It’s not like I have a choice. Despite my continued attempts to get Nicole to move in with us in our new apartment, she resisted. These Willoughby women are more stubborn than I give them credit for.
Kiersten sidles up to me and wraps her arms around my neck. It’s my favorite thing.
“You’re not playing fair. You know I love it when you hold me like this.”
She chuckles lightly. “Yes, I do. I also know my sister is going to be fine. She’s ready. And she needs this.”
I drop a light kiss to Kiersten’s lips and pat her backside just because I can. “I don’t like it, but I’ll try to let it go.”
“Think of it this way,” she kisses me again. “Now that she’s out of my house and Carson has his own room, we don’t have to sneak around anymore.”
Her comment completely derails any reservations I have. For the last six months, we’ve gotten closer. All of us. I’ve bonded with Carson, who I love more than I can even describe, I’ve gotten close with Nicole who is like a little sister to me, and most importantly, Kiersten and I are madly, sweetly, sickeningly in love. I can’t remember what life was like before she came along.
I also can’t remember what it was like to try and have sex quietly so a toddler doesn’t wake up, or quickly so she can get home at a decent hour. Overnights have been few and far between. The thought of having a bed we share every single night where we can take our time and be as loud as we want?
“Well, I suppose Nicole will be fine on her own.”
Kiersten laughs against my lips before giving me a quick peck and getting back to work.
“Listen you two,” Tammy demands as she drops her tray on the counter, her signature move whenever she has something she needs to say. “I’m just as excited as you are that you finally moved in together…”
“I highly doubt that,” I mutter making Kiersten laugh.
“… but I need you to focus long enough to serve up some booze. I need three buckets of Shiner, two tap IPAs, a margarita on the rocks, and something called a Sazerac?”
“Heath’s here already?” I’m surprised he’s not home resting from helping Kiersten move again. Poor guy always seems to get suckered into doing all the heavy lifting around here.
“How did you know that was for Heath?” Tammy asks.
“He’s the only one who drinks it. I keep trying to push it but he’s the only taker.”
“Whatever,” Tammy says with a wave of her hand. “As long as they’re tipping, I don’t care what they drink.”
She talks a good game, but we all know Tammy absolutely loves the guys. And they love her right back.
“Don’t charge Heath anything tonight.”
Tammy looks puzzled so I clarify.
“He worked for pizza and booze again. Time for me to pay up.”
She lifts her chin, acknowledging how much Heath deserves a few free drinks for all his help.
The three of us make quick work of gathering all the drinks and two of my favorite ladies set off to deliver while I hang back and clean up the mess we’ve already made. It gives me a few seconds to take in the scene around me and just enjoy.
A year ago, I had just bought this business and it was on the verge of falling apart. Now, we have regular customers who cover more than just the bills every night, a part time studio that gives the best dance teacher I know a financial cushion, a house mascot who never seems to leave the pool table, and I’ve got the woman of my dreams and the best child I could ask for living with me.
I never saw any of this coming, but I have to admit, if somehow it all falls apart, it won’t be because I didn’t put in my all. When it boils down to it, that’s all any of us can ever do.
Well, that and serve up some damn good drinks.
As Tammy and Kiersten make their way back toward me, I get right back to work, the place where it all finally fell into place.
I look at them both and smile. “Who’s next?”
EPILOGUE
Nicole
“You were flirting with him! I saw you!” He grabs my arm and begins squeezing, the strength of his fingertips cutting into my skin. My heart races as I plead.
“No! He asked me where the bathroom was. I was just answering his question!”
His face contorts, his eyes darkening. He looks like pure evil.. “So you could go with him and blow him? Huh? Answer me! Do you want his dick in your mouth?”
“No!” I yell, but he’s not listening, too enraged to calm down. “It’s you I love! You!”
“You’re mine, do you understand? Mine!”
My cheekbone feels like it explodes as he backhands my face. I have no doubt my skin has broken open. The blood is already oozing down my face.
“How dare you make me hit you like this. This is all your fault!”
He roars with anger and… I startle awake, my face pressing so hard into the pillow that my cheek aches.
I quickly run my hand down my face, ensuring there’s no blood and it was just a nightmare. It wasn’t real, only a nightmare.
Finally satisfied I’m safe in my apartment, I roll onto my back and breathe in… two, three, four, hold… two, three, four, and out… two, three, four. My heart begins to calm and the normal sounds around me start to register.
Another roar from outside my door and I finally put together what woke me up.
Trivia Night at Frui Vita.
Grabbing the remote, I turn the television off and slide my jeans on. I’m not sure how I fell asleep on the couch. I usually don’t go to bed until the bar is closed. I must be extra tired tonight. The last thing I remember is someone named Alex being added to The Circle. I don’t stay awake long enough to find out if he’s a catfish.
This is what my life has come to. Living in a small apartment in the back of my almost brother-in-law’s bar and binge-watching reality television every night. Pathetic. At some point I need to look at moving on with my life. It’s been months since I left my jerk boyfriend, Jeremy. While he still plagues me in nightmares, I want to have a life when I’m awake, not be stuck in this limbo I’ve found myself in.
Making sure I have my keys, I head out the door locking it behind me, not even caring that my make up probably looks worn from the day and my hair is piled on top of my head. It’s late and I doubt I know any of the customers tonight. Heath and his football team are away at training camp and those are most of the guys I know. And only because Heath is my nephew’s godfather so he’s always around.
I ease my way up to the bar and sit on the stool that I claimed months ago. I’ve got my back to a wall, my side to the counter, and I can see every inch of the large room. I feel safest sitting here. I’m also out of the way while my sister works.
Somehow, though she always knows when I join her. I don’t even say hello before she’s setting a glass of Sprite down in front of me.
“Thanks.” I lean on the bar and take a sip of my non-alcoholic beverage, observing the team play happening near the stage. “How’s Trivia Night going?”
Kiersten wipes her hands on a towel and grabs the shaker. I’m always in awe watching her work. She’s only been here a little over a year and has multi-tasking down pat. “Busy as always.”