you got me

    “As usual, keeping us all on the edge of our seats.” She teased with a small laugh as she brought her own pen to her lips. The silence that passed between them unsurprising. “At least you’re consistent.”

He shrugs but does let loose a brief chuckle at her words. “Effortlessly so,” he gives with a wink before sighing softly.

“Yeah..” Lysa nodded, lips twisting into an awkward grimace. “I wasn’t a chain smoker or anything, just a cig here or there when I got too stressed out.” Still, it was nothing to be proud about. “Oh? Have the two of you already scooped out all the best places to have lunch at around here? Any recommendations?” 

He nods a few times, pursing his lips but ultimately deciding to let it go. “Kind of,” he shrugs as he wipes the bar. “I’m sure she’ll have a few, if you ask.”

“Yeah,” they handed over the napkin. “It’s here. When do I start?”

“When do you wanna start? Got one of two sick calls you could fill.”

“That is why I won’t take long. If you know something please call me. Do you have a paper and a pen?”

“One sec... Paper, pen,” he tells after a moment; handing her the items.

“I very much don’t need a cig right now but I thought I’d see if you could use a helping hand moving. “ Sophia questioned with a smile on her face.

Ramon nods once, breathing a chuckle. “Any help is appreciated,” he tells her, running a hand through his hair as he looks around at the clutter. “Most of it’s boxed already. Only needs to get loaded into the truck, I think.”

“Thanks, I wanted to follow up about that job.”

“It’s all yours,” he shrugs. “You leave your email already? For the schedule.”

“Um, no, go ahead and keep it. I used to stress smoke a little back in uni and.. uh, through some other not so great times, but I haven’t touched a cigarette in years now and intend to keep it that way. Especially now. Thanks for.. offering.. though?” Lifting her phone a little higher, she added: “It’s just that the service was a little spotty inside and I’m waiting for a call. But if you want to smoke here, I can always just take a stroll around the block?” 

He nods slowly and only once, turning his gaze away from her. Although, a smirk does turn up on his lips after a moment. “You smoked,” he muses, giving the shake of his head now. At her next words, he allows a chuckle to escape; if only brief. “Doesn’t bother me,” he tells her, placing the cigarette back into its pack and clearing his throat. “Supposed to be meeting Autumn for lunch, she’s late.”

     Imani held up her wax vape pen as she approached him as an answer to his question, before turning her back to the wall to lean against it. “I’m good. I prefer mary jane to nicotine, and always the mango flavor. You stressed or something?”

His brows furrow a moment before he shrugs, shoulders slumping forward as he pulls the joint to his lips. “No,” he answers in a neutral tone. He wasn’t, it was true, although between the move and work; he had been rather tired lately.

Ramon wouldn’t have accepted the offers of help for the move from anyone but Soph, if it were his own decision. But alas, he had Autumn and her belongings to think about; not that she’d have accepted his ‘no’ anyway. So here he was, leaving work early to begin the biggest task of it all. Getting the boxes inside and unpacked. Or at the very least, just inside and out of the way. He wasn’t even sure if Hunter was aware that he’d planned to be off early, not that he cared either way. In his mind, the other man either liked him or didn’t; and that was not his problem to deal with.

As he pulls up to the curb, exhaling smoke from his lips, Ramon surveys the scene before exiting his vehicle. The truck already looked like quite the task, barely even unloaded yet and looking as if it’s ready to burst. How fun, he’d think to himself with the shake of his head. He approaches while pulling the joint from his mouth and butting it into the ground, slow to acknowledge the presence of anyone else near.

“Perfect. I’ll take one,” Lysa nodded, raising the cool glass to her lips, before resting her forearms on the countertop and meeting his eyes again. “So, how’s it going with the moving? All settled in?” 

He nods once before placing the order with his kitchen staff and returning. A brief chuckle leaves his lips, "mostly, I think. Autumn would be better to ask,” he shrugs as a smirk lingers on his lips.

“Yeah, I mean… I have a lot of downtime when I’m home. I don’t sleep much… I know a thing or two about alcohol… I think I’d be pretty good.”

"How many shifts a week? It’s no secret we’re short staffed.”

“Well good I’m glad.” She grinned back before hearing the sigh of relief. “Everything ok?” 

“Rough day today, with work,” he shrugs before letting out a low chuckle. “I’m off the clock here soon, you up for a couple burgers? Don’t tell me you ate already.”

“Perfect. I’ve always thought about being a bartender. What’s it like?

“Pays the bills,” he shrugs. “I’m management now. You looking to apply or something?”