by M. Ullrich
Berit leaned back against the bar. She was trying hard not to concentrate on Lauren, but she couldn’t stop looking in that direction. She spotted Lou chatting with Lauren. They were both laughing, which had to be a bad sign. She rushed over. “Lou, Lauren, how’s it going?”
“It’s going great!” Lou’s face was alarmingly bright and cheery.
Lauren was a bit less animated. “I was just telling Lou you offered me a job and how if you had done the same a week ago, I would’ve never accepted.”
“Because her first impression of you was you’re a womanizing dick,” Lou said. Berit’s head fell back, and she let out a long groan.
“I didn’t use those exact words.” Lauren said. “I just said you struck me as someone who’d offer niceties in exchange for favors.”
“Sexual favors,” Lou added. “This is so good. I’m never going to let you forget this.”
“Lauren,” Berit said with a straight face and serious tone, “I’ve never formally introduced you to Lou, my sister.”
Lauren’s face paled. “Oh, my God. Oh, no. I’m so sorry.”
Lou waved her off. “It’s nothing I’ve never heard before.”
Berit rolled her eyes.
“Seriously,” Lou said. “I haven’t laughed that hard in a long while.”
Berit watched the confusion on Lauren’s face as she looked between them and smiled knowingly. No one would pin them as sisters. Lou was on the darker end of the spectrum, with brown hair and eyes. She had a longer, skinny nose and thinner lips than Berit, and her hair didn’t have a fraction of the wave Berit’s did.
“Who’s older?” Lauren said.
“Berit is,” Lou said, flicking her thumb in the direction of Berit.
“Do you have any other siblings?”
Berit laughed. “Oh yeah. We’re the two girls, and there’s three boys.”
“Wow,” Lauren said with her mouth slightly agape. “Two out of five are girls, and they’re both gay. That’s something.”
“Oh. I’m not a lesbian.”
Berit made a dismissive hand gesture. “Yes, she is, she just hasn’t accepted it yet.”
“No, I’m not,” Lou said directly to Lauren. “She just hasn’t accepted that yet. Now, if you two will excuse me, I have work to do.”
An easy silence fell over Berit and Lauren. The bar was busy, but not busy enough to tear Berit from Lauren’s company. She was beginning to really enjoy this new easiness blossoming between them. “What about you?” Berit said. “Any siblings?”
“I have a younger brother, Jack, who’s somewhere in the world right now.”
“Is he in the military or something?”
Lauren snickered. “No, not Jack. After my parents’ divorce, my dad went back to England and Jack said he was going with him. He stayed all of two months before deciding world traveling was his thing and took off. We get postcards or rushed phone calls from time to time, but that’s it.”
Berit had so many questions. “Did you say back to England?”
“Yes. I’m originally from Birmingham.”
“I knew I caught a small accent. When did you come here?”
Lauren nodded shyly, and it was adorable. “I was six and Jack was four. He sounds much more American, but his accent will come out from time to time and changes depending on where he’s been. Mine has lingered a bit.”
“I love it,” Berit said dreamily. She stood straight up when she realized what she said. She cleared her throat and stammered through her next question awkwardly. “What did—what caused your family to move here?”
“My dad worked for Boeing, and they offered him a position here. It seemed like a great opportunity and family adventure. My mom loved living here, but my dad missed our life back in Birmingham. That stress eventually drove them apart.” Berit’s eyes softened, and she reached for Lauren’s hand on the bar top. Lauren withdrew. “Wow, what did you say was in these things?” Lauren tapped her empty glass. “I’m talking too much.”
Berit definitely wanted to argue. She wanted to know everything about Lauren. With each layer she learned, she knew another lay just beneath. But Lauren had been through enough that day. Berit wanted to be a source of comfort for her. Berit stared into Lauren’s dark eyes and felt an electric pull, a connection like a string tying around her heart. Lauren stood, prompting Berit to move as well.
“Do you want to stick around for closing? I can show you around and get you comfortable in the space.”
“No,” Lauren said with a shocking amount of force. “I should, uh, I’m going to get going. I’m exhausted after today. When do you want me to start?”
Lauren’s sudden attitude change confused Berit. Perhaps her family was a sore subject. Berit could definitely understand that. “Would tomorrow work for you? I’d like to get you started as soon as possible so your income isn’t affected too dramatically.”
“I really can’t thank you enough, Berit.” Lauren’s smile reached her eyes, which was enough to comfort Berit’s worry.
“That’s what friends are for.” Berit wished Lauren a quick good night and hated that the opportunity for a hug had slipped through her fingers. She scratched the back of her head and walked to her office, ready to lose herself to the prep work that accompanied every new hire.
Chapter Eight
“Okay. What are the things you will absolutely not do today?” Lauren said to her reflection in the small rectangular mirror on the visor of her car. “You will not insult Berit to Lou or Lou to Berit. You will not spill your entire sob story to Berit every time she blinks those damn hazel eyes at you. And you definitely will not flirt. Especially not with Berit.”
Lauren had scared herself the night before. She felt her resolve slip and her chest grew warm when Berit looked at her. A moment of vulnerability had almost shaken her foundation of responsible decisions. Berit was acting true to her word and being an exemplary friend—both a relief and disappointment to Lauren. She’d miss the attention, but now they’d be working together, and a platonic friendship was for the best. Lauren checked her hair one more time before getting out of her car.
Berit had given her vague directions for her first day. She told her to show up at four and that was it. Lauren checked the clock on her phone. She was five minutes early, but other cars were in the parking lot, so she approached the back door to the Dollhouse. The air smelled slightly putrid thanks to a nearby dumpster. Lauren took a deep breath anyway before knocking.
An attractive African American woman opened the door and smiled brightly. Lauren recognized her as a waitress and felt welcomed instantly. “You must be Lauren,” she said. She stuck out her hand and Lauren took it right away. “I’m Bellamy. Berit told me you’d be here at four.” She held open the door for Lauren and locked it once Lauren was inside.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Bellamy. I recognize you from the times I’ve been here. Don’t tell the rest,” Lauren said in a low voice. “You’re one of my favorite servers.”
Bellamy’s smile grew larger, something Lauren thought impossible. “And I have a feeling you’re my new favorite coworker,” Bellamy added with a wink. Her long lashes were hypnotic. Bellamy was the kind of beautiful that made Lauren’s brain slow down. Bellamy placed her hand on Lauren’s shoulder and led her through the back room of the Dollhouse.
Lauren paused briefly upon stepping into the stockroom. “Wow…” The room was like a museum of modern alcohol.
“Berit takes her alcohol storage very seriously.”
“Apparently.”
Bellamy ran her fingers along a well-stocked shelf. “This is where we keep everything we unbox after deliveries. I’m sure you noticed a few stacks of boxes when you first walked in.” Lauren nodded. “Those are recent deliveries or overstock we’ll get to eventually. Everything is organized by category: rum, vodka, et cetera. And then alphabetized within their subcategory. Down on the lower shelves is the beer, since they are usually kept in a case of some sort.”
&n
bsp; Lauren watched Bellamy move about, switching her attention between Bellamy and thinking of Berit and her meticulous ways. “What goes in those?” Lauren said, pointing to two large refrigerators and what looked like their baby fridge beside them.
“That’s where we keep things either frozen or cold, and the little one is a wine cooler. Adorable, isn’t it?” Lauren and Bellamy smiled fondly at the inanimate object before moving on. Bellamy pointed down a small hall and said, “The employee break room and bathrooms are down there. Berit is all about us having our own space we don’t have to share with strangers, which I appreciate beyond words.”
Lauren nodded in agreement. She was amazed by how much thought Berit had put into the layout and design of the bar. “I know Berit’s office,” Lauren said with a nod to the closed door. “That’s where I had my meltdown.” She could now laugh about how embarrassingly broken she was the night before. She had never lost herself like that in front of someone she was just getting to know. Berit made it easy, though. She made Lauren feel more okay than she had in a long time. That made her a great friend.
“Brace yourself.” Bellamy stopped just before they stepped through the swinging door separating the employee-only space from the public. “The Dollhouse looks very different during the day. It’s almost like watching Santa take off his beard to have a cigarette—the magic disappears.”
Lauren shook with laughter at the visual. “I’m ready.” Bellamy pushed the door open and waved her through. A resounding round of hoots and hollers erupted in the space. Lauren’s eyes went wide and her heart pumped.
“Welcome aboard, Lauren Daly!” Berit shouted, motioning to the few people around her. “Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to Lauren. She’ll be working with us for a little while. Lauren, this is Dee,” Berit said with her hands on the shoulders of a short butch woman.
“Hi, Dee. Nice to meet you,” Lauren said. Dee had the greenest eyes Lauren had ever seen, made more vibrant by her black short hair and more tattoos than the rest of the staff combined. Lauren felt her bashfulness rise when Dee winked at her.
“You already know Bellamy and Lou.” Berit made finger guns at the two women in question. “Monica, Cynthia, and Talia will be serving on the floor along with Bellamy tonight.” Berit tapped their shoulders as she announced them, and Lauren tried her hardest to keep up and lock the names in her memory. “Dee, Lou, and I will be behind the bar. I’d like for you to shadow Bellamy for half the night and then get behind the bar with us for the rest. How’s that sound?”
Lauren’s head was spinning. “Uh, yeah, sure. Sounds good.”
“I’d like for you to stay until closing, but just let me know if you need to tap out earlier. The first day can be overwhelming.” Berit’s look was serious and soft, easing Lauren’s growing anxiety.
“You’re lucky to be starting on a Tuesday,” Monica said. Or maybe it was Cynthia. “I started on a Saturday and I only lasted four hours.”
Lauren felt reassured. At least she wouldn’t be the first to leave early if need be. “Good to know. Thanks, M—” Lauren stopped when she saw Berit shaking her head. “Cynthia, thank you.”
“Nice save,” Berit said in a loud whisper. Lauren wanted to smack her forehead, but everyone around her laughed and moved on. Berit clapped loudly. “While they prep the bar and slice garnishes, let’s get you dressed.”
Lauren looked down at her jeans and T-shirt and back to Berit in confusion. Although Berit’s fitted T-shirt looked a little better, the way it clung to her small breasts and toned biceps. Lauren swallowed hard at Berit’s unexpected appraisal. She thought of the short shorts Bellamy was wearing and how Monica’s toned stomach looked in a crop top. She swallowed again. “What will I be wearing?”
Berit’s smirk was the textbook definition of salacious, and it fell away in an instant. “I’m going to hook you up with the uniform.” Lauren was about to argue about the obvious lack of uniform she’d seen so far, but Berit beat her to it. “No one is required to wear Dollhouse apparel except new employees. It helps you stand out.”
“Like a big ol’ Student Driver sticker on the bumper of a car on the highway. Got it.” Lauren wanted to roll her eyes, but she knew Berit had a reason. She was in training and everyone in the building needed to know it. Berit reached into a tall cabinet standing against the back wall of her office. From where Lauren stood, she could see stacks of shirts, a safe on the floor, and paper supplies. But her eyes wandered to Berit’s dimpled lower back, bared by her raised shirt hem, and the way her jeans sagged just slightly on her narrow hips. What was with her?
“Once I kick you from the nest and you’re flying on your own, you can wear street clothes.”
“I’m not dressing promiscuously,” Lauren blurted out.
Berit turned slowly. She stared at Lauren, befuddled. “Okay,” she said, drawing out the word.
Lauren stood her ground. “I see how you have your staff dress, and I’m telling you right now, I’m not comfortable with it.” Yes, this job was an act of charity, but Lauren wasn’t going to compromise herself.
“Take this and sit.” Berit threw a black T-shirt at her and motioned to the chair in front of her desk. “We need to have a serious talk—employer to employee.”
Lauren sat heavily and her posture remained rigid. She had never seen Berit look so serious.
“I’m not hard on my staff. I expect very little, but the expectations I do have are important to me. I expect everyone to be on time for their shift, give or take five minutes because life doesn’t always go as planned. I respect my staff members and expect respect in return. If you need time off, let me know at least a week in advance, preferably more, but I can work with a week. I don’t allow anyone to drink while they’re on the clock. That rule gets a little tricky when customers are flirting with you and buy an extra drink with you in mind. Just blame the boss, that’s what I do.” Berit cracked a small smile. “Always card patrons. Unless they are a regular you’ve seen a dozen times or more, I want you to card them. If they give you a hard time, you can grab me or whoever’s working the door that day and we’ll take care of it. I’ve seen what happens to a bar’s reputation for one underage slipup. That will not happen here.”
Lauren let out a breath of relief. “I understand—”
“I’m not done,” Berit said with a hand in the air. “Sex sells, we all know that. I encourage a sexy atmosphere, but I don’t do anything to cause discomfort. Some of my employees dress provocatively but appropriately. I’ve never asked them to. I never even uttered a suggestion. Some do it because the tips are better when a little more skin is on display, and some do it because they’re more comfortable and it makes them feel good.” Berit leaned forward on her elbows and stared into Lauren’s eyes. She looked fierce. “In my bar, women make their own choices.”
Lauren felt like a scolded child. “I’m sorry.” She lowered her head. “This is all new to me. I’m used to offices and suits. I barely own any casual clothes.”
Berit sat back, seemingly more relaxed. “I’ll give you a few shirts. Those with a couple pairs of jeans will have you set for a while.” Berit looked over Lauren’s upper body. Lauren shrank at the attention. “You’re going to look good in my shirt.” Every sliver of ice fell away from Berit’s demeanor, and her unrelenting charm was back in place.
“You already forgot about your special no-fraternizing rule, I see.”
“Stating facts is not fraternizing. We’re friends, which means I can share my opinions with you. I have shirts in black, burgundy, violet, and navy blue. I’ll give you one of each.” Berit stacked the shirts on her desk before turning back to Lauren with bright, excited eyes. “Let’s get your first day started.”
Lauren took a deep breath in an attempt to muster up a little confidence. She could do this job. It wouldn’t be a quick adjustment, but she would eventually adapt. She had Berit on her side and a friendly group of women willing to help her succeed. Lauren smiled. “When do we open?”
> “We’ve been open since four.”
“But…” Not one soul had entered the bar.
“Never judge a night by its opening. Trust me.”
Why did Lauren feel like she had just jinxed something, big-time?
The mood inside the Dollhouse was the complete opposite four hours later. Lauren raced about, trying to help out the best she could. The whole time she heard Berit saying “I told you so” in her head. Customers started to trickle in the moment five o’clock hit, and they hadn’t slowed down since. The night wasn’t as busy as a Friday or Saturday, but for Lauren’s first day, it was busy enough.
Bellamy had been incredibly patient and easy on Lauren. She let her chat with a table or two and carry a few drinks. Learning the lingo from Bellamy helped Lauren grow a little more comfortable with her new role. Working in a bar was more laid back than an office, but no less professional. You had to be kind and engaging with everyone, even the people with personalities as interesting as a dish rag. Bellamy’s knowledge of the specials and drink recipes impressed Lauren on several occasions, and it went far beyond simple job responsibilities. Lauren could tell Bellamy genuinely loved her job.
“So how long have you worked here?” Lauren said during a serving lull. Everyone had a drink and seemed to be content for the moment.
“Almost a year,” Bellamy said. She took a sip from one of two waters Berit had set on the bar for them.
“You seem to really like it. You’re very good at your job.”
Bellamy spared her a small chuckle. “I love it here. I’m paid fair, the tips are great, and I’m around wonderful people who make coming to work easy. Especially Berit.” Bellamy turned to watch Berit charm a few customers.
Lauren could see the attraction on Bellamy’s face, but she wasn’t yet on that level with Bellamy to ask her about it. Her new friend Berit, however…
“Hey, Lauren,” Berit shouted over the noise filling the bar. She bent her index finger in a come hither motion. “Bellamy’s had enough fun. You’re mine now.”