Read Online The Carver's Magic by B. L. Brooklyn - Free Book Online

job so back up and go finish cutting the oranges and limes.”
    Beth’s eyes burned with hatred.
    I held her eyes and set my jaw.
    “Here you go, Shane,” Cory says.
    Beth looks down and frowns. “What is that?”
    “Shane looked tired so I made him – HEY!”
    Beth had grabbed the coffee and tossed the paper cup in trash and pointed at Cory. “No!”
    “Very grown up of you Beth.” I mutter, because I had been looking forward to the coffee.
    Beth ignores me all together because she lowered her head so she is in Cory’s face speaking fast and low. Cory is speaking back in the same quick pissy-whisper thing girls do.
    Beth leans back and holds out her hand. “Now Cory! I mean it. Give it to me now or we leave.”
    Rolling her eyes, Cory pulls out a vile of clear liquid and places it in her sister’s palm.
    What the hell?
    Cory looks over to me “It’s caffeine mix. You know like the five-hour energy drinks?”
    Oh.
    Beth grabs the vile and stuffs it in her pants pocket and walks away mumbling something about strangling someone.
    Cory pushes stray pieces of hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry, I was just trying to help.”
    She looks so sincere that I can’t believe I am not about to yell at her for trying to juice up my coffee. I let out a slow breath in an attempt to at least look displeased. “Yeah well next time just get a regular coffee. Okay?” I can see her face lighten. It bothers me how much it affects me that she is smiling like that. I wipe my hands down my face, “I gotta go.” And with that I walk around the bar as far away from Cory as I can get, which also means I am, once more, too close to her sister.
    It’s not like I need this job, per se. I just need something to keep me occupied. I’m a minimalist and I don’t need much to be content. I don’t need to spend money on traveling because I can do that anytime I want, and I have already seen most of the world. I don’t make huge investments or worry about the stock market because I really, truly, do not care about money. It pays the few bills I have, but the rest I can use my magic for. For example, my new car was all magic.
    I am not out to impress anyone. I don’t want to be seen with a big belt buckle, shiny watch, or flashy chain around my neck. I don’t need to have my hair slathered in gel or have my nails buffed and shined. I am a man, with little to no need for most of the materials the world has to offer. I wear dark brown boots that have scuff marks I put there, not purchased. I have faded jeans because I wear them in, not purchase them half-faded with holes. I wear plain, solid color shirts because the thought of wearing anything swirly makes me want to vomit. Yes my hair is curly, but it’s kept short so it’s not ragged. Yes I grow hair on my face and it looks like I have a five o’clock shadow four hours later, but I shave it every day because I have good hygiene. Yes I have hair on my body because shaving it makes me feel like a twelve year old boy whose balls have not dropped. This is how I am, and I will not excuse myself for it.
    I will not dress a new way for anyone. I will not change who I am because someone has a problem with me. And I will not let anyone intimidate me. So with that thought, I decided I was not quitting at the end of the night. Instead I am going to push through, and if I were lucky she would quit, or better yet, get fired.
    Beth smugly looks me up and down as I walk by. I choose to ignore her and continue to walk back to the stock room to fill the bar and get several white hand towels. I pass a few patrons who are here to start their night off early. A small group heads to one of the tables while two guys head to the bar. I probably should go and take their order because I honestly don’t know if Beth knows what she is doing, but… letting her see that she doesn’t know anything is also very appealing.
    Shrugging my shoulders, I continue walking to the stock room. I take my time and look over