Chapter 10

"Order up!" I yelled and turned to Ryan with a huge smile. "How was that? I think it was a little much."

"Terrible. You'll be working as a bartender, not a cook, so just give them a friendly smile, maybe a wave and you're good to go."

I exhaled softly and turned back to the empty bar to continue practicing. Ryan insisted that I come in early on his off day to prepare me for a job that I was nowhere near ready for. All I had to do was make drinks, but I couldn't even do that right so I tried working on how I serve the drinks to the customers. Maybe if they see how kind I am they'll forget how terrible the drink tastes.

"How about this," He took the empty glass from my hand and placed it back on the countertop. "I taught you a few things, so from the top of your head I want you to make me a

Mojito."

"Easy." I picked up a glass and started to prepare the drink.

After every step, I would glance up at Ryan to see if I was doing it correctly, but I couldn't read his expressions. He wasn't making it easy for me, so I just winged the rest and placed the drink in front of him.

"Here you go, sir. Enjoy," I winked and placed my hands on my hips, watching him take a huge gulp. His eyes widened before he swallowed down what was left in his mouth and looked at me.

"This tastes disgusting, what exactly is in this?"

I bent over the bar enough to show my cleavage and put on my best pouty face, "Are you sure, sir? I tried really hard on it so just give it another taste."

Ryan threw his head back and barked out a laugh, "Get the fuck out of here. You can't do that."

"Is that against the rules or something, Rivers?" I smirked.

"You know damn well it is. That's like me throwing anything together and saying 'Oh, you don't like the taste? Well here are my balls. Tell me if you like it now.'"

I snickered and pulled the drink back to taste it. "First of all Cleavage and balls are two completely different things and second of all, it isn't that bad." I took a sip and nearly choked by how strong it was.

"Ok, what the hell kind of concoction did I just create? You should put this on the menu and call it Deathkiss for all the crazy motherfuckers who enjoy drinking straight alcohol."

"Dave wouldn't approve, but how about we go grab some food instead, and I can sear more recipes into your head?" He motioned toward the door with his head and I smiled.

"Deal."

As soon as we arrived at Leah's house I dropped onto the couch and groaned

As soon as we arrived at Leah's house I dropped onto the couch and groaned. "How was it?" Leah crawled over the back of the couch and landed on her side beside me.

"I sucked so bad, but just give me a few days and I promise I'll be the best employee there."

"Because you have a great teacher!" Ryan yelled from the kitchen.

I rolled my eyes playfully and kicked off my shoes. "He agreed to make the drinks and I serve until I learn how to do it the right way. I'm just happy to have a job, but the only thing that worries me is not knowing what kind of confrontation I'll get from people. These days they tend to go off over anything and I don't have the patience."

"You'll be fine, girl. Just try not to get fired on your first day." She laughed and climbed to her feet to go to the kitchen.

Zane yelled a stream of cuss words at the tv and slammed his controller to the ground sending broken pieces flying everywhere. I stared at him wide-eyed and got up to join her in the kitchen far away from him.

"Did they add my burrito?" I rummaged through the bag of tacos and then looked over at Ryan. "That's mine." I looked at the food in his hand. I was starving, so he didn't want to play games right now.

"I just wanted a bite, calm down." He opened up the wrapper and took a bite before holding it out to me.

I smiled and wiped the sauce from the corners of his mouth, "You're a sloppy eater." I turned around and Leah was looking between both of us with a mischievous look on her face.

"Anyone ever told you that you guys look cute together? Because damn."

She just had to make it weird.

"I always look cute, even when I'm alone," I smiled and took a bite of my burrito. She just took the bag of food and walked off to the living room. Ryan stepped closer to me and threw his arm across my shoulders sending a shiver through me. I looked up at him and cocked a brow.

"Did you want another bite?" I held it up to him and he just shook his head.

"Trust me I'm starving, but it's not for a burrito."

I nearly choked for the second time today and pulled away from him. "You can't say things like that when just yesterday you rejected me when I practically threw myself at you. Do you know how embarrassing that was?"

He exhaled and raked his fingers through his hair. "I know and I'm sorry. Just—" he stopped and reached for me but I took a step back. "Just forget I said anything ok?" He glanced over at me one last time and joined Zane and Leah in the living room.

I waited in the kitchen for a few minutes longer to get my mind right before I went out there with them. Zane was eating and trying desperately to fix his controller which was beyond repair and Leah was having a conversation with Ryan.

The more time we spent together I could sense all the feelings coming back and that's not what I wanted at all. That would make everything so much more complicated especially since we were working on just being friends. I sometimes regret going out with him all those years ago because it messed up our friendship.

We used to be that one odd friendship that people would talk about because they never knew how we could hang out when we were so different from each other. I never thought of him as anything other than a good friend, but one weird night we spent together had me seeing him as more, and I knew he felt the same.

Never in a million years did I think I would date Ryan and then the day came when he finally asked me out and I was so happy. I thought it was amazing dating my best friend because we didn't have to go through the awkward faze or get to know each other because we already knew plenty. Then when we broke up it was like losing a big part of me.

Whether I admitted it or not, I never got over Ryan and I missed him so much but he seems to have moved on from me and I'm sure I could do the same if I tried. I just need to get him out of my system. Easier said than done.

"What about you, V?" Leah spoke and I realized I zoned out while staring at my burrito. I looked up slowly and furrowed my brows.

"Sorry?"

She sighed and pointed to the tv. "What do you want to watch? They chose Armageddon for the fifth time."

"Yeah, we can watch that it's fine." I took a bite of my food and watched the screen silently as the movie started up. I watched this movie already and once was enough but it was a distraction from my thoughts and that's just what I needed.

Throughout the movie, I kept catching Ryan stealing glances my way so I turned away from him but I could still feel him burning holes into the side of my face.

Ugh.

"Bathroom break," I announced and stood up to go upstairs.

"Wait," Ryan called from behind me. I froze and turned to face him as he stepped closer to me, "I don't want things between us to be weird. We have to work together for God's sake."

"Is it weird for you? Because I'm perfectly fine."

"Bullshit."

I turned to enter the bathroom and he caught me by my arm and pulled me to his chest. "I'm trying really hard not to give in to my needs, but you're making it hard. Don't you want things to be the way they used to be?"

"Why are you fighting so hard to be friends again? It's not that serious."

"It is to me because I need you!" He yelled in a low tone and pushed me further down the hall away from prying ears. "I always needed you and I can't risk losing you if I screw up again."

I placed my palm on his chest so he could back up but he didn't budge. "Tell me." he pleaded. Fuck, I wanted him so bad.

"We could never just be friends." I looked into his eyes. "I know it and so do you."

He swore under his breath and pushed me against the wall by my neck, capturing my lips with his. His hand cupped my ass and I fisted his shirt pulling him closer. We got lost in each other's lips until I heard the movie downstairs pause.

"Yo, Ryan!" Zane yelled. He released me and I ran into the bathroom and closed it softly behind me.

I heard them muttering something down the hall and I smiled to myself. Yeah, we're gonna be great friends alright.