21.🔧 Revving the Engine

**JUSTICE**

I walk Sam outside to learn how the night fared. He tells me how the bar was so busy, neither he nor Keke had time for a break. Clancy’s does well, but it’s a rare night when the staff don’t have more than a few minutes to themselves.
“Keke did really well tonight, Justice,” Sam says, giving me a stern eye. “Taking my bad back into consideration, she refused to let me get the peanut bags, and she pulled more than her weight serving drinks. Matter of fact, she has been ever since she started. She deserves the few days’ rest coming up… I hope you let her get it.”
Clancy’s, like my other businesses, is closed from tomorrow until Monday. Keeping them open would give me a hefty chunk of change, it always has in the past, but I have more money than I could reasonably spend in a lifetime.
My employees wanted time off with their families and that’s what I gave them.
They come before profit.
Always have. Always will.
Sam turns to unlock the door to his car. For over twenty years, he’s been driving a mint-condition silver Honda Accord that has less than sixty thousand miles on it.
Sam hates all forms of travel. He won’t drive unless he has to work. At home, he prefers to read or watch documentaries with his partner, Mary-Anne. Those two are true soul mates. I don’t think either of them have been as far as the Statue of Liberty.
“Don’t worry Sam, she’ll get all that she deserves.”
He nods, assured. “See that she does.” He hops in his car and starts the engine. It comes to life without a sputter or cough. Sam rolls down the window for a last parting shot. “Oh, and Justice?”
“Yeah?” I ask, wondering what in the hell more he has to say.
“You make sure you have a happy Thanksgiving.” He gives me a cheeky wink, and I watch him until his taillights disappear.
Does he know what I have planned for my free time… what I have planned for Keke and me?
It’s unfortunate that I’m not off to a good start.
Her glare over the rim of her cup would put off most men, but I’m made of stronger stuff and I’ve got a mission to complete.
Operation Keke in My Bed is already underway.
I start getting on the good foot by apologizing. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here, Keke. I meant to be—”
“Don’t worry about it. I know you were busy with the kids, getting them settled in at… her place.”
The jealousy dripping from her tone is enough to coat my senses in relief. Keke must feel something for me, even after all I’ve done to put her off.
Watching how Pippa and Xaver interacted tonight, showing their love for each other in touches and looks, has given me encouragement. They had it rougher than most, yet they still fought for each other.
Surely Keke and I can do the same?
I’m more than willing to entertain the thought of Keke and I being long term if she were staying… but one night will do just as well.
At least it’s a start.
And I’m tired of denying what I feel. I want her, and if she feels the same… I have a plan in place to do something about it.
I take the tie from my hair, letting the strands fall to my shoulders. Keke pauses counting a stack of twenties to stare.
Yeah, that’s it.
I roll my neck so it can catch the light and say as casually as I can, “Yeah, they were happy to have a change of scenery. Pip really came through by taking the kids.” Keke purses her lips and goes back to counting, ignoring me. I start to ramble as nervous sweat breaks out on my back. “Uh...her parents and her brother will arrive tomorrow. They all live in Florida. Samuel is out there at Elgin Air Force Base. The kids love him. I bet they’ll have him playing video games as soon as he walks through the door. We’ll go over there for Thanksgiving dinner so you can meet them.”
She cocks a brow. Her arch, highlighted by her makeup, makes her stink-eye more prominent. “Oh? So, I’m actually invited this time? Well, I hate to disappoint you, but I have plans.” She rubber bands the stack she was counting and reaches for another one.
I inhale the coffee I’m sipping, burning my tongue. “With whom?” I ask, feeling the veins pop out in my neck.
Jealousy apparently works both ways.
“Joe said I could come celebrate with his family.” She gives me a smug smile and then says something that burns a hole in my gut. “His brother Nico will be there.”
Joe has been a fixture in the bar these last weeks, filling Keke’s head with stories about his “good-looking” brother. He’s also said on more than one occasion that Nico wanted to view the “new scenery” at Clancy’s.
If Joe hadn’t been such a long-time customer, I would have told him to tell his brother to enjoy the scenery from a cliff before he jumped off it.
Keke had laughed off Joe’s comments every time, so I didn’t think she was interested in Nico.
Now, I realize I was mistaken.
And again, I may have acted too late.
But this time the consequences are much higher.