Leon's Way Read Online Free Page B

well.”
    Unconsciously, I cover my boobs with my elbows, pressing inward as Ingela slams the door over a “hej då”—her “goodbye” when she forgets to speak English.
    I consider letting her deal with the uniform issue on her own. We live a short walk from Smother, so Ingela could make it here and back quickly. Still, I don’t want her to be late.
    Once Ingela started working at the bar, everything happened fast. In a matter of days, my old roommate packed up, and Ingela moved in—I don’t even remember offering her the spare room.
    The girl took a week getting used to my administrative talents slash mom genes. I groan to myself. Unfortunately, I hate to disappoint, so now, I swipe up the damn pants and head out.

    This morning went well at home. I had some of Ingela’s crisp breads and water before I got out of bed, which lessened the nausea. Now, though—a few hours into my shift at work—I tip up on the balls of my feet so as not to stir my roiling innards while I slink past Leon’s office door. The club doesn’t open for a while, but with the influx of new staff since New Year’s, Leon demands my presence more than ever. Yeah, this semester I’m not taking any college classes. I can’t with the way Leon needs me at Smother.
    As I head to the bathroom, he calls out my name. “Arriane. Please come in for a minute.” My pulse thuds triple-beats but relents when I remind my heart that he’s unaware of my state.
    “Be right there,” I shout, business-like.
    I’m in luck. No one else is in the other stall, so I don’t have to keep my gagging under wraps. I lock the main door to the ladies’ room to have the place to myself. Hurl out the latest batch of saltines, the ones I keep stashed in my purse. Blinking the liquid away from my eyes, I relax. I’m done for now. I always feel better right after I get it out.
    Cute silly-boy, Cameron, is stacking beer glasses when I return to the bar. I lean against a stool, straightening my apron. “Pour me some Coke, Cam,” I say, and he bobs his Nordic-blond head, so much like Ingela’s, and curls his lips in a seductive grin.
    “Anything for you, Boss Lady.”
    I roll my eyes at him. “Just show me how fast you can be, boy—we’ll be slammed after the game tonight.”
    I’m no one’s supervisor—the responsibility I have is rooted in detailed instruction from our boss. Whenever Leon’s at his other club in Talco, Christian becomes the manager at Smother. “And stop calling me that,” I add to Cameron.
    “Sorry, bossy lady,” he quips and holds his hands up in defeat when I glare at him. “Hey, at least I didn’t say ‘Boss Lady!’”
    “Now you did,” I say, causing him to chuckle and mumble something to the effect of “oh, snap” and “good one.”
    Slowly, I suck down my fizzy medicine. My stomach adjusts around the sugar, settling further.
    “Arriane.” I tense on the seat at Leon’s voice behind me. “Were you coming?”
    This looks bad. Instead of going straight to his office, I’m slacking on duty, drinking and eating his stuff. Knowing him, he won’t hold it against me, though.
    “She’s sick,” Cameron volunteers. “She’s been throwing up all day.”
    That’s not even true. It’s the first time today, and we’re way into the afternoon. Honestly, I feel good about this. Not so good about Cameron’s outing. Snitch.
    “Thanks, Cameron,” I wheeze under my breath. He’s clueless, his light green eyes arching with surprise.
    I slide into damage control mode. I hop off the stool and skip the first two steps in Leon’s direction. The dark lines of his brows dip together. Without a word, he holds the door to his office for me and closes it behind us.
    I hope he’ll sit behind his desk, because distance works well for me. Unfortunately, he just crosses his arms and turns to me. “Is it true what Cameron says?” His voice is silky-alert and not ready to buy lies.
    “Yeah, I ate some old takeout yesterday—”
    “Did