On Santa's lap - S01 E02

4 months ago

On Santa's lap - S01 E02

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 2

"I can spit in your drink, that'll make it magical right?" I asked leaning on the counter top, not sure where the rudeness came from, probably from seeing all the Christmas cheer.

I was sure if Mike heard that he would be whipping my arse into shape for trying to scare away customers but I just wasn't in the mood. Christmas just brought out the creeps in every old man out there and the sass in me.

Instead of glaring at me the man chuckled instead, resting his elbow on the counter top and resting his chin on the heel of his palm bringing him closed, "How about a cocktail that looked red and green?"

I pursed my lips trying to rack my brains for something like that and then gave up, "Well I guess I can whip something up," I said stepping back, "You must really like Christmas," I said grabbing a glass and placing it in front of him.

I reached out for the bottle of wine, that was red, and then added some to the blender and added some ice and switched it on forming a slushie. Adding some base which was apple juice for most of our drinks I gave it one more mix and added that to the glass and popped some frozen berries and then some mint on top.

"That's all I have," I popped in a straw and pushed it towards him. He whipped out his phone taking a picture and winked when he saw my confused face.

"One for the Instagram, right?" I shook my head slipping him his change and moved to the next customer. Most of the patrons were father tonight, no doubt their credit card was with their wives shopping and it was finally quietening down, or more swapping. The younger generation were swarming in and I leaned on the counter, the drinks were going to be easier now.

"Hey, did you take a break?" Ashlee came up to me blowing a strand of hair out of her face. I nodded, "Yeah before, you can go on yours," I said grabbing the dirty glasses from her. I might as well clean these.

"Oh yeah, Gavin right? Where is he?" her light grey eyes roamed around the dark pub and I doubt she would spot him, possibly because he was't here.

"Left," I replied as I gave the glass a rinse and placed them in the tray underneath, they would go back to the kitchen where they were cleaned properly.

"When is he coming back? I like him, he's a cool kid," she nodded grabbing a strawberry from the frozen berry pile and popping that into her mouth.

"Probably never," I replied wiping down the counter, "What can I get you?" I asked to the next man just to stop her questioning glance at me.

"Hey!"

I looked over mid sentence explaining to someone what was in a pina colada to see Mr Green eyes waving me down. Seriously? Didn't he have enough already. I ignored him, "So we top that off with a slice of pineapple, you can't really taste the vodka in it so this may be a better choice,"

"Okay yeah, two of those," I nodded grabbing the glasses, "Wait, it is happy hour right?" he said and I nodded, "Yeah two for one, so that's $10 for two," He nodded slipping the fifty back in and giving me two fives.

Great, I hated small notes. I tucked them into my pocket making his drinks, aware that a certain someone was yelling my name. Damn it these stupid name tags, even though it had only Eve, it was still annoying hearing my name being called out like a fire alarm going off.

"You know, there are other people you can ask for a re-fill," I said as I walked towards him.

He shrugged smiling, "I like annoying you though," he said, every word enunciated properly. Damn it, when was he going to get drunk? He had six cocktails already and was still talking like he was at the start.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

"Another one?" I asked, he must really love that combination.

He shook his head shifting on his seat, "I don't like red wine, I feel weird," He said grimacing and I shook my head.

"Why did you keep ordering it then? Here, have some water," the last thing I needed was to be cleaning up after his puke. That was not what I signed up for at this job. Hell I was expecting a load of tips for being my sexy self behind the counter, but there wasn't even that.

Everyone were cheap skates and tips were rare as the blue moon, only when old men wanted to shove it down your top instead of giving it to your hand and that was a no no. So this job shot down all the hopes of bar-tending and gave me a dose of reality. Tips, were rare.

Hell I might be more lucky to see someone burping the alphabet than get a tip.

"I think the alcohol is catching up to me," He said and I smiled leaning on the counter, "About time," I said grabbing the new glasses than came out and giving them a double wipe through. The clock on the counter top said it was nearly four in the morning, the end of my shift was close and we were about to swap shifts.

It was going to get quieter.

Seeing that there weren't many patrons I slipped out of my heels sighing when my feet touched the cold floor.

"Whoa, you just shrank," his eyes narrowed and he raised a finger as if to poke me and I dodged it, aha I knew the tequila I was slipping into his drinks was going to work.

The rule was simple, mix your three types of alcoholic beverages and you get drunk quicker, but it tasted like crap when they mixed inside of you.

"I'm Nik," He said holding out a hand, "With a K, not a ck,"

I nodded, "Cool," I said and he eventually dropped the hand as I threw the defrosted left over berries into the bin.

"Why aren't you drunk?" he rested the side of his cheek on his hand but slipped and I smiled, he reminded me of a cute teenager drunk. Except there was nothing cute about him, only because he looked to manly to be cute.

Even the simple movement of closing his mouth contracted his whole face to change his jaw to clamp shut and the cheekbones that were extremely faint to move and his dark eyelashes blink with his eyes. It also looked weird that a man like him, was drunk right now.

His green eyes opened again and I could see his eyes were dilated, "I don't drink on the job," I replied, not even sure why I was still entertaining him. But watching him made me laugh.

I filled up a shot glass with tequila and passed it to him, "Here on the house,"

He winked, the small motion that would make a million girls sigh, not me, and he raised it before downing it which made me cringe.

He just did a tequila like you would a shot, well his loss.

"Hey I think I'm going ot go now," I said as I slipped my heels back on.

"See you tomorrow?" Ashlee gave me a hug, "Or more tonight, unless you have plans?

"Nope, just work, more of it," I said. The good thing about this festive season was a lot of staff had stuff on, holidays, family events and whatever, so not only did I get paid double on main day, I also got their shifts.

I gave everyone else a wave taking my apron off and grabbing my jacket heading out the side door and nearly faltered when I saw Nik, with a K of course, standing opposite me, in the small gap between our store and TGI Fridays next to us.

"What?" I asked

"How dare you try to leave without me," he said standing up, and faltering.

I rolled my eyes walking towards the escalators, "You aren't my friend for me to wait for," I replied as I got on, I casted a worried glance to make sure he got on safely, which was weird. I hope he fell.

But it was called Karma and I didn't expect him to stand beside me and throw an arm on me making me nearly fall, thankfully I grabbed the moving rail at the same time and steadied myself.

Jesus, he weighed more than he loked. I shrugged his hand off as he spoke, "But you are, that's why you're going to get me a taxi before I pass out, yeah? Yeah, good girl," he raised his hand to ruffle my hair and I slapped it away.

Please don't.

Thankfully the taxi's were lined up at the kerb of the street and it wasn't too hard to push him towards it.

"Bye,"

"No Eve, it's see you later," he said and I waved as I hurried down the quiet street, at least living by close had its plus.

Why was I always late to everything?

I ran through the plaza as fast as I can, pausing to catch my breathe and slip on the heels I was holding in my hand. I hope he was in the back and won't notice me sneaking in.

I hurried towards the elevator pushing my finger against the button.

"You know just because you press it faster, doesn't mean it'll come down quicker,"

My head turned to the sound to see an old man smiling at me, "Noted," I replied, frowning more when I saw the outfit.

Santa.

Of course, every grand dad's job was basically to dress up as the old man.

The elevator opened and I nearly cried when I saw how packed it was, with more Santas.

Was there a Santa cat walk or something? But I was late so I accepted the space they made and got on, squashed by men in red suits and fake beards and held my breath, they smelt like Christmas. It was sickening.

But being pushed against their real pot stomachs, was somewhat weird as well.

I rushed towards my work place, trying to get away from them as fast as I can, and into the bar and froze at the entrance.

They were everywhere

Someone was really laughing at me from above now.

My jaw dropped as I walked on the side of the bar towards the counter where Ashlee was serving a younger looking Santa.

"What the hell is going on?" I asked confused as I got inside and she shoved a pair of reindeer antlers on my head.

I pulled them off as I went into the back room, dropping my things and walking out slamming the antlers ont he counter, "What is this?" I waved a hand.

"It's Christmas themed night! Woot! Aren't you excited," she asked as Jingle Bells came on the music.

No! Who the hell plays songs like that at a pub.

I sighed taking a deep breathe and closed my eyes, "Just pretend they're all naked," I nodded, sounded like a better idea.

Or not, since when I opened my eyes Nik was sitting on the chair in front of me, with antlers on his head, my antlers.

And I realised this night can't get any worse.