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Chapter 1
Jaz
“Wow, this is harder than I thought it would be.”
“C’mon, give it to us!”
I bit my lip, looking down at the ground as my black curls dangled past my face while I calmed myself. It had never been so quiet in this place, even before opening. I wasn’t shy by any means and this place had been my second home the last few years. I wasn’t nervous; I was a little sad.
Jason stood and cleared his throat. “Jaz, lady of the hour! Speech!” He raised a glass of champagne. Cheers and claps erupted through the club.
Sucking in a breath, holding it for a moment, then blowing it out through puffed cheeks, I raised my chin up, and raised my own glass. “I’ve made so many wonderful friends and had such a blast working here.” The pressure buildup behind my eyes was breaking through. “Jason, you may be pegged as the grumpy-butt around here, but you were the best boss I could’ve ever asked for.” A single tear rolled down my cheek.
His tanned cheeks pinked a little, but he grinned, his brown eyes hidden beneath the Braves’ cap. “And onlyyoucan get away with calling me that. Well, besides Lucy.”
Loud laughter broke out. Jason was burly, big, and bearded, a man of few words most of the time, but could get loud when he wanted. He owned the club, which was more like a dive bar that sometimes hosted live bands, in the small but bustling college town. While he was a little rough around the edges, he was really just a big teddy bear. He softened up a lot over the last few months since he and Lucy got together.Finally. But he was always cool to me.
“Thank you all for the good times, good tips,greatmemories, and this amazing sendoff party, Lucy. You really outdid yourself,” I said, choking out the words at the end as another tear rolled down the same cheek.
Lucy chimed in. “We love you Jaz!” Her pale face reddened, and her blue eyes popped as they filled with tears. Jason kissed her blonde head, pulling her close.
Amy’s olive-toned arm raised a glass as she clutched Val. “Cheers to Jaz! Or is it Dr. Stewart?” I had met the slender brunette several years back at an art show downtown. We chatted, and it turned out she and Lucy lived nearby but were going to another club frequently. We hit it off, so I told her to visit where I worked, and they’d been coming ever since. Amy was a little let down, I think, when she found out I was straight, but it all worked out fine. She found an amazing lady in Valentina. Both beautiful, smart, and driven women. Val was very sensual with her Portuguese accent and model good-looks. Even a straight woman could appreciate her light bronze tone, crystal blue eyes, and sleek black hair.
Lucy was equally gorgeous, and frankly I was a little jealous of her curves. And she totally rocked them. Lucy twirled those blonde curls and swung those round hips like she was the baddest bitch to walk in the club. I could eat a whole cow and not gain weight. Add the fact that I was taller than the average woman and I felt like a rail. I did manage to finally fill out a full A-cup and had a bit of round definition to my ass but was still otherwise a pole.
Growing up, I always felt out of place. All the women in my family, immediate and extended, were curvy and thick. I also was self-conscious as a child because I had a lighter, taupe complexion while they all had rich, brown-golden tones. I never felt like a beautiful woman until someone came along and told me every day that I was.
Mike.
My safe space. My reprieve. My sounding board. But we were so young. High school love didn’t always work out forever. I knew that of course, but it didn’t make things any easier when he left for college on the other side of the country. We had six fun, young, and dumb years together. But he was playing football at the local university and a big school out West offered him a scholarship. The scouts approached the coach and his parents before he really knew there would be an offer. College was expensive and the one here was small and couldn’t give him the same opportunities. His hands were tied. He did what was best for his family. I couldn’t fault him for that.
We of course tried the long-distance thing, but Spelman was tough, and I had to keep my grades up and work if I expected to get into med school. Between my crazy schedule, his classes, and football, we couldn't even get a phone call organized most of the time. When he came back over the holidays, we broke it off.
It made sense in theory to end it, but it was harder than I thought. The sadness consumed me, but in a way that pushed me harder in my studies. I worked, went to school, and kept up with my community service, not allowing myself a free moment to even think of him. Over time, when I did get free time, the pain was less and less. Eventually, I hardly thought of him. But every once in a while, something would remind me of him. It didn’t help that Jason wore the same cologne…tobacco and vanilla.
Of course, he did. They were best friends. That’s how I knew Jason to begin with…through Mike. They grew up on the same street and were joined at the hip, even though Mike was two years younger. So, when I needed a job with flexible hours with decent pay, I knew he’d hook me up. I was serving at a restaurant near Spelman when I was staying in those dorms, but once I moved back with my parents, I needed something closer. Jason was happy to have me. Luckily, my sister got an apartment with a spare room, and it was closer to school so when I finally got accepted to the program, I moved in with her. My parents were awesome, but still parents and I got used to coming and going as I pleased. Not to mention, my hours were crazy, and I hated to disturb them. I dragged out school a little so I could pay as I went. My parents helped a lot, but medical school was expensive, and I didn’t want to take out a student loan for what they didn’t pay. Plus, I wouldn’t be able to tend bar anymore once I started clinicals.
After everything I did to get here, I couldn’t believe I was starting my internship and leaving the club. I glanced around as Lucy cut the huge cake she ordered for the occasion, then made my way around to give hugs and shake hands.
After a slice of cake, lots of elbow rubbing, hugs, selfies with regulars, and more walking and talking than a normal shift behind the bar, Lucy pulled me to her office. She had been managing the talent for the club for a few months, so Jason turned one of the old stockrooms into a nice office for her. She was also working at the local radio station still, but with one song sold to a record label and more in the works, none of us expected her to stay at the station much longer.
Jason was already inside the office. “Jaz, I may get emotional, so I brought you in here, but we wanted to give you this.” He stuck his hand out with an envelope.
I cracked the seal and gasped when I looked inside. “You can’t be serious. I can’t take this.” I shoved the money-filled envelope back at him, but he stepped back and put both palms up.
Lucy gently pushed my hand away. “Youwilltake it. Consider it your unofficial bar retirement plan.”
Jason’s lips were tight, and his Braves cap was pulled low. His arms were crossed but I flung myself toward him anyway. “Thank you, so much, for everything.” He wrapped his arms around me, and we rocked together a few seconds before I let him go and turned to Lucy. “Hey babe, I hope you know you’ve become such a good friend.”
“Oh, I know. And you’ll be in the wedding so I’ll be getting with you to be sure we book a date you can attend!”
Pressure returned behind my eyes at the heartfelt sentiment. I had friends in high school and some fun acquaintances in college but staying on the Dean’s List, volunteering at clinics, and work didn’t leave much time for girls’ days. Amy and Lucy were probably my closest girlfriends.
“I can’t wait to stand with you. I’m gonna miss you guys.”
She shook her head. “No, you won’t, because you’ll still come here to blow off steam and drink away your bad days. Like that place in Grey’s!”
I chuckled. If people only knew how dramatized those shows were. But who was I to burst her bubble? So, I winked and drew her in once more for a good squeeze.
