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“I know, I know. Genevieve and I had a massive fight about some party she wants to go to and then I got Blake out to the car, only to realize he wasn’t wearing any shoes, so I had to go back inside and search for those, which of course made me super late.” She huffs out a breath while she ties her apron on. This girl, living the life of a forty-year-old woman when she should be enjoying her twenties. Her piece of shit mom skipped town shortly after her brother was born and left Avery raising him and their sister when she was just a kid herself. She is killing herself working three jobs to provide for them.
“Hey,” I say, resting my hand on her arm so she looks at me. When she does, I go on, “you know I don’t give a shit if you’re late. You’ve got enough going on without having to worry about all that.” She nods her head and shoots me a watery smile.
“And I love you for it. Now go on, get the heck out of here. Your shift ended twenty minutes ago.”
I decide to head to the office to fill out some paperwork and go over our order for the beer truck. Fred promoted me to manager about four years ago when he decided he didn’t want to be in here day in and day out, so he only comes in if there’s an emergency or we’re short staffed. He’s been so good to me, the least I can do is make sure we are fully staffed so he doesn’t have to be on his feet for eight hours.
I’m halfway through the order for the beer truck when there’s a knock at my office door.
“Come in!” I holler and the door swings open and low and behold, there’s Fred standing in its frame. He ambles in and plops down in the chair across for me.
“I’ve told you, Fred. You don’t have to knock. This is your office.” I say and something passes behind his eyes.
“More your office than it is mine, girl.” He says as he looks around and clears his throat. “Listen, somethin’ I been meanin’ to talk to you about and I can’t put it off any longer.”
My stomach sinks and I know what’s coming. He’s selling the bar. He’s only been talking about it for the last four years and I’ve been trying to get a loan, but I just can’t, and he knows it. Said he would give it to me if he could afford to.
“Fred...” I begin but he cuts me off.
“Now, now. Before you start hyperventalatin’, lemme say what I gotta say. You and I both know I don’t want this bar no more. Ain’t wanted it for a long time, which is why I was so eager to let you take the reins. And sugar, you have done a great job. But I’m old and I want to retire somewhere tropical. And well, I got an offer outta the blue and I gotta take it. Sil
ent investor type. Said he’d continue to let you run the bar and he’d stay outta your hair.” I collapse back in the chair, trying to absorb all his words.
Retiring. Offer. Silent investor. I’m not ready for Fred to leave just yet. Tears well up in my eyes and his face blanches.
“Oh no, I don’t do cryin’ sugar. Knock that shit off.” I cough out a laugh.
“I’m sorry. It’s just, I wanted to be the one to buy it. But I knew you couldn’t wait forever.” And that’s exactly how long it feels like I’ve been trying to get approved for this loan. I started working with a lender about a year ago but I’m just not ready to buy yet.
“I know, and the only reason I’m lettin’ this guy buy it is because I made him sign a contract stating you would stay on as manager and when he’s ready to sell, you get to put in the first offer.” Fred says and my heart soars. This man has been so good to me.
“Thank you. Truly. I love this place and these people and can’t see myself ever workin’ anywhere else.” Fred starts to stand and gives me a hug before ambling back towards the door.
“Hey, wait,” I call out and he turns around. “Who’s buying it?”
“Uh, ya see...” he starts but is cut off when a deep voice cuts in.
“Me.” The bottom drops out of my stomach when Dean steps into the doorway. No mother-fucking way. I’m going to be sick. I shove my chair back and grab the trash can before violently retching in it. Dean’s by my side in an instant and he goes to place his hand on my back. I drop the can and swat his arm away.
“Don’t you fuckin’ dare,” I seethe. “I can’t believe this.” I look at Fred who winces. “How could you?” My eyes welling with tears, threatening to spill over.
“I’m so sorry, sugar, but it’s been ten years since you showed up in my bar to fill out that application and you were just a lost girl, lookin’ for somethin’ to sink her claws into and help her forget. And I was okay lettin’ you do that, but I’ve been lettin’ you do it for too long. It’s time, Whitley. Time you worked this out and the two of you move on. You’ve been grievin’ for so long, but you haven’t actually come to terms with it.” Fred says and I shake my head.
“No. NO!” I shout, scrambling around, looking for my keys. I snatch them and my phone off the desk. “I quit.”
I shove past Dean and Fred and am almost through the doorway when Fred stops me.
“Whitley Jean, if you quit, I lose it all. I signed a clause that says you’ll stay on for the first year. If you don’t, the deal’s no good.” I grip the doors frame, letting his words roll through me. Fred’s done so much for me. He took me in when I didn’t have anywhere else to go. He put me back together. Dean has been blessedly silent during this entire conversation.
“One year?” I whisper, choking on my words. Fred nods his head.
I look at Dean, the boy I fell in love with all those years ago. The father of my child. The love of my life even if I can’t stand the sight of him.
“You’ve already had the last ten, what’s one fuckin’ more?” I storm out of the office and out the back door and away from the only man I’ve ever loved.
***
The door slams shut behind me, signaling my arrival.
