Free Cardinal by Sara Mack Page A

“I’m
not with Heidi.” He steps closer and brushes my arm with his fingertips. “Never
have been, never will be.”
    Holy shit. It’s hard to concentrate. I clear my
throat. “Well, still.” I look forward. “I’m your employee now, so … ”
    The elevator door opens and we wait for the
riders to file out. When we step inside, Oliver pushes the button for the lower
level. More people enter the small space, and the three of us move over to make
room. By the time the door closes, we’re squashed in the corner. My back ends
up pressed against Latson’s chest while Oliver stands in front of me. I set my
hands on the little boy’s shoulders in an attempt to distract myself from the
feeling of his uncle’s hard muscles against my back.
    As the elevator descends, Latson finds my ear
again. “Do you have any more reasons to avoid letting me down?”
    His breath against my skin causes heat to slide
down my neck and leave goose bumps in its wake. I don’t want him to notice, so I
turn and peek over my shoulder.
    “You’re wearing another plain white tee,” I
sniff. “Obviously you don’t own any other clothes. I can’t be seen with you. Other
than professionally, of course.”
    Latson laughs and I feel the vibration through my
shirt. “You’re going to have to do better than that,” he murmurs.
    His words sound like a dare.

Chapter
Eight
    Two days later, my brother leans over the bar
above me. “Are you feeling any better?”
    I finish tapping a keg and stand, holding my
stomach. “Not really,” I say. “What was in that pizza?”
    Last night, Jules and Pete decided to forego the
health food and introduce me to the world of Chicago-style deep dish pizza. It
was all they promised it would be: thick, covered in chunky tomato sauce, and
dripping with cheese. I’m not ashamed to say more than one piece went down
without a problem.
    “Just your standard stuff,” Pete says. “Are you
sure you don’t want me to take you home?”
    I know he would like that, seeing as how this
is my first day as an official employee at Torque. “No.” I shake my head
despite feeling like my gut is digesting itself. “I don’t want to make a bad
impression.”
    My brother gets sarcastic. “I know the owner. You
do, too. Latson will understand.”
    “Pete.” I’m agitated because no matter what I
do I don’t feel good. “I’ve been lying around all day. Maybe if I move I will
feel better.”
    Ever since I woke up this morning I’ve had this
gnawing sensation under my ribs. It started out as a dull ache but got worse
the longer I laid on the couch. Food doesn’t usually bother me, so I’m not sure
what is going on. All I know is that I’d like it to stop.
    “Well, tell me if you change your mind,” my
brother says. “Carter can handle the door and the girls can handle the bar if
you need to leave.”
    My eyes dart to my coworkers. Mina and Maggie talk
while they set up. When Pete introduced us tonight I got the typical “new girl”
once over. I’ve been in this situation before and I expected it; the last thing
I need to do is leave early. I have to prove that I deserve the job I was
given, even more so since I’m Pete’s sister. Three main bartenders have been
the status quo at Torque since it opened. Now that I’m number four, even for a
brief time, I have to pull my weight. People don’t like to have their hours
threatened, especially when they rely on tips. Also, Pete let me in on some
behind-the-scenes information: both of the girls calling off the other night
didn’t sit well with Latson. I’m sure they think he’s looking to replace one of
them, which makes my presence even more awkward.
    I turn my attention back to my brother. “I’ll
be all right. This thing will pass sooner or later.”
    Pete looks uncertain. I shoo him away with a
wave of my hand. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?  We open in, like, twenty
minutes.”
    “Fine,” he says and heads toward the main doors.
Satisfied, I