Perfect Storm

25- Tawny

"Have you heard from Ian at all?" I asked Hannah while adding the ingredients to her favorite drink into a shaker.

"No. Not since yesterday. Why?"

My heart stopped beating for a second, and then the next thing I felt was a funny feeling roaming through my stomach—an instant feeling that something wasn't right.

I stopped shaking the margarita concoction, set the shaker on top of the bar top, and feeling nervous as can be, I looked her in the eye. "I've been texting Ian all day, and he hasn't responded to any of my messages. He hasn't even called, which is so unlike him. He always calls me the moment I awake in the morning, and he always responds to my messages."

"I wouldn't worry if I were you. Ian probably ran into an issue with one of his business properties and is doing what he does best without getting you involved, and that's blowing up on whoever screwed it up."

I shook my head, not believing her reasoning, firmly believing that's not the case. My heart and mind are telling me something is wrong.

"You're wrong, Hannah." I raised my hand to my chest, patting it as I spoke. "This is telling me something has gone wrong. I feel it, and I know it. And as much as I'd like not to think or feel this way, I do. And it's all because of the bad luck I've experienced throughout the years. When my gut tells me something is wrong, it's usually always right."

Hannah's brows drew to one. "What do you think has happened?"

I shrugged a shoulder. Unsure of what could be wrong. "I have no clue. All I know is what I feel."

Hannah lifted her phone and said, "I'll tell you what. I'll call Ian until he answers while you finish making my drink?"

"I don't think he'll answer, but okay?"

As I finished making Hannah's drink, she repeatedly called her brother's phone. I also did what I could to be near Hannah the entire time; that way, if Ian answered, I could listen in on her conversation with him.

It's like the old saying goes; good timing is invisible, and bad timing sticks out like a mile. And I say that because the moment I heard Hannah ask Ian why he's been ignoring his phone, a large rowdy group of people entered the building, immediately demanding my attention.

Of course, that's my luck.

Now, I'm dying to know what Hannah and Ian are discussing. And I'm more than curious to hear why he's been ignoring me all day.

Ian better have a good explanation for his absenteeism, too.

So, as I made the twenty shots of Bazooka Joes the birthday group ordered, I couldn't help wandering my eyes over to Hannah, with me also blocking out the party-goers, hoping to see or hear what she's saying to him. But that didn't work out as I had hoped, either.

The bar area was loud, and Hannah left the room, taking her drink.

Moments later, another large group entered the establishment. And they were testing my patience level.

Not only am I annoyed. I'm pissed.

On top of serving two large birthday parties and a full house before they arrived, I'm by myself. Hannah disappeared, and my mind and nerves are on the verge of exploding.

"Smile. You're too pretty of a woman to serve these guests with a frown on your face." A familiar voice said beside me.

Relieved to hear his voice, I snapped my head Jason's way and stretched my mouth into a semi-smile. "It's been a bad day," I started saying, then extended my hand out, waving it from one side of the bar to the other side, "and I wasn't expecting all of this tonight. Especially since I'm working by myself tonight."