Harrison POV
It's Friday afternoon at The Lock Box Bar downtown and I’m the only one working the bar. Work is slow, and my coworker and boss, Jeff, is in the back doing an inventory before tonight’s rush.The phone on the back wall started to ring, and I ditched my cleaning of the glassware to answer it. “Thanks for calling The Lock Box, how can we make your day awesome?” “Hey Harrison, it’s Rhett.” I smiled and shifted my weight to one leg at the sound of his voice. “Oh, hey. What’s up?” “Harrison! What have I told you about personal calls on the business line?!” my boss shouts from the back room, but I choose to ignore him and listen to Rhett. “I wanted to know if you could get together for lunch today?” I checked my watch and saw the time was now a quarter till noon. “It’s kind of short notice, Rhett. I don’t know if I can make that. My boss gets super crabby when he’s stressed before a rush and I don’t want to get in trouble.” “That’s fine. Can I stop by the bar?” I’m sure my eyes were twinkling as he offered to visit me instead. “Sure! That’d be great. You know where to find me.” I spot Jeff coming out from the backroom and hurry to hang up the phone before Rhett can respond, rushing back to my chores to prepare the bar for tonight. Jeff glared at me, but I looked away from him and mumbled, “It’s not breaking the rules if HE calls ME.” * I spent the rest of the day giddy and excited, perking up any time I heard the front door open, expecting it to be Rhett. He wanted to meet for lunch, so I expected him shortly after the phone call, but he didn’t show up. I was a little bummed, but the rush of a Friday night crowd at the bar didn’t give me much time to dwell on it. The music was blasting and the crowd was almost shoulder-to-shoulder by the time it was fully dark out. Two more employees had come in to help me man the bar, yet we were still overflowing. My red tank and jeans were damp from the various liquids that the new bartender would spill on me while trying some ridiculous tricks with the bottles. “This isn’t Coyote Ugly, Brennan! Knock it off!” I snatched the tequila bottle from him, making the two girls across from him at the bar who he was trying to impress giggle, and pushed him aside. Thank God there’s a no-smoking rule in the bar or I swear I would have gone up in flames by now with how much liquor this kid has spilled on me. Taking over his corner, I palm-spun the two bottles in each of my hands before pouring shots for the two girls. They smiled and their eyes twinkled at me, and I winked at them as I pushed the shot glasses closer to them. Turning to Brennan, who was fuming at me with his arms crossed, I walked to him and said over the loud music, “I’ll teach you the fancy shit tomorrow. Stop trying to show off.” I slapped him on the back and threw the rag over my shoulder before walking to the next customer at the end of the bar. He was cute! Tall, medium build, with brown hair that was dyed blonde at the tips, fresh-shaven olive skin, and kind green eyes, similar to Rhett's. He dressed in a suit and looked like he had just gotten off work. “Need something to take the edge off?” I asked as I grabbed a bottle of whisky and scotch, presenting each one to the man for him to choose. He smiled at my gesture, and I about melted at his smile. He had dimples and the corner of his eyes wrinkled slightly. He had to be just over thirty, but no more than thirty-five. Signs of a hard worker to have crow’s feet at such a young age. “Dirty martini,” he hollered over the crowd, placing one elbow on the bar and leaning on it. I lifted my eyebrows and turned around to get what I needed with a smirk. ‘Not a bourbon or scotch guy, okay, I see you, boo,’ I thought to myself with some amusement. ‘Was that a French accent I picked up on? Bonjour, Monsieur Martini.’ Turning back to build the drink, I placed the martini glass on the mahogany bar and got to mixing. I notice that he’s browsing the bar as if he’s looking for someone; extending his neck every few seconds to see over someone’s head. “Got a hot date coming?” “Na. Work colleague,” he said with what sounded like regret. I figured I shouldn’t comment on it and decided to simply nod my head and go about my work. I stabbed two olives with a toothpick before plopping them into the drink, then pushed it across the bar to the handsome man with a napkin underneath. He smiled at me in thanks, and I went on to the next person. A group of girls caught my attention because they were regulars and always tipped well. They loved when we put on a show for them; Taylor and I were the best bartenders in town and worked like magic together, turning the entire twenty-foot-long bar into a show. Our record was thirty-five shot glasses in a row to be filled without a single drop spilled and lit by a flame thrower at one end. Stupid? Yes. Worth it? Also yes. Would we do it again? Depends on how much money you plan on tipping us… and if Jeff is present. “Harrison! Do the twirly thing!” one of the girls hollered at me while bouncing on her toes in excitement. I chuckled at them and went about the “twirly thing,” throwing the bottle up into the air and catching it behind my back numerous times. I did some ice throwing for other drinks and a shaker flip around my thumb for some extra flair. They cheered and hollered, and eventually, the entire bar was rooting for me. “Harr-i-son! Harr-i-son!” Before I knew it, I was practically juggling, but the tip jar was filling up past the rim and I was lost in the moment. Suddenly, a familiar face made its way to me, and I recognized my best friend, Rhett, smiling at the end of the bar behind the crowd of admirers as they chanted my name. I smiled at him, finished my little show, and took a slight bow at the applause before leaving the bar to greet him. He was standing next to the cute man who ordered a dirty martini, and I concluded that Rhett was the work colleague this man had been looking for earlier. He smiled as I neared him, and I walked out from behind the bar to hug him. “Good to see you, man!” He gave me a bro hug and clapped my back a few times. “Have you met Milo?” He motioned to the man in a suit next to him, who promptly lifted a hand and smiled at me. I smiled back. “We are familiar.” I extended a hand to him and properly introduced myself, “Harrison Monroe.” “Milo Lavigne.” “Pleasure.” “Harrison!” I roll my eyes as Jeff's voice reaches my ears. I turn to find him behind me. “You riled up all the customers with your fancy bottle tricks - get back to it! We have paying customers here!” I give him a sarcastic salute after he turns around and returned to the other side of the bar to fix Rhett his usual drink. Jeff is pretty good about the backhanded compliments that leave you wondering if you should be flattered or frightened. “I wanted to tell you something important, Harrison.” Rhett leaned against the bar with both forearms bracing him. He seemed serious, and I wondered if maybe he was sick? Was Milo here as support for when he tells his best friend that he’s dying and that’s why he seemed upset when he mentioned his colleague was coming? “What’s going on?” I ask with concern, only to get called over by Taylor to help him out with something. I hold up a finger to Rhett to tell him I’ll be right back and he nods with a smile. If he’s smiling then it can’t be so bad, right? I should calm down. I kept getting pulled every which way for the next five-or-so minutes, and I could tell Rhett was losing his patience. I looked at him with an apologetic look and pulled my shoulder-length blonde hair into a small ponytail; it was getting too hot and my mind was all over the place. I just wanted to finish my shift and hang out with Rhett. At least he had Milo to keep him company. The glass I had been filling began to shake and I looked down the bar to see Rhett hitting the bar with the palm of his hand in an attempt to get my attention. He cupped his hands around his mouth and hollered what he had been meaning to say to me, “Harry, I’m getting married!” “What?!” I turned, startled, and slipped on a wet patch on the ground, falling to my ass. Married? Why couldn’t he just be sick?Harrison POVI sat there for a moment with my eyes widened. Did I hear him correctly? Rhett's getting married? I didn’t even know he was seeing someone! It's only been a couple of months since we’ve last seen each other; there’s no way that he started dating someone and got engaged in such a short amount of time!Taylor and Brennan rushed to me and Jeff took over at the bar popping lids off of beer bottles as they helped me up from the ground. I saw him peeking over the bar at me, his brown hair falling over his forehead and his green eyes filled with concern, his brows forming a frown as he leaned further.“I’m good, I’m good,” I said to the guys as I got back up.“Take a break, man.” Taylor clutched my shoulder and motioned for me to head out back for some fresh air. I nodded and did as he said, walking in a daze.I pushed open the back door and was met with a brisk burst of air that cooled all of the sweat on my face and body that accumulated while working and being surrounded by s
Rhett POVMy heart thumped the entire car ride to the bar with excitement to see Harrison again after a couple of months. Last time we saw each other was two months ago when he stopped by my apartment for video games and beers.I knew it would be busy since it was a Friday, but I had to see him; I had to get this off my chest and officially ask him to be my best man. Rebecca had been bothering me with the question for a while, and I had been too coward to ask him until now. I didn’t know how he would react to the news, and I feared the worst. I know Harrison and I know he wouldn’t bail on me, but I began to doubt myself and question everything as time went on.When I saw him at the bar doing his tricks with the bottles and drinks for his customers I couldn’t help but smile. Harrison was always the one to make others smile; I just went along with it because I wanted to be more like him; outgoing and confident. He was an admirable soul.I saw him wink at a couple of girls and could only
Rhett POVI pulled into the condo garage and parked my car before entering the unit that Rebecca lived in and I frequently spent my time in. I agreed with her father that we wouldn't move in together until after we’re married, so I spend as much time here as possible with her when I’m not at work, then go to my own apartment for the night.“Becky, I’m hooooome,” I hollered in my best Ricky Ricardo voice.“Hi, honey!” Rebecca came out from the kitchen with an apron that was covered in flour. She got on her tiptoes to give me a kiss and told me, “I’m just finishing up dinner.”Her long black hair twirled along with her yellow floral dress as she turned on her heel and returned to the kitchen. She was so tiny at 5’5” and walking around barefoot in the condo, one could mistake her for a toddler if they weren’t looking at her.“How was your day?” she hollered from around the corner.“Good,” I answered as I took off my suit jacket and draped it over a chair on my way to the kitchen. “I stop
Harrison POV*SMUT WARNING*I finished my shift at the bar and headed to the upstairs apartment that Jeff lets me rent out above the bar. The noise from the bar still sounds from the floorboards up until three in the morning usually, but it’s cheap and convenient for little old me, and I never minded the sounds of people enjoying themselves. Besides, if there's ever a bar fight, I'm only a few seconds away from helping break it up.I dragged my feet up the stairs and looked up once I saw a pair of shiny leather shoes. Milo was standing outside my door, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and a wicked smile on his lips as he caught sight of me. His green eyes filled with lust as he loosened his tie. He looked yummy and desirable, as I had thought since the second I saw him, and I was famished after my shift, ready for some fresh meat.I reached the step that he was on and wasted no time opening the door and pulling him in behind me, dragging him by the tie like a leash. I sh
Harrison POVMilo ended up falling asleep on the bed next to me, and I was too tired and lonely to bring myself to wake him and tell him to go. It had been a while since I shared my bed with someone, and I enjoyed the extra body heat in my bed. After such an intense day, it was nice to feel like I wasn’t alone, and I drifted off to sleep shortly after Milo did.The next morning I was woken up by the door to my room opening and the blinding light from the sun shining through. I groaned and covered my eyes with the back of my hand.“Oh, I didn’t realize you had company.”I recognized the voice instantly, but Milo didn't, and he shot up to his forearms - as he had been sleeping on his stomach - with a concerned look on his face.“Girlfriend?” he asked in a hushed tone.“Sister,” I answered with a grumble, not moving my hand from my face.“Hi, I’m Holly!” She greeted him with a big smile and wave, completely unbothered by our nakedness.She’s caught me in worse positions before, so findin
Rhett POVI was in the boardroom around ten in the morning when I saw from a window Milo hurry into the office, looking like a frantic mess. He stopped his running and adjusted his hair and suit before he walked any closer to the boardroom where everyone was preparing for a meeting.He entered the room and sat right next to me. I noticed his lack of cologne and antiperspirant, which was noticeable after his obvious run to the office.“Is that the same suit from last night?” I asked quietly so no one overheard.Milo smiled his dashing white teeth at me and said, “I like your friend.”I’m sure all color drained from my face as the weight of his words settled in my mind. I knew he would make a move on Harrison when I left him at the bar, but he spent the entire night with him? That seemed a little excessive and I was not expecting it.“Sounds like he liked you too,” I mumbled. I glanced over at him and my eyebrows drew together. “Where’s your tie?” I asked. Milo looked down at himself an
Rhett POVI was setting the table for dinner and Rebecca was busy in the kitchen when the doorbell rang.“That’s him!” she exclaimed with excitement.“I’ll get it,” I told her as I went to the door and opened it.Harrison stood there looking as handsome as ever. His blonde hair rested at his shoulders in waves and his honey brown eyes lit up when he saw me. He dressed in a navy blue, V-neck tank and jeans - a usual attire for Harrison, and I smiled at him.“Welcome, welcome.” I stood to the side and motioned for him to enter.“Hey,” he greeted with a smile. He then held up a bottle, “I brought this wine. I wasn’t sure if Rebecca drinks wine, but I thought it a safe bet.”“She loves red, yes. Thank you.” I took the bottle from him as he extended his hand to me and walked through the door. “She’s in the kitch-”Rebecca suddenly appeared in the hallway, stopping me mid-sentence with a beaming smile on her flawless face.-Hall,” I finished with a smile at her.“Harrison!” She hugged him ti
Harrison POVDinner wasn’t nearly as awkward as I had imagined it to be, and I found myself actually enjoying myself the more time I spent there. I hated to admit it, but Rebecca and Rhett were really cute, and I absolutely adore Rebecca and her spunk. She seems like a great match for him, and her energy is so amazing that I even told her that she would be welcome to join the Hype Boys. She was elated, and I left there with a big smile on my face.I still feel jealous that she gets to call Rhett hers and I don't, but if I was going to give up Rhett to anyone, I would want it to be Rebecca Hoshiko. I wonder if she’s going to take his last name and become Rebecca Langely? It has a nice ring to it now that I think about it. Or maybe hyphenate it to Hoshiko-Langley? Langely-Hoshiko? Meh. That’s a bit much.I surprised myself by thinking these things while cleaning up the bar the next morning. We are closed Sundays, so I had the entire place to myself and nothing to do. I ended up getting