Page 11 of Final Goodbye
Fortunately for me, my roommate, Kate, was helpful through this chaotic situation. Thankfully, my old room was fully furnished when I moved in, so I didn’t need to make arrangements for any furniture left behind. I brought all the essentials with me, and the few things I did leave, Kate said she would box up and put in the storage closet for me.
My next step was getting a job. I didn’t have a car in Phoenix because I lived downtown. Close enough to the bar I worked at that I walked, even in the scorching heat. But if I was going to continue to pay for a rental car here, I was going to need a job. I had already drained my savings account on a plane ticket home and sending Kate the next two months’ rent while she found a new roommate.
I sat in the coffee shop, which was only a few doors down fromPeaks. I hoped that the ‘Hiring’ sign was still in the window, because let’s face it, the only type of work I knew how to do was slinging drinks. It was all I’d done for years now.
The outfit I wore out today didn’t scream,“Hot bartender, hire me, please!”but it would have to do. It was a small town, and jobs didn’t come up every day here.Peakswas my only option.?
Discarding my finished coffee cup, I made a pit stop in the bathroom to check my makeup. “Thank fuck I made myself look alive today,” I mumbled as I took in my appearance through the mirror.
Lucky for me, the sign was still up in the window when I arrived.
“Here goes nothing,” I whispered to myself before puffing out my chest with every bit of confidence I could muster.
I opened the door to the neighborhood bar and was pleasantly surprised by how much bigger it looked inside. With a long, narrow bar top, plenty of high-top tables scattered about, and a stage with a dance floor in the back, it looked like a fun place to hang out.
And hopefully, a fun place to work. I crossed my fingers at my side in silent hope that I’d get the job.
I wondered what type of bands they had play here at night. If I had to guess, I would say most likely some country cover bands, based on the music that played when I entered.?
I was distracted by one of my favorite Morgan Wallen songs when I heard another voice.?
“Take a seat wherever you’d like. I’ll be right with you!”?she called out.
I took a seat at the bar, not intending to eat or drink, just wanting to talk to the manager on duty. It crossed my mind when I looked at the beautiful blonde bartender working that maybe I should have gone home to change if I stood any chance of getting a job here. She was everything I wasn’t in the bar industry. She had the “Three Bs”: blonde hair, bubbly personality, and big boobs. Her perfect body was the cherry on top. She was the ideal person to be tending a bar.?
The pretty bartender approached me and said, “Hey, girl, are you here for some lunch? Or just a drink today?” She spoke in that upbeat voice I overheard her using with the other customers.
I put on my best smile when I told her why I was really sitting at the bar.?“Actually, I saw your ‘Hiring’ sign in the window. I justmoved back to town and have tons of bartending experience. I was hoping to speak with your manager.”?
“Oh my gosh! Thank you, Jesus!” I was so thrown off by her response that I couldn’t help but laugh.
“We have been so freaking short-staffed, and I have been working so many hours I don’t have a social life anymore.” She lowered her voice to finish what she was saying. “One of our old bartenders took maternity leave, and I personally don’t think she will be coming back…” She trailed off before adding, “I’m such an idiot and never introduced myself. I’m sorry! I’m Sophie.” She stuck out her hand.
“Hi, Sophie, Paige. Nice to meet you,” I said as I took her hand in mine for a light shake.?
“I’m actually the bar manager. My dad owns the place, but he’s always in and out of here. So, tell me, Paige, can you pour some draft beer, shots of whiskey, and remember a small menu full of bar food?”
“I’d like to think I can do that and more. I’ve been bartending for twelve years now and can do it in my sleep,” I said without even thinking.
“When can you start?” she blurted out so fast I reared back in shock.Was it really that easy??
“I can start as early as tomorrow. I just need this Saturday off, then I can work whatever Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, you need me to.” I didn’t mention I needed Saturday off for my dad’s funeral. There was no need to bring the mood down if she wasn’t aware of who I was. I was sure she would find out as we worked together.
“I’m so excited! Come in tomorrow at nine in the morning? I can show you the ropes and how to open up the bar. We can go over a few things before you start.” I was relieved with the chance to make money so soon. I needed it.
“Sounds great. Thanks again so much for the opportunity, Sophie. It was nice to meet you.”
Laughing, she smiled across the bar at me and said, “Cut the shit, Paige. No need to be professional. It will be like two friends working together. It’s going to be a blast!” A smile grew across my face, loving the personality of the girl across from me.
Sophie was the light at the end of the dark tunnel. With everything going on right now, she was the bright light I needed. Her personality radiated positivity, and I had a feeling she would be fun to work with, a good distraction and an even better friend, once we got to know each other.
Just as I was wrapping up with Sophie, the door to the bar opened. Declan walked in with someone who looked like a spitting image of him, just a few years younger. He didn’t have tattoos like Declan did, but still that dark tan skin and ice-blue eyes. Declan’s hair was a little shaggier, where the other man had a buzz cut. I assumed it was his brother, Myles, who I also used to babysit. Our eyes met as they walked my way. I stood up to push my chair in when he gave me that flirty smile that made my insides melt.?
“I told you I’d be seeing you around,” he said in that deep, gravelly voice of his.
Declan was bad news. But the kind of bad news that intrigued me. I was dying to have another night like last night, but on the other hand, I knew I was very emotionally unavailable.
It wasin moments like these that I loved living in a small town. You were always going to run into someone. Maybe it was someone you didn’t really want to see, but if you were lucky, it was someone you couldn’t get enough of.
