Page 76 of The Bar Next Door


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“How is Cole?” I ask. “How are you? How is everything? That’s why I’m calling. I feel like I have no idea what’s going on with you right now. I’m so sorry.”

She chuckles into the phone. “Ma belle, you don’t have to be sorry. Thanks for thinking of me, though. Everything iscomme d’hab. Nothing to report. Cole and the band are going on a mini tour soon, and my work has been as busy as usual. I’m sure you have more exciting news than me.”

A sly note slips into her voice, and I know exactly what she wants to hear about.

“Yes, I’m still seeing him. It’s going...well.”

“Well?” Roxanne repeats. “Well?What kind of a word is ‘well?’ Give me more than that.”

“It’s goingverywell,” I deadpan.

“Smartass,” she shoots back. “Don’t try to pretend you don’t kiss and tell. I already know you do.”

“Fiiiine.” I make a show of giving her more information. “He slept at my place for the first time last week.”

“Wow. You guys are moving fast.”

“I know, I know,” I admit.

“I didn’t mean it like it’s a bad thing. At the poetry slam, you guys seemed so...You seemed like you fit.”

I go to lean back against the wall of the alley and then catch myself. I don’t want whatever is on these bricks to end up on my shirt.

“It does feel like that,” I reply. “It feels...It feels so right. It feels like I can trust him, like he can trust me. I want this to work, Roxy. I want a shot at seeing where this goes.”

“I want that for you too. I really do, Monroe.” I can hear the conviction in her voice, and I’m grateful for it, but I know she spots the giant obstacle in my path. “Have you guys talked about...?”

“The fact that Julien is building a business which, by nature, is meant to take my business out?”

“Yeah, that,” Roxanne agrees.

I sigh. “We haven’t talked about it as much as we should—as much as we need to, but...I have some ideas.”

Roxanne laughs. “Of course you do.”

“It’s June. Fucking Félix Fournier’s due date for his decision on selling is coming up. He actually wants to meet with me today to discuss some things. I have all the numbers ready. Sales are up. It’s still in his interest to keep this place, and I...I’m not going to let him walk all over me, Roxanne. I know how to run this bar. I know how to make more money.He’sthe one who’s slowing us down, and I’ve never stood up and told him that because I’ve been too scared of what would happen to everyone else if he fired me or decided to sell, but he’s already threatened to do both. I’m going to tell him exactly what he needs to do to make this place thrive, and then...then I’m going to offer to buy in.”

Roxanne whoops on the other end of the line. “Like a share? Monroe, I’ve been wanting you to do that for years!”

It’s true; she’s been on my ass about it forever, but as possessive as I am about Taverne Toulouse, I’ve never actually made a move toownit. I pretended I was content to be a manager, to make sure my little ship and its crew were set to sail the seas, but actually flying my own flag from the mast seemed like arrogance. It seemed unnecessary.

Now it’s imperative.

“I don’t know what he’ll say, but it’s worth a shot. I’ve got a convincing case.”

“You do. No one knows that place better than you.”

“And as for Julien...” I add because I know she’s trying to find a way to ask about it. “I’m going to ask him for something. It’s going to be hard for him to give, but I have to believe he feels the way I do about this. I have to believe he’s willing to try.”

Roxanne clears her throat. “That was cryptic as fuck, and I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

My laughter bounces around the alley. “It’s not really my place to explain, but I think it’ll work. If I can show him there’s a way to keepusand keep our businesses, I think he’ll be willing to take it.”

“Still cryptic as fuck,” Roxanne replies, “but you sound optimistic.”

“I am. I think.”

“Okay, maybe not that optimistic.”