The Barmaid's Contract

23

That creep finally left after that drink, mumbling something incoherent but I couldn't care less.

"Hey Red, give us another five!" Steve called out and I pulled out five ice cold schooners.

I poured their drinks, placing them on the bar and stamped their loyalty cards. "Five drinks, all done. How's work going?"

"Still there, paying the bills." Steve smiled as he picked up two drinks.

Then I saw an old school friend of mine enter, Liam. "Liam! Sit! Have a drink. On me." I smiled at him.

"What?" Some of the locals grumbled.

"Calm ya farms. You guys have had so many freebies."

"Oi, Red. What's this about a freebie?" Someone shouted over the heads off others.

"Oi, sweetheart!" I screamed back. "You couldn't handle it." I grinned. This place was packed. Amy and Gav were working as well and I snuck out for a smoke.

I lit it up and Liam came out shortly afterwards with his beer. "How ya been? Where ya been?" I asked him.

"I moved to Perth, but I'm good. You?"

I gave him a cheeky smile. "Causing trouble as usual."

Liam chuckled then what looked like a shy smile. "Is that a hint of blush, Liam Whitney?" I pointed out at his face.

I took in another puff of my smoke while I waited, my eyes wide with humour, a large grin on my face.

"No!" He snapped at me. I shrugged. "Alright, whatever." I finished my smoke and put it in the closest ashtray, heading back inside.

"Here's Alex." Gav said to me. "Amy, go help in the kitchen." Amy nodded and left the bar.

"That's where your meant to be." Someone said to me and I spun to them, slightly shocked.

"In the kitchen?" I scoffed at him as he smirked and nodded. "Men who say women belong in the kitchen don't know what to do with them in the bedroom!"

I heard a few people chuckle as I went at this man. I knew him, I just couldn't remember his name.

"Don't forget to run that burn under cold water." I spun and walked away, quite annoyed at the sexist remark.

"Hey, Red, is that silver tongue of yours turning to lead?" Joe, a regular asked me.

I blew out a raspberry. "I would love to insult you, Joe, but I won't do as well as nature." I grinned at him, causing Joe to laugh.

"Its been so dead with you away." Mark told me.

I smirked then leaned closer to Mark. "I know. I had an emergency to attend to."

Mark nodded and took his drink, slowly drinking it.

"Did you get my message, Gav?" I called out, suddenly remembering.

"Yeah, but I'll need you Friday." Gav answered, placing a beer on the bar and turning to me. I gave him an apologetic shrug.

"Sorry."

"When will ya be back?" Gav asked me.

"You going somewhere?" Carl asked me.

"Yeah, Timbuktu." I told him before answering Gav. "I'm hoping to be back late Monday night, Tuesday at the most."

Gav nodded as he listened to an order before getting a schooner. "I suppose, business."

"Yeah. Trust me, I don't wanna do it. But I have to."

Gav gave the person their beer and I finished pouring one. "Can't that hotshot do it?"