Free Modern Arrangements: Complete Trilogy (Modern Arrangements #1-3) by Sadie Grubor

walked my drink over and placed
it in front of me. "Thanks!"
    "That’s cool, but I thought you
were the one looking…or something," Lilli raised a brow.
    "It’s complicated," I forced a
smile. "I’m surprised Dixon hasn’t told you all about it like he has
everyone else."
    She shook her head, causing a thick
strand of long dark hair to fall over her right shoulder.
    "We really haven’t been home at the
same time lately," she smiled, but something in her face gave away to
sadness. I was about to speak again when she held up a finger and walked
towards some guys that just sat down to the bar.
    Watching Lilli at the other end of the
bar, I felt a smack on my back.
    "Hey Aid-man."
    Turning around I was greeted by Dixon’s
large bright smile.  He slipped onto the stool next to me, his blue button down
tightening around his biceps. It looked like he would rip the shirt if he
flexed.  I was about to argue the nickname but saw his eyes were following
Celia. With his attention on her, I knew I’d never get it.
    Finally, James and Oscar arrived.  Soon
Uncle Liam, along with two of James’s buddies, showed up as well.
    "Liam, does Viola know where you
are?" I teased.
    He cleared his throat.
    "Well, yes, but I don’t think she
realized…" He drifted off, looking around at the half dressed waitresses,
shot girls, dancers and bartenders. In his traditional Armani gray suit, he seemed
out of place. With the loud music, flashing lights and the furrow of his brow,
he looked uncomfortable.
    "Dixon," Lilli leaned up on
the bar, wrapping her arms around Dixon in a hug.
    "Hey, Lilli," he returned the
hug.
    "How come he gets a hug and I get
called a loser?" I shouted over to her teasingly.
    She put an L on forehead with her
fingers and then pointed at me. I returned the large smile she gave me with one
of my own.
    "Who is that?" Liam asked as
he sat on my left.
    "Lilli," I took a sip of my
drink. "She’s Dixon’s roommate."
    Then I introduced Dixon to Liam. Liam
was instantly amused by Dixon. I think it would be difficult for anyone to
really not like him.
    With a loud shout, James got the evening
started.  Celia poured shots of Patron and we toasted his engagement.  We found
a table and spent the night drinking and joking around.  At the end of the
night, around midnight, we said our goodbyes and headed home. Aside for Dixon,
who waited on Lilli and Celia’s shift to end.
    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
    The weekend found me at Dixon’s on
Friday night, hanging out watching sports and drinking beer. It was around one
thirty when we heard the door. Without looking away from the TV, Dixon yelled
out, "Hey, Lilli."
    "Hey honey!" Dixon spun around
at the sound of Celia’s voice. With a sly smile, tight fitting jeans and barely
there halter top, Celia wiggled the fingers of her right hand at him. Looking at
Dixon’s face, I knew it was time for me to go.
    "Celia," Dixon smiled, but
confusion soon replaced it. "Where’s Lilli?"
    "Oh, she is on her way up. She had
to fight off Tom in the entryway," Celia rolled her eyes sitting on the
arm of Dixon’s chair. "Not to mention that she’s already in a shit
mood."
    "What happened? Bill giving her a
hard time again?" Irritation poured from every pore of his body.
    "Of course he is. This time it was
because Lilli refused to serve a guy who was making lewd comments." She
shrugged. "You would think Bill would support us instead of taking it out
on us. Anyhow, if he has to talk with her again he says he’s going to fire
her." Celia slid onto Dixon’s lap. "It’s ridiculous." She
grumbled.
    "Well, I think I should get—"
    "Stupid fucking asshole! Stupid
pathetic…" Lilli stopped ranting when she saw us looking at her. "Sorry,"
She stated, forcing a smile before storming towards the kitchen. Her face
flushed with anger.
    "Told you," Celia whispered to
Dixon.
    "Want me to kick his ass, Lilli?"
Dixon turned his head toward the kitchen.
    "I just don’t understand why he
doesn’t get the hint." She yelled