fun but lighter music.

  The club is going to open in about twenty minutes and my staff is busy getting everything ready. The club looks great, the DJ is in his booth, and bouncers are hooking up their ear wigs so they can call for backup if they need it. After walking the floor I call my bartenders over.

  “Okay guys. Shane and Kelly are on the main bar and Josh and Kendra are working the second bar with Troy as a runner.” I let them know that I’m i
mpressed with how hard everyone is working and remind them Troy will be available if they need back up at their bar or if they are low on any supplies they are to call him.

  Jonah comes over the ear wig to let everyone know there is a line down the block outside and he’s ready to open when we are. My team is ready. I tell them to get back to their bars, and I give Jonah the all clear to open the doors. I whistle up to my DJ, give him a thumbs up, and the music kicks on.

  In no time my club is filling up and I’m pumped. I love seeing people flow through that door excited to chill with their friends and have a great night. My club is clean and has already built a reputation. I’m strict on my dress code and my bouncers take no crap. I want my club to feel comfortable and be a safe place for people to have a good time. I’m happy with what’s going on out on the floor and head back to my office.

  When I get to my office I have one ear wig set up on my desk that has everyone’s conversations flowing and I have one that I’m talking only with Jonah on. He’s now on the floor as a roamer so he can back up any of his bouncers but also meet me at the back room if I need him. I have the camera in there running on one screen and a few other cameras on the others. I purposely picked cameras I thought would catch Troy going from the back room to wherever he’s stashing his stolen merchandise.

  When Shane requests a bottle of Grey Goose over the ear wig, Troy responds that he’s on it and heads to the back. I give Jonah a heads up that he’s going to the back room but to stay discreet. I see Troy walk into the back room, he grabs the Grey Goose, signs it out, and returns to the bar with it.

  I start working on some promotional signs for singles night because I want to get them to the printer so we can run live with it the week after school starts. I’m promoting it with a variety of entertainment, but some signs will have Sky’s name on it as a live singer. There will be postcards handed out at the door in two weeks as people are leaving and a huge sign will be in the window outside the club. Additionally, I’m running a radio ad on the popular radio stations around here. I have learned promotions are the most important part of this business.

  “Logan, you there?” Jonah asks in my ear.

  “Yeah, what’s up?”

  “Did you hear anyone call for liquor on your other radio?”

  “No, nobody has called for liquor.”

  “Troy is heading to the back.”

  “Okay, hang tight a second.”

  I watch the camera and I see Troy appear. He takes two bottles, writes something in the log book, and heads back out. “He’s leaving. Which way is he going?”

  “He’s heading to the second bar but walked past it to the employee area.”

  “Okay, follow him at a distance. I want to know where the fuck he’s stashing it.”

  “I’m right behind him.”

  “I’m heading to the back. I want to see what he wrote.”

  I walk out to the floor in almost a jog. I go to bar two first. “Do you guys need anything?” Both bartenders shake their heads and I continue on to bar one. “Shane! Are you guys all set?” He nods and I head to the back. I unlock the door and sure enough there are two bottles signed out as broken. This guy is a fucking idiot if he didn’t think I would catch on. I press the button on my ear wig. “Jonah, where are you?”

  “I’m watching Troy. He’s drinking in the employee area straight from the bottle. He stashed the other one in his locker. I even recorded it with my phone.”

  “I’m on my way. He’s out of here.”

  I run to the back, and sure as shit Troy is sitting on the floor drinking vodka straight from the bottle. “Those are ‘broken.’ Are you sure you should be drinking from them?” I say, scaring the shit out of him.

  “I can explain,” Troy says, standing up hastily. “It wasn’t me the other times. I needed a pick me up tonight.”

  “A pick me up? You stole from me. If you needed a pick me up, you should have bought a drink and brought it to the back, although that would have gotten you fired too because there’s no drinking on the clock and you’re wasted.”

  “I swear this is the first time I drank on the clock, Logan.”

  “I don’t care. Every time a bottle is signed out broken it’s your writing, and any night you’re not here there aren’t any broken bottles. I have video of you going into the back room, removing the bottles, signing them out as broken, then sneaking back here to drink them. I’ve already called the cops and asked them to come to the employee entrance of the club. Consider yourself terminated, and I’ll be deducting all the alcohol you stole from your final paycheck.”

  There is a bang on the back door, and Jonah heads over to open it. Sure enough there are two cops standing there and I know one of them.

  “Hey, Mr. Michaels, how’s it going?” He shakes my hand.

  “Good, John. Listen, I need you guys to take this piece of shit out of my club. He’s been stealing from me and he’s wasted right now.”

  John shakes his head at Troy. “Do you have proof?” he asks me.

  “I do and I’ll be happy to get it for you. Do you want it right now?”

  “Nah, I’ll come by tomorrow and check out what you have while the bar is closed. He’ll be in a cell all weekend anyway so we have until Monday.”

  “Cool. Here’s my card. Give me a shout tomorrow and I’ll meet you here whatever time you want, but do me a solid and try to make it after 11:00 please. I’ll be here until 2:00am.”

  “Yeah sure, no problem. See you tomorrow.”

  The cops leave and I turn to Jonah. “That was awesome! You kicked some serious ass tonight.”

  “It was your plan, Logan. I just stuck to it. I have the entire thing recorded on my cell.”

  I shake his hand and nod. “Yeah, well that earned you a promotion to head bouncer. You, my friend, are now in charge of our bouncing crew and will be responsible for hiring your own people.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Dead serious. It’s time I start to build a team that will let me back off a little, and I want you to be a part of it. Don’t say anything yet. I’ll announce it tonight after closing.”

  “No problem! Thanks, Logan. I promise I won’t let you down.”

  “Alright, get back to work.”

  ***

  Skyler

  I walk into Dugan’s and I can’t stop thinking about Logan’s offer to come work for him. While I know I could handle the crowd, and that has always been more of the scene I want to work in, I would have to prove myself so that the others won’t think I got the job because I’m dating Logan. Part of me doesn’t give a shit because I know I can hold my own. I’m going to sing there periodically anyway so it would be nice to do everything in one club. And I wouldn’t have to wear this stupid ass shirt anymore.

  I walk behind the bar and talk to Megan about what we need for the night and how it has been so far. She gets here at 6:00, but I don’t have to be here until 7:00. She gives me a list of what we need from the back so I head off to get it. I also notice we are low on some of the fruits we need for the bar, so I restock that too. We mainly use lemons and limes because we don’t make too many fruity drinks in here, but I get to work on washing them and cutting them so we are set for the night.

  A woman appears in front of me with a bouquet of roses, and I look up.

  “Excuse me,” she says, “I’m looking for Skyler.”

  “I’m Skyler.”

  “Well, Skyler, you have yourself a very sweet boyfriend. These are for you.” I sign for them and pull out the card.

  Meghan comes over. “What’s it say?”

  I show her the card, and she reads it out loud: ‘Missing you and your beautiful smile. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. xoxo Logan.’

  “Ooh, somebody has it bad. I mean come on, you just spent Friday night with him, right?”

  I nod, smiling ear to ear. “He’s so sweet to me and we have so much fun together. I have it pretty bad for him too.”

  “Hey, Sky, I’
m glad your love life is going well and all, but can I get a beer?”

  I roll my eyes and head to my end of the bar to get Sammy his beer.

  When I return with it, he laughs and says, “Thanks, sweet thang.”

  I hate that they have nicknamed me that in this bar, and that gives me one more reason to leave. The only person who can give me a pet name is Logan and he calls me by my full name. Funny thing is, I hate my full name coming from anybody else, but for some reason I don’t mind when he says it. Actually, I kind of like it.

  Thinking of Logan, I send him a quick text.

  Skyler: Thank you for the roses. They are beautiful and yes you made me blush when they were delivered. Meg says you got it bad ya know.

  I tuck my phone in my back pocket and get back to wiping down the bar. Meg and I try to keep everything as clean as possible as the night goes on so we won’t have too much to do at the end of the night. The last thing I want to do at two am is clean a bunch of cups and bar tops. My phone vibrates in my back pocket. I have to ignore it for a moment because a few more guys walked in to watch the game and I want to serve them first. I get them their drinks and set them up on the tab they requested before I check my phone.

  Logan: I think she’s right. Have you thought about what I said earlier?

  Skyler: Yes I have and yes I want in. I’m done with this place.

  I put my phone away because if my boss sees me he may send me home. Although I could go work for Logan next week, that isn’t how I want to leave. I’m talking with patrons and making drinks, and as the night goes on the place has become standing room only. I have no time to stop or breathe. I tell Meg I’m running to the back for some stuff and that I’ll be right back. On my way to the back some drunken guy grabs my ass.

  I stop and turn around. “Keep your hands to yourself.”