The Guy With the Suitcase (Once Upon a Guy #1) by Chris Ethan Read Free Book Online

sort himself out, if no one will fucking hire him?”
    His anger had dissipated as he vented. When he finished he felt breathless and cold. His stomach pulsed and his head felt light as he came to the realization that everyone was now staring at him and he had embarrassed himself. Tears started shaping in his eyeballs. Before he made an even bigger fool of himself, he decided to leave.
    He heard the guy say as he opened the door, “If you can come to work washed, clean-shaven, and with ironed clothes, you can start next Friday.”
    Pierce froze in his position, the tears finally releasing onto his cheeks. He wiped them before he turned to look at the bar manager. “You…you mean that?”
    “I only have a need for a weekender, so I can only give you two, maybe three shifts a week, but only if you can come to work like I said,” the guy told him. “And I’m not being an asshole, but I really can’t…”
    “Thank you,” Pierce cut him. “That’s enough for me. Thank you,” he repeated and his eyes stung as they were threatened by the invasion of more tears.
    “What’s your name, kid?” he asked.
    “Pierce. Callahan,” he said, thrusting the guy his resumé, so that he could confirm it on the paper. He took it.
    “Well, Pierce, I’m Vance,” he said and reached into his pocket. He took something out and passed it to Pierce. “Here. Go buy yourself some clothes from somewhere. I’m sorry for being such a dick before,” he said.
    Pierce felt the bills in his hand, but couldn’t believe how good the man he’d just screamed at turned out to be. “You made up for it by being such an angel. Thank you. I’ll see you next Friday,” he said and opened the door to leave for the third time.  
    “Oh, what time do you want me here?” he asked.
    ***
    “I know it’s a lot to ask, but can you please do that for me? It will be the first and last time,” Pierce was sitting at the reception desk opposite the hostel staff member.
    He had come with a plan on his way back and now was trying to implement it. Someone had given him a chance and he didn’t want to let him down. Someone had believed in him when his own blood couldn’t.
    “I’m sorry. It’s our policy. We don’t accept last minute cancelations,” the guy said. He was Asian. Chinese from what Pierce could tell, with near-perfect English. He was rather chubby in the face, but quite adorable nonetheless. He’d be a stud if he let him have his way, though.
    “Come on, man. Level with me. I’ve been out all day looking for a job. No one even gave me a second look, and then finally, this guy — this angel — gave me an opportunity. All I ask is that I transfer the second night I paid for to next Thursday so I can come here to clean up and turn up for my first job with the same respect he’s given me,” he told him.
    The receptionist grimaced, twitched his mouth, then rolled his eyes. “Okay. But don’t tell anyone I did that. It could cost me my own job.”
    Pierce smiled broadly. It seemed Vance had the magic touch. He felt like he could accomplish anything at that moment. He sprang up, planted a kiss in the guy’s cheek, and strolled out of the hostel with his suitcase and his dignity intact. Life was good!
    Of course, it had to be that moment he came to the realization that the temperature outside had dropped considerably. Describing it as lightly chilly would be the understatement of the year. It was motherfucking cold. It was the clear return to reality, his reality. He might have found a job, but it would be more than a couple of months before he could rent a room. He didn’t even know what he would be paid, if the place had good tips. It looked like it should. It was a classy bistro in the Village. It’d be crazy if it didn’t. But he would still have to live on the streets most nights to save money for an actual room.
    He felt like punching himself. What the fuck was wrong with him? Why was he focusing on all the cons? What had