Page 90 of Love Is Ale You Need

“Or I can move in with you.”

“What? There’s no room. Are you going to sleep amongst all the baby boxes?”

“If I have to, I will. Hear me out. I’m not asking because I want to take care of you. I’m fully aware that you can take care of yourself, but I’m asking because I want you and Abby to have a home. No offense to your apartment, but at my house, Abby can have her own room. She can even have her own playroom. She’ll have a yard to play in. Our little acorn will have its own room. Hell, if you get sick of me, you can have your own room too.” I brush a finger over her soft cheek, tucking a lock of stray hair behind her ear and she nuzzles into my palm.

“I don’t know. This is just a lot at one time.”

“Well, I’m here for the long-haul. I’ll wait for as long as I have to until you’re ready.” And I will. I know she’s gone through hell and back with her ex. I will continue to fight to prove to her I’m not him.

Rylee

The 8 a.m. message from Jake this morning was a little ominous. He asked everyone to meet at Porter’s ASAP. When Jake says ASAP, it doesn’t mean as soon as possible. It’s more like get your ass here now. My luck, he’s telling everyone he sold the bar and we’re all fired. Becoming a jobless pregnant single mom is not a good way to start my day.

I park my SUV between Nora and Dessa’s vehicles. As I approach the door, something crunches under my shoe. Glancing down, the sidewalk shimmers from the sunlight like tiny pieces of glass. Oh shit! Thatisglass. My gaze shoots up and I’m met with a plywood covered window, glass littered walkway, and a propped open spider web cracked door. My jaw hits the ground. On my tiptoes, I cautiously step through the doorway and into the eerily quiet bar.

My gaze flits around the area, inspecting for any other damage. I find Dessa, Nora, Jake, and a few other employees huddled at the far end of the bar. A somber tone fills the atmosphere. “What happened?”

“Once everyone's here, I’ll explain, so I only have to say this once,” Jake says.

His normally perfect comb over fade is disheveled as if he’s been running his hand through it. Based on the state of his bar, I’m sure that’s exactly what he’s been doing. I find an empty stool next to Nora and plop down.

“Uh, did you know you have some broken glass out front?” Lach strolls in, hiking his thumb behind him.

“Thanks asshole. I didn’t see it there. Take a seat.” Jake nods to the stool in front of him.

After Lach sits, we wait around for another ten minutes for Chad to arrive, but it’s crickets.

“Fuck it. I’ll deal with Chad later.” Jake exhales a sigh. “If you can’t tell, there was a break in last night or this morning. They stole some bottles of liquor. They tried to break into the safe but weren’t successful. Something must have spooked them because they were out before the cops arrived.”

We all gasp and sit up straighter on our stools. Over the four years I’ve worked at Porter’s, nothing like this has ever happened. Not to say it can’t. This wasn’t a place I ever felt unsafe. Plus, Jake has lived here his entire life. Lived in this bar his whole adult life. Everyone knows him or knows of him. He’s the last guy you want to mess with.

“Did the cameras catch anything?” Lach asks.

“Nothing that’s identifiable.” Jake rests both palms on the bar, his gaze cast downward. “Whoever it was seemed to have dodged the cameras. All I have are photos of the back of their head.” He pushes off the bar until he’s standing straight. “Be on alert, especially for anything suspicious. No one is to be here by themselves. Kind of a rule I’ve always had, but it’s worth repeating. We’ll be closed for the next day or two until shit is replaced. That’s all.” He raps his knuckles on the bar. “Rylee. Can I see you in my office?” He jerks his head and strides around the corner.

Dessa leaps out of her seat. “Jake! Don’t fire her! It was me. I ate all the beef sticks. Not pregnant Rylee.”

“You’re a vegetarian,” Jake yells from down the hall.

“Shit.” She shrugs. “Sorry. I tried.”

“Thanks.” I brush my hand on her shoulder as I pass.

My footfalls echo down the hallway in time with the thumping of my heart. Everyone's not getting fired, only me. That’s the only logical reason he’d call me to his office. Is he mad about the meat sticks? Son of a bitch. They were so good. Maybe he’ll understand that the baby was craving them. Not me. I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans before peeking my head through the opening. Without saying a word, Jake waves me in.

“I’m sorry. I’ll pay you back for the meat sticks. The baby likes meat. I’m blaming Trey.”

“This isn’t about the meat sticks. Take a seat.” He nods to the chair opposite of him. He rests his elbows on the desk and steeples his fingers together. “Have you decided when you’ll be taking your maternity leave? Just so I can prepare and figure out everyone’s schedule.”

So not fired… “In about a month and a half.”

He nods. “Okay. Great. Also, I want to say you’ve been doing a great job. Especially with taking over the inventory and ordering. I would like to offer you a bar manager position.”

All the tension evaporates from my body. I huff out a laugh. “Oh. Wow. I wasn’t expecting that. Honestly, I thought you were firing me.”

“You’re my best employee. I will do whatever it takes to keep you here.” Jake drums his fingers on the desk as I strand of sandy brown hair flops over his forehead.

I swallow down the lump in my throat. It’s been one hell of an emotional rollercoaster over the past five minutes. Fired. Not Fired. Promoted. “I don’t know what to say.”

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