We’re Closed || Xander & Nika
The day had been hell, to say the least.
Money hadn’t been a big concern to Nika, but tips had been shit all day.. Almost as shitty as the people whom walked in to swallow her bottles of sin, whole. What had been the fascination with alcohol? Where she came from, alcohol had been forbidden due to it turning people into mischievous devils. Were people so unhappy with their lives that they had to drown themselves in sour potato water?
Whatever their reasons, she didn’t mind to listen - it gave her something to look forward to in the mornings and damn was she a sucker for a good storytelling. …..Even if the storyteller couldn’t pronounce his every two words correctly.
Soft indie music played in the background as candles illuminated the wooden Boathouse with a warm glow. The moon hung high and bright in the night sky and shown gracefully through the glass windows. This was Nika’s favorite part of the day – quiet and peaceful nights with a full stomach and nowhere to go.
Her black work boots tapped loudly against the wooden floors as she made her rounds to each table to wipe and sanitize them of any puke or dirty fingerprints. Nika hummed softly to the music and pulled her knee-long cardigan closer to her body. She found it funny how cold she got on land but in water she was content no matter the temperature of the water. Speaking of which.. She needed her dip. Nika’s muscles felt cramped and she could notice her knees growing weak - a sign her body was craving to be in the water.
“Look.. We’re closed!” She hissed unintentionally with her back to the stranger and door. Read the sign… Nika selfishly thought. Maybe if she kept her back to them they would get the hint and leave. But then again you could never come in between a drunk and his liquor.
Long days were part of the charm of the life he’d found in this tiny little town. This had changed considerably over the years, but the charm of the town and the hustle and bustle never really did. People came and went and Xander stood firm in where he was. He liked this town and the people in it. If he hadn’t, he would have left with Asher. The two of them, Alpha and beta, could have started over with ease, but he hadn’t wanted to leave. Perhaps that had been because of Rayne, but even now, after the pair had parted ways, he had no desire to lock his doors, pack up the truck and hit the road.
“It’s just me,” he said as he walked in. He could hear the annoyance in Nika’s voice and it made the old wolf smirk slightly. He liked the bite Nika had, he kept her around for that. She’d been a steady employee for over a decade. He paid her well and made sure she knew she was valuable. “How’d the night go?” he asked as he walked over to the bar and pulled out a clean glass. He poured himself a drink from one of the many taps and cocked a hip on the bar. Most of the place was clean but there were a few spots that needed more work. He’d take care of that a bit later. After he had his beer.
@nikafields
