It's You

Two

"Papa?" Camila asked sweetly.

"What is it mija?" Her father said, not really giving her his full attention as he was shutting the truck down for the evening.

Camila pulled Shawn in through the doorway of the truck. "Papa, this is my friend, Shawn."

"Friend? What friend? I am busy mija." He said as he continued to clean the food truck for tomorrow's business.

"Shawn, Papa. Can he stay with us for a few days?"

She had her father's attention now. He turned to face her. "Estás loca?"

"Please, Papa?"

Her father squatted and looked into his eyes. "Shawn. Where is your familia?"

"Shawn?"

~~~~~~

"Earth to Shawn!"

Shawn refocused and quickly glanced at both ends of the bar making sure there weren't any costumers waiting for him.

When he faced forward, all he could see was a frustrated Juan standing before him. "The chicas invited us to their hotel after work, man."

"I can't."

"Bullshit, Mendes. You are fucking coming with me."

"Get back to work." Diego said sternly.

Juan squinted his eyes at him and said, "Cállate." under his breath.

Diego shook his head. "Tonto."

Shawn was grateful for the distraction. He then saw a customer at the other end of the bar without a drink in front of him. He could have sworn he had taken care of everyone; however the bitching between Diego and Juan threw him off his game a bit.

"My apologies, I hope you weren't waiting too long. What can I get you?"

The man smiled. "No need to apologize my boy."

Shawn smiled. "So, what can I get you?"

"I'll take an Old Fashioned."

"You got it."

As the man watched him prepare the drink, he noticed the girls over a nearby table making eyes at the bartender.

Shawn then placed the glass before the man. "One Old Fashioned."

The man picked up the glass and took a sip. He closed his eyes as if savoring the drink. "Ah."

"How'd I do?"

The man smiled. "Perfect."

Shawn smiled proudly. "I enjoy getting to make some of these older drinks."

"An old drink for an old man."

Shawn's eyes widened in embarrassment. "I wasn't calling you old, Sir."

The man chuckled. "I AM old."

"But I...I hope I haven't offended you."

The man studied his face. "Such a kind soul."

"I dunno. I just kind of called you old."

The man laughed out loud. "Relax, kid."

Just then one of the girls from table 5 stepped up to the bar and leaned over it hoping to expose some cleavage for the bartender to gawk at.

"Duty calls." Shawn said then walked over to her. "What can I get for you, sweetie?"

The man watched closely at the exchange. After the drink was served, he saw that she had left a number on the napkin. He watched as Shawn folded it and discretely tossed it into the trash.

"Does that happen often?"

Before Shawn could answer, Diego was walking by and overheard the question. "You should see  inside the garbage."

Shawn shook his head. "I think someone is calling you from the kitchen."

Diego laughed as he headed back.

"Don't mind him. He can't mind his own business to save his life."

The man simply listened and took another sip of his drink. "So, who is she?"

Shawn tried to play it cool. "Excuse me?"

The man smirked. "The reason the trash is filled with numbers that will never be called by you."

"It's complicated and way too long of a story."

"I got some time." He said then winked at Shawn and finished the drink. "In fact, I could use another one of these."