Homebound

Chapter Three

"Morning Poppy" Jacob greets me as soon as I open the door to Darby's. I smile back.

"Morning Jacob, when did you get here?" I ask. I'm meant to be opening this morning and Jacob wasn't meant to be in for another half an hour.

"Ten minutes ago" he smiles as he wipes clean a glass "thought I'd keep you company, besides I had nothing else to do" he answers. I appreciate it even if I do like my mornings alone to compose myself for the busy day.

Only a few people come in before noon, mostly the customers that are insistent they don't have a problem with alcohol but come in every morning hoping to curve their cravings. When noon rolls around is when Darby's starts to pick up, people come in for lunch and drinks with family and business associates.

"Jacob! Can you hand me the white wine?" I ask as the ladies who ordered it continue with their conversation as they wait on their drinks.

I take it off Jacob blindly when he hands it to me, his hand skims mine making me look at him, as I think he's trying to get my attention but he's already back to serving another customer.

"Here you go, ladies" I set the wine down as they grab it, thanking me.

"How are we going team?" I hear the booming voice of Stevie. I take a deep breath before turning around and facing him all the while plastering a fake smile on my face. His creepy smirk and cocky attitude makes me want to hit him over the head with a glass bottle while I shout about how wrong it is for him to entertain some form of a relationship with a staff member, all the while having a Platonic.

Jacob and I side eye each other, making eye contact as we think the same thing. What's he mean 'we'? He's been in his office the entire morning, not even coming out to say hello to us.

"We've made $537 in drinks already" Jacob says as he runs a hand through his brown hair, the longer front he has covering his early receding hairline.

"Eh" Stevie pulls a face as he shrugs "$800 would be better. Chop chop I don't pay you to sit around" he says with a chuckle, somehow thinking that if he says something rude whilst smiling it won't offend anyone.

Stevie disappears back into his office moments later, thinking we wouldn't see him leave. The only time he comes out is when Harley is on; I don't know what she sees in him but then again maybe she's just looking for fun.

"Fuck that guy" Jacob mutters making me laugh before the bar is flooded with customers again.

*

"Any plans for the weekend?" Jacob asks once the lunch rush had calmed down.

"No, just staying in. What about you? Got plans with Lola?" I ask. Lola is his Platonic. From what I'd heard they get along well, at least that's what Jacob has told me but from the twitch in his right eyebrow maybe he told a white lie.

He shrugs "nah, she's at her mums this weekend" they had a strange routine. They live together during the week but most Friday's Lola would go to her mothers and stay the weekend but then again who am I to judge about other peoples strange relationships.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, I quickly scan the area for Stevie and when I don't see him I pull my phone out.

Fucking Reg just searched my cell.

The text from Hex instantly brings a smile to my face, even if the news isn't great. The guards don't just search for any reason, either there's been a rise in contraband found in the prison or someone's tipped them off.

"Who's that? Lover boy?" Jacob breaks the spell Hex has on me and pulls my attention away. He sounds almost like he's aggravated but when I look up the smile on his face reassures me that he's just joking.