Page 24 of Himbo Hitman
“I was thinking more of a wishy-washy good guy.”
“Goodguy?”
He shrugs. “Don’t take it so hard. Most people see that as a positive thing.”
“I’m a total badass, what are you even talking about?”
“Right, yeah, my mistake.” He can’t keep the humor off his face. “Don’t kill me in my sleep.”
He’s mocking me, but calling him on it might get us deeper into the conversation where I insist that I could do it and he asks me how and I have nothing, and then suddenly, he knows I’m full of shit.
Thankfully, my banking notification lights up on my phone,distracting me, and when I glimpse the amount listed, I almost fall off my seat. “Sh-sh-shit.”
Tommy outright cackles.
“There are four zeros here.”
“Yup.”
“I’m fucking rich.”
His cackle becomes a sudden frown. “Calm down, it’s ten Gs.”
“Is this forallthree jobs?”
“My guess it’s for one. And they’ve probably underpaid you because you’re so green.”
“Under … paid?” My jaw drops, and I stare at the screen again, waiting for a little minus sign to appear before the numbers, which would make a whole lot more sense. “Fuck.”
“I suggest you turn those notifications off. You don’t want anyone seeing a large deposit out of the blue and then have them start asking questions. That’s your business.”
“Right. My business.” I stand suddenly, half-drunk Coke forgotten about. “I have to see Elle.”
“Who?”
“My sponsor.”
“Like AA?”
“No, like, a crime sponsor.”
Tommy tilts his head, and I’m surprised the momentum doesn’t throw him sideways off his stool. “I don’t want to know, do I?”
“She’s taken anyway.” I shove my phone back in my pocket. “Talk later!”
It really is incredible how quickly all my problems have suddenly disappeared. No more jobs, a fat-as-fuck bank account, and a little breathing room to figure out what the hell is next. And if Tommy is right and I have two more payments coming my way … fuck. My head feels all spinny just thinking about it.
First though, take Margot and Elle out for dinner.
Second, well, whatever the hell I want.
***
I wish someone, at some point in my life, had sat me down and said, “Perry, being a barista is your calling.”
Turns out, much like with shooting a gun, I’m a natural at putting together all the wild coffee orders people come in with.
Unlike with a gun, these shots aren’t going to kill anyone.