"She's thrilled to see us." I said immediately after Maya slammed the door behind her.

"You're not helping." Theo stood up from the couch and headed to the kitchen. "It doesn't look like she'll let you stay the night here. We should find you a hotel."

"Or I can go back home." I tried my luck, but apparently I'm out of luck since Theo glared at me.

"You know what Killian said."

"Yes. Yes." I rolled my eyes. "But before we get to the hotel can we talk about your sister because wow."

I swear when the door opened to reveal a woman with raven black hair, dark eyes and porcelain doll skin, I thought I was at the wrong entrance. And when she opened her mouth, I was sure this couldn't be Theo's little sister.

Her tongue was sharper than the look with which she was looking at me.

And as my gaze slid down her body, I let myself be carried away. The short shorts showed off her beautiful long legs, but unfortunately the big t-shirt covered her ass.

Many things went through my mind before Theo appeared behind her. Things I will never say out loud about my best friend's little sister.

"She's...different." With a glass of water in hand, he turned towards me and leaned against the kitchen counter.

"I would say hot." I whispered to myself.

"I thought she would be more..." He hesitated.

"Nice." I finished for him. "Yeah, your sister doesn't look like she's been nice for the last few years, friend."

"I expected it to be easier" He grabbed his head and exhaled heavily. "And the guy she was with. She didn't even know his name."

"Wait, stop. What guy?"

"I'm not even going to start."

"Wait. The guy who came out of the building with his shirt on backwards?" I said with a smile on my face. "Are you kidding me? And she didn't know his name? Wow. I'm starting to like your sister more and more."

"I'm glad you're excited." He said, annoyed. "I don't know what happened to her." He shrugged. "I really thought she hadn't changed."

"And what did you expect? You haven't seen her for how long? Three, four years? Of course she's changed." Although I didn't expect it myself but I'm not going to say that out loud am I?

"Of course I knew she wouldn't be the same, but not like this." He pointed to the door she came out of. "Maybe I should call our parents."

"Have you lost your mind?" I frowned. "Your parents? Those parents who wanted to turn you into the police because you smuggled a girl home when you were eighteen? Sure, and tell them right away that your job is related to the mafia. They'll be thrilled." I faked a smile.

"Fuck, you're right."

"Can you say that again? I'll record it."

"Funny, really." He looked at me tiredly. "Enough about Maya. Hotel." He pointed at me and walked over to the living room table where he had his cell phone. "Will a three-star be enough for you?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I saw one down the road. I'll stop there." I shrugged. "At worst, you'll sneak me in here like that girl." I laughed, but Theo didn't look amused.

Luna stole all his humor. That's probably what happens when you sleep with one woman all the time.



"Mason." Out of breath, I ran to the bar, behind which one of the bartenders was standing and smiling.

Mason is not a bad looking guy. Tall, dark hair and an even darker look, narrow lips, a sharp jaw and a pretty cool sense of humor. Unfortunately, he's not my type. Plus, I work with him.

As I said, I have rules.

"No offense, but you look..." He didn't finish, he just measured me with his gaze once more.

"Tell me about it." I breathed out hard.

"You all right?" He frowned, slightly worried.

"Nothing serious." I waved my hand over it. "Only my brother."

"You have a brother?" His eyebrows almost flew through the roof.

No wonder.

I'm not a very open type of person. I don't like to talk about my family. Why? Easy. Mother is an outrageously naive bitch who has tried to control me all my life. My father slept with half of my hometown, behind my mother's back of course. And my brother, who left right before everything went to shit at home.

And by shit, I mean my parents' divorce, which lasted a whole year, constant arguments about my father's "friends", alcohol and taking out anger on their own daughter, who was not responsible for anything.

A perfect family, isn't it? I rush into conversations that involve dissecting families.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Mason" I winked at him and smiled before heading to the back of the bar where storage, changing rooms, and a study were located.

"Eddie?" I knocked on his office door before entering.

Eddie, my boss, lifted his beautiful brown eyes from the table to me and smiled.

You know what? Sometimes rules should be broken.

Especially when they involve not being able to sleep with your insanely hot boss.

Tall, brown hair, a sharp jaw, slight stubble, a toned body and a devilish smile.

"Maya." And my name sounds sooo good on his lips.

Get it together Maya. He's your boss.

"Sorry I'm late."

"Don't worry about it." He laughed. "First time late since you've worked here. Forgiven."

"Thanks, Eddie." I smiled at him and closed the door.

I've been working at Eddie's for a long time, I like it here. Mason is a big help, as second and the only other bartender I work with. He was already here before me and welcomed me with open arms. He's a really cool guy, but sometimes I find him a little weird.

Eddie is my forbidden love. I know I never have a chance since he doesn't want to date his staff, but at least he pays well to peek at him on his off days while he plays guitar on the smaller stage here.

Another of our help is Julie. Truth? I love that girl. If she was into girls, I would consider a long-term relationship. She is the sweetest and most amazing woman I have ever met. She is also absolutely beautiful.

She has doll-like skin, long brown hair that reaches almost to her ass, green eyes, an angelic smile, and the figure of a goddess. The dream of every man and woman.

Although she looks like an angel, when she drinks and relaxes, she is a different person. More than once I stole a kiss from her while we were dancing together. You can't blame me. Of course, I would never do it if she didn't want to. Consent is another one of my rules.

Otherwise, there are even more staff in the bar, but I don't see them that often since we have different shifts. Overall, we have a good team.

And one more person I love is Arnie. Our security guard. More than once he dragged someone out when they were harassing the staff. He still has a lot of power for being forty.

And his power is often needed, since our bar is open 24/7. This means that at three in the morning, a bunch of people come in, drinking like there's no tomorrow.

Many people will reach us. From motorcycle clubs, through unhappy women drinking away their sadness, teenagers enjoying life and more. It's colorful here.

I finally got out of my sweatpants and sweatshirt and put on something that screamed "Maya"!

Fishnet stockings, leather shorts that nicely hugged my ass, which I worked quite hard on in the gym, a tight black t-shirt with a neckline and platform shoes.

I would give my life for these shoes.

I fixed my make-up before walking out of the dressing room and heading over to see Mason to change him.

"This looks more like you." He greeted me with a smile.

"Sorry to keep you here. I hope you didn't have anything planned." I walked past him and put my hair in a high ponytail with my short front hair sticking out.

"Don't worry about it. It's a quiet day today, but I suppose that will change when the match starts."

"Oh no." I turned to him. "Football?" He nodded, confirming my nightmare. "Awesome." I breathed out hard.

I hate the days when football is on the TV. A bunch of drunks scream at the whole bar and can never forgive themselves for sexual insinuations.

As a bartender, and thus an employee, I have to live it through and also smile. One downside to this job.

"I can come help you earlier tonight if you want." He proposed and I swear I saw an angelic glow for a brief moment.

"It's okay." I shrugged my shoulders. "I'll manage somehow. But thanks, Mason."

"Of course." He smiled. "I'll head out."

I smiled at him before he went to the back and immediately turned to the guy who stood behind the bar and started dictating his order.

I don't know why, but I have a feeling that today is going to be hell of a long day.

*****

I was right. This day is still not over.

Thank goodness Mason came back sooner than he should have, which I'm really grateful for, as there were an incredible amount of people here all of a sudden. Laura and Anne, the waitresses, arrived just before him and replaced others. I was hoping that Julie would come today and make it a better day, but she wasn't feeling well.

Right now, things have calmed down here a bit, and I was able to pop into the back alley for a cigarette.

Bad habit, I know. But what do you expect from a twenty-one-year-old woman who has to suffer sexual innuendos from drunk guys all evening? Either a cigarette or I'll be in trouble with the police for assault.

I exhaled a cloud of cigarette smoke and leaned my head against the wall of the building.

"Are you trying to get away from the football fans? I won't blame you if you are." I heard from the back door and flinched when I saw a person in it.

"Eddie." I exhaled and removed my hand from my chest.

"Sorry." He laughed and walked over to me. "Are you okay?"

"It's been a long day. I can't wait for it to be over." I took a drag from my cigarette.

"That bad?" He leaned against the wall next to me and took out cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket.

"Worse. Family problems." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Believe me, I understand you." He laughed and blew out a puff of smoke. "I have a younger sister. Rosie." He smiled. "She's a pain in my ass, but she's my sister."

"The blonde who was here a few weeks ago and she wasn't twenty one so I couldn't pour her?" I knew she looked familiar.

"That would be her. She was in town so she stopped by to look at my business."

"That must be nice. When she comes to see you and see how you're doing." Which seems like the same situation I'm in, but it's still different. Theo is not here for nothing. I'm not that stupid.

"So what's bothering you?" He raised an eyebrow.

"My brother is in town." I breathed out hard. "I haven't seen him in almost four years."

"That's a long time."

"I got used to it after a while." She shrugged.

"So what do you think he's doing in town?"

"Actually?" I laughed. "I don't have the slightest idea. If he wanted to see me, he would have done it much earlier, and I know he certainly doesn't want money. So I don't know."

"Maybe he realized he missed a lot in those four years and now he's trying to catch up?"

"Theo's not that sentimental." I snorted. "He's different from how I knew him, but some things never change."

"You know what that sounds like to me?" I looked at him confused. "You're kicking him out before he can say anything. Have you tried giving him a chance?"

"A chance at what?" I frowned. "For him to hurt me? No thanks. Plus I don't give second chances. It's like watching the same movie over and over again. You want a different ending, but it won't change. So why try?"

"I know better than anyone that when you make up your mind, I'm not going to change your mind. So I'm not even going to try." I love this guy. Really. He pushed himself away from the wall and threw his cigarette into the bin, next to which mine is somewhere. "But just so you know," he paused at the door, "I like watching the same movies. Every time I think about something different that I didn't realize or notice before. It doesn't have to be bad." He winked at me before closing the door behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I take it back. Eddie is way too positive. We wouldn't be a good match.

*****

"Maya?" I heard Theo's voice as I locked the door.

"Who else?" I went further into the apartment and found him on the couch to my right, alone. So it looks like Acker is gone. Great. At least something.

"It's almost eleven."

"And?" I was trying to find one reason why he had a problem with when I came.

My shift ended about an hour ago, but I stayed to help.

"Nothing, sorry." He shook his head and stood up. "I was wondering if you wanted to come over for breakfast tomorrow. We can talk and all that." He shrugged like it was nothing but the serious expression on his face was telling a different story.

I bit my lip before telling him to fuck off. I would normally do that, but I'm talking to my brother. Although he doesn't really deserve that.

"I have to go see my friend first thing in the morning." I saw how his face fell. Great.

"Okay." He said as if it didn't hurt, but his face said otherwise.

Oh my God. "But we can go to lunch." What the hell am I doing?

"Really?" He looked up at me with sparkles in his eyes. I nodded but cursed myself inside. "Great." He smiled. "So agreed."

I'm not sure who put on the same movie again, but I have a really good feeling it was me, and I'm going to regret it.