The Other Swan Sister: The Sequel

Chapter 27

Wiping down the bar top, you feel a vibration jolt in your pocket.
Pulling out your phone, you see Mary-Margaret has texted.
Hey, I need a favour... I'm having a guy over for a date tonight. Kinda need the place to myself... please. I'll owe u big time.
Ew.
"Shit." You mutter.
What the hell are you gonna do?
"Something wrong?" Roni questions gingerly.
"Mary-Margaret wants the apartment to herself tonight." You roll your eyes at Roni, expressing how annoyed you are. "I don't know what to do." You shake your head, readying yourself to text Ruby.
"I have a spare room." The brunette shrugs.
Your body stiffens but you hide it well.
Maybe this is the best thing MM could have done.
"Oh-" you startle. "You really don't have to do that, Roni." You smile.
"It's been empty for months." She throws her towel over her shoulder. "Someone's got to use it."
"Are you sure?" You tentatively ask, trying to hide your smile.
"What else are you gonna do? Pay to stay in some run-down motel?" She quips.
"I suppose I'd have to." You shrug.
"Well then consider me your knight in shining armour." She retorts, as she passes you to take another customer's order.
She has no idea.
"Hey!" You hear a cheerful voice call.
It's Ruby.
"Hey, Rubes." You grin. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to check on you." She sits at the bar. "I wanted to make sure Roni didn't have her hands too full with you."
"Never." Roni sarcastically quips, resting her hand on your shoulder as she leans on the bar.
"No broken glasses?" Ruby asks.
"No broken glasses." You nod.
"There's still time." Roni busies herself and pours a pint of beer. "We've got an hour till close."
You both chuckle.
"Hey, have you spoken to Mary-Margaret today?" You ask.
"No. Why?" Ruby leans in.
"She said she's having a date at the apartment." You clarify. "And she's kicked me out for the night."
"Oh, that's tonight?" She frowns.
"You knew?"
"Yeah. Well- no. I forgot it was tonight..." Ruby continues. "She said she was seeing someone and she was planning on something."
"Yeah, Graham."
"No."
"What? Didn't she-"
"Yeah.." Ruby scrunches her nose. "But she's been seeing this man who has a fiancé."
"You're kidding." You lean in.
"What's the gossip?" Roni finally joins once again, leaning casually next to you.
"Mary-Margaret's seeing a taken man." You turn to her and immediately get distracted with her face being so close to yours.
"Ivy!" Ruby scolds.
"What?" You defend.
"I knew I had a bad feeling about her." Roni narrows her eyes slightly.
You desperately try to hide your smirk.
"You better keep an eye on your boyfriends, Roni." You play.
She slaps you playfully with the towel.
"Smart mouth." She walks away, leaving you smiling.
You turn back to Ruby's narrowed gaze.
"What?"
"Is there... something-" she points between the two of you.
"Not that I know of." You lean back into your conversation. "Why? You know something I don't?" Your sarcasm shines through.
"I think you'd be a hot couple, sorry." She puts her hands up.
"Now who are we talking about?" Roni re-enters, wiping her hands on her jeans.
"No one."
"You and Ivy."
"Oh, really?" Roni smirks. "What about my many boyfriends?" She teases.
You roll your eyes and laugh at her.
"Hey, if Mary-Margaret's okay with being the other woman then maybe I can consider it too." You smirk.
"Is that so?" Roni looks surprised and if you're not mistaken, you see a blush creeping up her neck.
She busies herself with the next customer and you turn back to Ruby staring at you, slack-jawed.
"What?" You protest.
"You and Roni!" She stops herself from squealing.
"Roni and I, what?" You raise an eyebrow, keeping your face stern.
She studies you for a minute.
"Listen, just know that when this happens..." she points between the two of you. "I was the first to call it."
"I'll get the trophy written up now, rubes." You sarcastically wink at her.
"Ruby, I think you're distracting my staff now." Roni comes over, slightly teasing. "You want a drink?"
"Uh- no, thanks." She smiles as she gets up out of her seat. "Just wanted to check in. Bye guys!"
She practically skips away.
"Bye, Rubes." You smile at your friend.
"Back to work, newbie." Roni snaps you out of your thoughts.

You're down to the last few customers in the back of the bar and you begin to help Roni with clean up.
"Uh- Roni?"
"Yep?" She asks, stopping and listening to you.
"Do you need me to run back to the apartment and grab some clothes and stuff?" You nervously ask.
"Oh- nah." She bats her hand, casually. "I've got loads of that. You can borrow whatever you want." In that moment you think of Regina and her expensive clothes, imagining you borrowing one of her tight dresses or pant-suits. "Something funny?" She smirks as she looks at your amused expression.
"Uh- no." You chuckle. "No, I just can't imagine I'll look..." you falter. "like you do."
"Like I do?" She smirks once again, loving to flirt.
"Yes. I have no ass." You blush.
She laughs.
"So you're telling me that you've been looking at your bosses ass?" She plays. "That's hardly appropriate is it, Ivy?"
You smile at her humorous flirting.
"I don't know what you're talking about.. I didn't say that." You shrug.