Lucky didn’t move. Not even to take the money. “Why are you doing this?”
Damon closed the distance between them and tucked the twenty in Lucky’s pocket. “I’ve got shit to do, Lucky. Get moving.”
With a nod, Lucky stepped around Damon and headed for the door. Damon wanted breakfast and Lucky needed to do something right for once in his goddamn life. Otherwise, he truly didn’t deserve Damon’s friendship.
It only took one look at Lucky to see he hadn’t slept. Other than giving Lucky a job and something tangible to claim as his own, Damon didn’t know how to help. He was eaten alive with curiosity. Damon wanted to know what happened last night. He already knew Lucky would never say. Last time, even though some guy had obviously beaten the hell out of him, Lucky hadn’t told Damon a single detail. For reasons Damon hadn’t deciphered, Lucky kept everything inside. Damon had to let it be that way or risk Lucky would stop reaching out for help. That was one outcome Damon couldn’t live with. He had already failed one boy in need.
With Lucky getting their breakfast, Damon pulled the list Lucky had written from his pocket. It was the most heartbreaking collection of items Damon had ever seen. Lucky was literally starting with nothing but his clothes. Then there was the tiny notation about not having the money for everything. Damon couldn’t let this go on. If Lucky needed help, Damon couldn’t turn a blind eye.
He quickly took a picture of the list and attached it to a text to Frost, asking him to pick up everything and deliver it to the apartment. Frost wasn’t his first choice. He would have preferred to ask Tobin, but Tobin was in the Bahamas on his overdue honeymoon. While Damon knew a lot of people, he didn’t know many who would do this. Honestly, he didn’t know if Frost would.
Frost: I have questions.
Damon: Just helping someone down on their luck. Let me know the total and I’ll send you the funds.
Frost: What else will you give me?
Damon swallowed a sigh. Honestly, he was a little tired of everyone. Damon was the guy who always stopped his life for everyone else. Yet the moment he needed any help from anyone else, it became a favor. He was tired and Frost had picked the right day.
Damon: On second thought, never mind. I’ve got a new guy starting today. He can handle the morning bullshit around here while I do this myself.
Frost: I was only playing, sexy. I don’t mind grabbing everything.
Damon: It’s cool. I’ve got it.
Frost: That’s fine. Ten bucks says it’s for your problem child, Lucky. I don’t care to run errands for the pretty boy.
Since Damon was already aggravated, he didn’t bother responding. Frost could go fuck himself. Damon was getting a little tired of him anyhow. Lucky used his back to push open the door to the bar as he carried in their food. He had a plastic bag draped over his arm and a drink in each hand. Damon rushed to help him.
He took a coffee and the bag. “It smells good.”
Lucky flashed him a smile as he headed toward a table. “Yeah. They were having a two for twelve ninety-nine meat lover’s biscuit combos. One of us might end up having a heart attack afterward, but they look delicious.”
Without thought, Damon pulled a chair out for Lucky to sit. He played off the move by acting like nothing happened. “I’ve had the meat lover’s biscuit and you’re right.”
Lucky laughed. The muscles in Damon’s stomach tightened inexplicably. Lucky didn’t give him time to puzzle over it. “About which part? The deliciousness or the heart attack?”
With a chuckle, Damon planted his ass in the seat across from Lucky. “Both.” He helped Lucky unpack the food. The whiff of grease and regret slapped Damon in the face. It was two of his favorite scents.
While they ate, Lucky kept him entertained. He told stories about people he met at random, because—apparently—everyone just talked to him everywhere he went. Damon made two discoveries. One, he knew that. He hadn’t realized it before, but everyone did talk to Lucky. At the reception, Damon had watched almost everyone Lucky passed stop him to chat. The second discovery wasn’t as enlightening or as comfortable. Damon liked spending time with Lucky. The guy was genuinely nice and funny. He actively listened when other people spoke. That last bit probably fed Damon’s first realization. Lucky cared what other people had to say. Therefore, everyone told him everything. Lucky’s natural charm made breakfast fly.
Damon checked his watch as he popped the last bite of biscuit in his mouth. “How much do you know about bartending?” Damon asked around his food.
“I know how to read the labels and pour.”
Damon nodded and pushed away from the table. “Good. You’ll be alone this morning for a few hours. I have some errands to run.” He didn’t slow and let Lucky argue. “The place doesn’t officially open for another two hours, so you can spend that time making sure the guys stocked the beer fridge behind the bar before they left last night. If not, please do that. The beer is in the storeroom. Also, kind of walk around for a visual check to ensure they cleaned. You should be fine after opening. There are only a few regulars who pop in before noon. They’re usually just bored or alcoholics. Nothing you can’t handle.”
“Okay.” Lucky truly looked like he would be fine.
Damon didn’t understand why he trusted Lucky so much, but he did. Unfortunately, he kept thinking of a million things a new hire should do and know. “Oh, yeah. We’ll fill out your paperwork later. I can’t afford to pay you much, but I’ll pay you daily. Plus, all the guys tip. The price list is taped to the counter next to the register. Just type the price in and the register does the rest. What else?”
Lucky laughed and pushed him toward the door. “I know your number, sweetie. Just go. I’ll be fine. You’d be amazed how good I am at winging it.”
After Damon opened the door, he had another thought and turned. His mouth opened.
Lucky smiled.
Damon’s thoughts scattered. He made a third realization about Lucky. As long as they had known each other, he hadn’t seen Lucky smile for real before now. There was no twinkling charm. Damon had no desire to smile in return because such a beautiful man looked at him. Lucky’s real smile was sweet and hopeful. It made Damon want to protect him. Kiss him. Feel too much. Goddamn. Damon was a blind idiot. He wanted Lucky. Probably always had. Damon had no idea where to go from here.
The morning moved faster than Lucky expected. The guys hadn’t restocked the fridge and that kept Lucky’s hands busy. Then he found the bathrooms were only halfway clean—like he was certain someone had made the attempt, but they needed more help. By the time he pulled the chain on the neon “open” sign, he had already broken a sweat. It felt good to be moving. In fact, he didn’t think he would need to hit the gym today if he kept finding work to do. Lucky busied himself way more than necessary because Damon obviously trusted him way more than Lucky deserved. He had left Lucky alone to open his bar.
One time, a while back, Damon had left Lucky to sign for a beer delivery. That morning didn’t count. It had been an extreme emergency and Lucky knew it had eaten Damon alive to do it. Back then, Damon had likely expected he would come back to find his bar burned to the ground. After all, Damon had been putting out Lucky’s fires for a while now. That thought punched Lucky in the gut. Damon was still cleaning up the mess that was Lucky’s life. Maybe, one of these days, Lucky would surprise Damon and do something good. Right now, he would start with being the best employee Damon had.