Page 9 of Sinister Hearts
“You think?” I asked her.
“Yep, like a princess.” I grabbed the wipe and threw it in the tiny tin trash bin I had in my small bathroom. I smiled at myself in the mirror.
“I think so too, Birdie. Wish me luck.”
Ipulled up to The Wild Minx in a puddle of anxiety, my tires treading in the desert rocks. My phone began ringing in my purse, Rocky’s name displayed on the phone screen. I answered in a frenzy. “Hey, girl. I’m at The Minx, headed in for an interview. Let me give you a call back when I’m done here.”
My cousin chuckled into the phone with that magnetizing laugh she always had. “Girl, you got this in the bag, don't even sweat it. Get your milf-ass back out there.”
Except I was sweating, and a lot. The last time I’d been at The Wild Minx I was an eighteen-year-old girl. Wild and full of life. I wasn’t sure if I was suitable for this kind of place anymore, but I was damn sure gonna try. If not for me, for my Birdie. I could spend the days with her and put her down for bed, then head to work. It just seemed to make sense. I wanted to keep something constant in her life with all the drastic changes. I was a stay at home mom for five years. The least I could do was continue to be there during the day, until she started school.
With Vadon refusing to help, this was the best option for now. Ma was helping as much as she could, but barely hanging on by a thread every month herself. I refused to drain her savings. The tips were good here and helping at the Robles Haven was okay, but it wasn’t enough. Not if I wanted to get Birdie and I a place of our own. This was a small town, not many bars were out this way, so it was always busy. I sighed. “Thanks, prima.”
“Make sure to break a leg or whatever they say, and shake that ass!” Raquel shouted enthusiastically through the phone. She was one of the only things I missed about this small, run-down town, besides my ma.
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, and ended the call. I didn’t know how much ass I’d be shaking, but I was shaking like a damn salt shaker if that’s what she meant.
Before I stepped foot outside the saloon I gave myself a quick once over. Tight jeans, my old cowgirl boots that were older than Birdie and had holes in them, and a button-up collared shirt that hugged my chest like a damn wing-bat. This was just a stepping stone.Just for now, I said to myself as I stepped out of my car. I gave the run-down saloon a sigh.
It still looked the same from the outside as it did five years ago.Well, here goes nothing. My nostrils instantly filled with alcohol and the smell of blue collared men. Sweat, dirt, and along day of hard work. Eyes turned to me as I walked through the door, and I noticed a few familiar faces. Some of them I was happy to see, and some of them not so much. I watched in awe at the dancing Minx girls on the bar, remembering at one point how I’d been that confident, that full of life, and I instantly wanted to crawl inside myself. I had begun to think maybe this was a mistake.
The Minx girls line danced in sync on top of the bar, with their cowgirls boots and hats. It was exactly like I remembered before, but the only thing that had changed was me. My body was not eighteen years old anymore. My stomach was full of stretch marks and my breasts were not as perky as they once were. What the hell was I thinking coming here, thinking I could do this again? The fluorescent lights and music bounced off the walls.
I spotted Cindy Martinez, the town’s Barbra Walters, whispering into another unfamiliar ear. But it wasn’t a whisper, and I’m sure it was done purposely, just so I would hear. Cindy leaned into the redhead’s ear.
“I heard she was kicked out of her million dollar home by her husband for his new mistress. Poor thing.” She said it with no compassion or empathy in her words, but it built up a fire in me, one I so desperately needed. I forced a smile at her. It had already gotten out. Of course my business was already out. This small town never had anything better to do. It was one of the reasons I despised it. Another reason to get us the hell out of here as soon as I could. I wouldn’t let Cindy get to me. Not now, not ever.
I walked to the bar with uncertainty seeping out of my pores. “Hi there, is the owner here by any chance?” The rugged middle-aged man looked at me with hesitation.
“Who’s asking?”
I flashed him a smile and said, “Faye Robles.”
Billy came out with a grin as wide as a kid on Christmas, and open arms. “Faye Robles, I never thought the day would come.”
“Yeah,” I said with a grin. “Neither did I.” We hugged as he looked at me up and down.
“Still prettier than ever. A little skinnier than I remember.”Did anybody in this town have a damn filter?I thought.
“Look, Billy, I’m sure you’ve heard, I’m going through a d–”
“Yep, I sure have heard the news,” Billy cut me off and I mentally thanked him for it. If I didn’t have to say it out loud, it almost made me feel like it was untrue to begin with. Like this was a bad dream that I’d soon wake up from.
“I’m so sorry,” Billy said with remorse in his eyes.
“Don’t be, it was the right decision,” I murmured, reassuring him and maybe even myself.
“So I reckon you’re here for a job then, huh?” He smirked.
I smiled at him, held up my arms and said, “Surprise!”
“There’s that bright personality I remember. Carlos!” Billy yelled to the back cook. “Get our gal here a burger and some fries to go please.” The cook poked his head out the kitchen and gave me a wink.
“Coming on up, sir.” The smell of burgers on the grill made my stomach rumble.
Billy walked me back to the locker rooms.
“This one here will be yours.” He led me to locker 1111. I stared in wonder at the number. “You can start your shift tomorrow, if you’d like.” I gave Billy a nod.
