The Vampire Playboy - Blood and Lust

Chapter 8

Olivia's POV

Confusion and humiliation washed over me, he wouldn't look at me, and I wasn't prepared to wait to hear if he said anything more. I turned, picking up my pace until I was inside the still-open door and slammed it closed behind me like a child having a tantrum. I touched my fingers to my lips, the ghost of that kiss left them tingling.

What the hell had just happened? He was kissing me, he seemed as into it as me and he just changed suddenly. It made no sense other than me being a bad kisser or doing something that had put him off.

I remembered what Sophie had said to me about me being new and them probably liking that and suddenly I felt like a fool. Sophie had warned me that I'd be treated like a shiny new toy and that they didn't date and yet I ignored all of that.

I just didn't understand. He seemed so nice, so normal, there had been no red flags. Had I misread things? He hadn't even asked for my number or given me his number. I was such an i***t, I'd mistaken his being kind for more, that was the only explanation I could come up with. Now I just needed the ground to open up, swallow me and transport me somewhere that I wouldn't have to see him again.

I'd spent the next week moping around the house. Neither David nor Sophie pushed it. David asked a few times if I was OK or if I was homesick, but didn't push me. Sophie knew about what had happened with Charlie. I'd told her that evening after she had come home from work waving a bottle of wine and the text messages from me.

I'd analysed that day over and over in my head so many times, everything I had said and I'd done. The humiliation had slowly lessened but I'd hidden away. I told Sophie I was overwhelmed and just needed some time. The weird feeling of being watched hadn't gone at night, nor were my dreams where I replayed seeing Charlie for the first time and his friend, their strange eyes. Every time I woke up with the feeling, I'd turn on my lamp to find the window locked, the blind closed and me alone. I rearranged my bedroom three times, read 2 novels on my k****e and eventually was bored out of my mind. So, on the seventh day of my self-imposed home isolation, I was elated to finally get a phone call from Carmella. I'd all but given up hope of getting the job at O'Malley's and knew I had to start working on another plan to get a job. So I was surprised when she said she had a trial shift for me that evening and happily accepted.

"Soph" I called out.

"Yeah?"

"Guess who has a trial shift tonight?"

"No way! s**t! I told Owen I would go to his house tonight."

Owen, crap I'd forgotten about Owen, Sophie's boyfriend. He lived an hour's drive away and was at university, so they didn't see each other much, just the occasional weekend like tonight when David was staying away for work. I suddenly felt guilty, she had been ditching Owen to make sure I settled in. As much as having her there tonight would be like a handhold for me, I knew she missed Owen.

"You go, you haven't seen him since I arrived. I've taken enough of your time, and anyway, it's not like I'll have time to chat with you if it's busy, I'll be working and I really need to land this job."

"OK, but call me right after your shift is finished, even if it's really late."

"I will, I better go get ready," I said as I skipped upstairs to do my hair and make-up.

Sophie dropped me off at the bar at 4 pm, ready for my shift. I'd gone for a full face of make-up and had curled my hair only to then pull it into a ponytail.

"Hey, I've left a t-shirt and apron outback for you," Carmella said, smiling as I entered. I followed her to the back, slipped them on and got taken on the grand tour.

"Any tips you make you get to keep for yourself. Most of the customers are regulars, so you'll get used to what they order, but on a Friday and Saturday night, it can get really busy with people from out of town. We stop serving food around 7 on those nights and shuffle the tables around to leave space for dancing. What we'll do for your first night is you take the orders and take them to the tables and I'll ring them up for you. We still do table service for drinks even after the food stops. When it's quiet I'll teach you how to pour the drinks and how to ring things up. Does that sound OK?"

I was playing awkwardly with my fingers trying to take it all in and had started nervously biting my lip. Carmella held out a pen and notepad which I took.

"It's a bit quiet right now, so maybe wipe down some tables until we get some customers in."

I nodded and turned on my heels, anxious to get going. I started clearing plates and empty glasses from tablets, then returning to wipe them down. It was hot in here and I was suddenly glad I'd tied my hair up.

Once I'd done that, I began to wipe down the bar whilst Carmella stacked glasses.

"What's your deal anyway? Why did you move from Scotland to the ass end of nowhere in Ireland? Unless you lived in the ass end of nowhere in Scotland?"

I shrugged, "I lived in Glasgow, but my parents sucked and, well, let's just say I couldn't live there anymore and I had nowhere to go, so Sophie and her Dad gave me a bed and here I am, hoping I can keep this job so I can stand on my own two feet."

Carmella smiled. "I think I'm going to like you, you're feisty. You'll fit in well here. Oh, I think your first customers have just arrived." She said, tipping her jaw over in the direction that they had taken a seat.

I smiled and turned, eager to get going and then stopped and turned to face Carmella already.

"What? Look, don't let their hotness put you off or intimidate you, they're alright lads"

"It's not that, it's just, I've already had a bit of a run-in with Charlie."

"Interesting" she murmured."Here you look like you could do with this, and it will help the first night nerves."

Carmella took two shot glasses and filled them from a bottle of tequila. She passed me on and took it in her hand, raising it.

"Sláinte," she said, throwing the liquid into her mouth, I copied. Choking as I did so, the burn in my throat caused me to cough as the liquid made its way down.

"Holy s**t that was strong" I puffed, slapping my chest and reaching for a glass of ice water from behind the bar. That familiar feeling of being watched crept in, and goosebumps began to rise on my arms. I forced a smile onto my face and turned on my heels.

I could see Noah smiling at me as I headed in their direction. Charlie had his head bowed but I could see his eyes were trained on me.

"Hi, I'm Olivia, can I get you anything to eat or drink?" I asked, trying to sound breezy.

Charlie didn't look at me but Noah continued to smile.

"You're new here Olivia." That sounded like a statement and not a question, my name rolled off of his tongue with his English accent. I think Sophie said London but it didn't sound like a London accent to me.

"I am just a trial shift for now" I replied with a big grin.

"Well it's nice to meet you, I'm Noah and this is Charlie."

Charlie finally looked at me directly but his face wasn't friendly. It was different, like he was bored with me or irritated by my being there. Images of our kiss began to flood my mind and a lump formed in my throat.

"What can I get you both?" My voice sounded small now and not at all confident.

"I'll have a vodka and coke and your number", Noah winked.

"Vodka and coke I can do, number I can't", I laughed "Do you want anything?" I said looking at Charlie.

"Bottle of bud" he replied, briefly looking up at me from his phone which he seemed to be playing with.

"Right," I said as I rolled my eyes and headed to Carmella.

"See, I told you they don't bite."

"Yeah, Noah seems nice, I think Charlie hates me" I huffed and shook my head.

What the hell had I done to get that reaction from him?

"Charlie likes to blow hot and cold, he's cool though and is a nice guy when you get to know him."

"I don't think I want to get to know him, anyway, a vodka and coke a bottle of bud for those two."

Whilst Carmella got the drinks ready, I made my way to another table and served them, this time getting a much more positive reception, which included my first tip.

When that was done, I took the drinks over to Noah and Charlie and got another tip for my effort. The bar had gotten busy, so it gave me a good excuse not to stay and chat with Noah, no matter how keen he seemed.

Hours passed in a blur, and my feet didn't stop all night. I pounded the floor between the seats and the bar taking orders and delivering them, then I helped Carmella move tables until a dance floor appeared and the place got real loud with music.

Noah and Charlie still sat at the same table, only now Charlie had a tall leggy blonde in his lap. He caught my eye and he kissed her neck and she giggled. I could see their drinks were empty and my stomach dropped when I realised I'd have to go serve them.

"Some more drinks?" I said, focusing on Noah.

"Just another vodka and coke for me, Charlie, another bud?"

"Yeah, and a vodka orange for my new friend Sara here," he said, his hand dropping to her leg just below the hem of the lilac dress she wore.

"No problem, I'll be right over with them."

"Olivia?" Charlie called.

Did he just acknowledge me?

I turned, Noah was looking at Charlie, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah?" I said, trying to sound like I wasn't bothered.

"Have you met my friend Sara?" Was he teasing me and about my lack of friends or how easily he made them?

Sara giggled and placed her hand inside his grey shirt which was partially unbuttoned, and began kissing his jaw. But Charlie didn't break his gaze from mine, he didn't even flinch, but he did have that well-worn smirk on his face.

"I have now. Nice to meet you, Sara. I had better go get those drinks, it's busy in here tonight."

I moved as quickly as my feet could reasonably carry me without breaking into a jog and making it obvious.