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The apartment isn’t much bigger than the motel room I’ve been staying in, but it’s cleaner and a heck of a lot closer to work.
Work.
I still can’t believe I have a job. At least for now… if I don’t screw it up.
I turn on the sink and splash water over my face. My negative attitude has got to go. I left Rhode Island because I wanted a new life, and that’s exactly what I’m getting. In less than twelve hours, everything is starting to slide into place. Sure the pieces are a little jagged, a little wobbly, but that’ll change.
I just have to give it time.
After a quick glance in the mirror to make sure I look halfway decent, I exit the apartment and return to the bar for the rest of my shift. While I’m dealing with customers, my mind reels.
If the price is right, I’d love to live above Barlow’s, but I have to talk to Jenny first. She might have a number in mind that simply isn’t doable, and then I’ll have to figure something else out.
The hours tick by, and I don’t piss off any more people. I might be a bit slower than Jenny, but I take a page out of her book and talk while I serve, which seems to help a lot. By the time eleven thirty rolls around, my feet are killing me, my head is spinning from all the knowledge I’m soaking up, and my back aches.
But I’m happy. For the first time in a long time, I’m smiling, and it’s not forced or fake. It’s real. The lightness in my chest and the hope in my heart are real.
Jenny elbows me, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in.”
I follow Jenny’s gaze and see Dip striding across the room. His eyes are laser-focused on me, and my breath catches.
“What’s he doing here?” I ask.
“I told him you were done at midnight.”
I whip my head to gawk at her. “But we don’t close until two.”
Jenny shrugs. “And the crowd has died down. Besides, you’ve had a long day.”
“You’ve had a longe—”
“Hello, ladies,” Dip greets when he reaches us.
“Hey, Dip. Fancy seeing you here,” Jenny quips.
“I’m sure,” he drawls with a smirk before returning his stare to me. “Hi, Kennedy.”
“Hi.”
“Can I get a beer?”
“You came here for a beer?” I ask stupidly.
“I came here for you,” he clarifies. “But you’ve got twenty minutes left before your shift ends, so I’ll have a beer while I wait.”
“Oh, um, okay.”
“I’ll leave you to it, K,” Jenny says as she walks to the other end of the bar to deal with the few customers remaining.
In my haste to put some distance between us, I don’t even ask him what kind of beer he wants.
Idiot.
I grab a bottle of Coors from the cooler and wipe off the condensation before returning to stand across from him.
“I hope this is okay,” I say as I hand him the bottle.
