AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“If you’re about to comment on my epically, all time, bad luck, please don’t. I’m painfully aware of how unlucky I am.”
“You’re not unlucky.”
“Now I know you’re lying.” I snort, causing my father to chuckle.
“Okay, so you’ve had a few bad spells over the years...”
“A few?” I choke on the word. “Try my whole life has been one fucking ginormous bad spell.”
“Barlow,” my dad immediately scolds. “What have I told you about the language?”
“Sorry, Dad,” I mutter. “Though to be fair, we both know I can’t control what comes out of my mouth. It just happens.”
I laugh at myself.
What else can I do but find humor in it all.
“I blame...”
“Grandma Sue. I know.” I repeat the name of the person I’ve been compared to my entire life.
“I have a feeling if she were alive today, you two would be thick as thieves.”
“I wish I’d been able to meet her.”
“Me too, honey. Me too.” I can hear the sad smile in his voice.
I can’t imagine what it must be like talking about your mom in past tense. I can’t imagine never seeing my mom again. The thought alone makes me want to sink into the bottom of a lake and never come up for air.
I round the corner, the custom wood sign ofBrewerscoming into view.
“Well, Dad, I hate to rush off but I’m getting ready to walk into work.”
“No problem, honey. You’ll call me next week?”
Before Brennon and I left, he made us promise to check in at least once a week. Which so far, I have kept up on. It’s easier with my mom because she calls me every couple of days. My dad, however, waits for me to call him.
“I will,” I promise, telling him I love him and waiting for him to say it back before ending the call.
Shoving my phone into my purse, I adjust the band of my floral print shorts that I partnered with a white sleeveless top, before pushing my way inside the air conditioned building. One thing I love about this job is that the dress code is pretty much non-existent. You can wear whatever you want as long as you don’t look like a criminal or a stripper. The only uniform required is a beige apron withBrewersprinted across the front in large white letters. It could be much worse. Brennon got the job at Tom’s, as did the unmentionable prick that we aren’t mentioning, and he has to wear khaki pants, a navy blue polo, and white tennis shoes every single day. Though he’s only worked there one shift so far but still, how boring.
I love clothes and shoes. Love being able to mix and match my wardrobe and express myself through my style, which I’ve always categorized as casual chic. And don’t get me started on accessories. I may have a slight bracelet obsession.
Don’t worry, I’m not one of those people with three closets worth of clothes, boxes of jewelry, and a hundred pairs of designer shoes. Though I’d be lying if I said the walk-in closet in my bedroom at my mom’s house wasn’t stuffed to the brim. But to be fair, I only brought a fraction of those clothes with me.
“Hey Barlow,” Natasha greets me as I make my way inside the café.
“Hey.” I nod, making my way around the counter, grabbing a clean apron from the hook as I round it. “How’s everything?”
“Pretty slow.” She waits until I reach her before continuing, “Janice said it was okay for me to head out if you’re comfortable working by yourself this evening. Are you okay with that?”
“Oh, okay. Sure.” I nod, a little surprised that she would leave me alone seeing as I’ve only been working here a short time, but I’m fairly confident I can manage. I know how to make the entire menu and honestly, it’s pretty slow in the evening. Most people want their caffeine earlier in the day. At least in my experience.
“I’ve already cashed out my drawer and stocked everything. You won’t have a lot to do.” She gives me a soft smile.
In the couple times I’ve worked with Natasha, we’ve gotten along quite well. I would rather work with her than most of the other people that work here. I’m normally scheduled with Belle and, you guessed it, Travis. Yay me! Neither of which I’m interested in being friends with. Belle is self-absorbed and swears every guy that walks into the coffee shop wants to sleep with her. And Travis... Well, I think the reasons why I’ve chucked out the idea of a friendship with him are pretty obvious, though after the way Atlas threatened him I doubt he’d be my friend even if I wanted to be.
“Okay. Awesome.”
