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Stubbornness at It's Best

Chapter Five – Stubbornness at It's Best

    "Five hundred, seventy four dollars, and eighty-two cents, bitch," I proudly announced, slapping down the last bill onto the stack.

    "Looking at it, I never would have though this place gets as much traffic as it does," Anthony said, beginning his job of splitting the money between us.

    "Me neither," I admitted, leaning back on my hands. Tuxedo was officially starting to close, and there were only the few stragglers and Vincent's gang left in the whole building besides us. As I had counted the money, I had hoisted myself up to sit cross legged on the bar. Now all I wanted to do was stretch out on it and go to sleep. 

    "Jules, how many times do I have to tell you to stay off the bar?" Dante grunted as he came over to us.

    "As many times as it takes you to realize I'm never going to listen," I replied with a winning smile.

    He narrowed his eyes at me. "Don't sass me. I could fire your ass at any time."

    "But you won't," Anthony pointed out, smugly smiling when Dante turned to glare at him.

    "Who asked you?"

    "Boys," I chided, clucking my tongue before nudging Dante with my foot. "Behave yourselves."

    "Speaking of behaving," Dante started, his gaze sliding over to the back booth where Vincent and the others were still sitting. "Time to get the last of the customers out."

    Tilting my head in Vincent's direction, I let out a soft sigh. "I'll do it," I informed him, swinging my legs around as I hopped down to the floor.

    "Juliette –"

    "I'm a big kid now," I sang as I walked backwards, winking in response to the irritated look on Dante's face.

    When I reached the table, a drunken Lucas offered me a broad grin. "Where you been all night, sugar?" he whined, his voice coming out slightly slurred.

    "Working," I replied, feeling the corners of my mouth twitch as his brow furrowed.

    "Now why would you do that?"

    "Because some of us have to be upstanding citizens," I told him, reaching over to tap his forehead.

    "Is there something you needed, princess?" Vincent questioned, drawing my attention to him.

    "Closing time boys," I said, clapping my hands together before gesturing around the bar. "It's time to pay and hit the road."

    "And if I don't?"

    My temper sparked and I barely managed to control what I said. "Vince, please don't be difficult about this," I asked, crossing my arms across my chest as I met his stare head on.

    The smallest hint of a smile tilted his lips upward. "Begging now, are we?"

    Rolling my eyes, I leaned forward before bracing my hands against the edge of the table. "Go pay your bill, or I will make you," I threatened, a sugary sweetness coating my voice to take the edge off.

    Apparently, I still had no filter when it came to him.

    He arched one dark eyebrow at me as our gazes held. "Really now," he mused, leaning father back in his seat as the rest of his group let out an audible breath along with me.

    "Really," I answered, offering him a smile before erecting myself again.

    To my utter surprise, a short laugh escaped him as he shook his head. "Here," he said, tossing a pair of hundreds at me. "That ought to cover it and tip."