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“I know.” Her dad patted her arm. “And that’s why you’re such a good mom. You always put Axl first, but you’re a young woman in the prime of her life too. Not that your dad wants to think of that of course, but I’m not blind.”
No, unfortunately her father had gotten way too much information the other night. “I’ll think about it.” Not like she’d been able to do anything else except think about Michael lately. “Thanks for the ride into work.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “And the talk.”
“You’re welcome, Chloe Bear.”
She slid out of the car, shut the door, and waved. When he turned back onto the main drag she turned around and her heart sank. More vans. Why? Was there really so little in the news right now? She knew it was an election and they loved to push buttons for the senator thing, but wouldn’t it be Michael they’d really want to go after?
She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. All she could do was get through this. Running away never solved anything. She smoothed her fingers over her high ponytail, then swiped her bangs into some semblance of order.
Questions came at her like bullets, but she was playing Supergirl to the hilt. She walked right through them, without even holding her hand up against the crush of people. Powering through the problem was the only way she’d survived the last three years. The last two reporters pushed in on her and she used her shoulders like Snake had taught her.
General admission shows could get quite competitive for spots near the band. And she liked being up front where the action was.
Of course Rafferty’s was no show. In fact, it was dim and dark compared to the blast of sunshine. It took her a second to get her eyes to adjust. She rushed through the room to the break room. The couch was gone, in its place was a lopsided loveseat that looked like it had been in a war with nineteen cats.
“Chloe?”
She turned to Lou’s voice. “I’ll be right up to prep the bar.”
“Can you come in my office?”
Chapter 21
She stared at her feet. “Look, Lou. I’m sorry about the reporters. It’s going to die down any time now.”
“I’d rather not talk about this in the break room, Chloe.”
Her chest tightened as she lifted her gaze to his. His eyes were looking at anything except her. The floor, over her shoulder, the new used couch—except her. “I’m the best goddamn worker you have.”
“Not if this nonsense is driving people away.”
Her eyebrows snapped together. “Our sales are up because of all of this crap.”
“No, I’ve had to give away a lot of damn beer because of this.” Lou put his hands on his hips. “I can’t deal with the distractions. My distributors can’t even get the truck around the back. No beer, no booze, no money—get me?”
Panic bloomed and threatened to choke her. She couldn’t lose her job. Not after all she’d sacrificed to keep her kid in diapers and food. She’d worked doubles and every shift someone wanted to give up.
She clenched her fists, and prayed that she’d hold back the tears. She’d beg for her job, but she wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t use girl tears, dammit. “I’ll take a week off. They’ll die down.”
“Until next time? This isn’t the first time you’ve had trouble follow you around. You’re a good worker, but I can get another bartender in this town. Everyone knows how to mix a drink.”
The sting went bone deep. The unexpected ache that followed expelled all the anger and frustration she’d been stuffing down up and out like a geyser. Was she really so replaceable? She’d been with this place for years, and he was just going to toss her out like garbage?
The anger was so overwhelming she couldn’t hear anything over the blood roaring in her head. He muttered some sort of apology and handed her an envelope. All paid up. Don’t let the door slap you on the ass on your way out.
She walked stiffly to her locker and took everything out.
So very little. Some female items, a bit of makeup, a pack of gum. She reached to the back, but only found a receipt for a sandwich from a shop down the street.
Four years of her life down to things that could fit in a pencil case. She curled her fingers around the pink case with happy little cupcakes on it. The sprinkles blurred into a wash of pastel colors.
She dashed away the stray tear that had escaped and shoved the case into her purse. She lifted her head, then smoothed her ponytail. No big deal. Not like she hadn’t been fired before. Being a single mom included a lot of crap hours along with just as many call-ins for a sick or teething baby.
Chloe walked through the door and the overwhelming silence made her heart flutter like a trapped hummingbird again. Wanda had tears swimming in her eyes. Lou’s office door slammed shut a moment later.
Wanda rushed over to her. “Oh, honey. Are you all right?”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll find another job. I always do.”
