“I just don’t think it’s a great idea, that’s all.”
He pulls out of his grandmother’s driveway and into the dark, damp road.
“You still want to do this, right?” he asks, glancing over at me. “Christmas and everything?”
“A deal is a deal.”
“A deal…” he repeats, more to himself than to me.
“Isn’t that what this is?” I ask, stupidly hoping that he’ll say no. But that doesn’t happen.
“A deal, Mr. Quinn, is exactly what this is.”
33Eric
Ihead over to the bar, where Mila has just placed a tray of empty glasses, and clear my throat. “Hey. Can I talk to you for two minutes?”
Mila studies me worriedly.
“I’ll let the floor manager know. Don’t worry.”
“Okay,” she stammers.
“Grab your coat. I need a cigarette.”
“Sure, I’ll meet you outside.”
I head out, passing the kitchen and opening the door leading into the alleyway we use for smoking or taking phone calls. I lean against the wall, pulling the pack from my pocket and lighting one just as Mila joins me.
I offer her the pack and she thinks about it for a moment before accepting and taking a cigarette for herself. I hand her the lighter and she inhales, letting the smoke trail from her lips.
“Don’t tell Sean. He quit recently and he wants me to quit, too. So that he’s not tempted,” she smiles, inhaling again. Then her expression changes.
“I’ve done something, haven’t I?”
“What?”
“Well, you wanted to talk to me in private, and you have that expression…”
“Nothing like that, honestly. Don’t worry.”
She sighs, relieved. “Thank God. This job… It’s perfect. I want to keep it.”
I smile at her. “Your job isn’t going anywhere, Mila.”
“Then I’m guessing this is about my brother.” She inhales again, letting it slowly out. “He was weird when he came home the other night, after you’d been out. I knew something was up, but I didn’t want to push it. Sean closes himself up when he doesn’t feel comfortable in a situation.”
I’d noticed that; I think that must be what happened the other night, when we left my grandmother’s house. Maybe it was all the talk about his family, or maybe… Maybe he’s just getting tired of this whole situation.
“What did he do?”
“Why do you think he did something?”
“Because that’s what he’s like.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sean tends to sabotage anything good that happens to him.” She glances at me and smiles. “And you’re definitely too good to be true. Do you know what I mean?”
