He’s right.
I fucking hate that he’s right.
I wasn’t ready to try to forgive Hayden or Walker, orapologize for any hurt on my part that I caused. The anger felt too good. It was easier to focus on than the hurt.
And it got us into this fucking mess.
“I’m just asking you to think about it,” Nikolai says, giving me a longing look that he knows he can always guilt me with. “Sleep on it, okay?”
I will.
But I don’t know if any of us are going to like my answer.
24
Aspen
Work is slow tonight. Even once my set ends, there’s still not more than a handful of people in the bar. Thankfully, the handsy bastard hasn’t been back since Reid scared him off.
I lean against the bar, having polished all the glassware for the evening. Kevin pops out from the back, checking in with one of the regulars at the other end, before moseying on over to me.
“Are you gonna cut me early?” I ask, not really wanting to be done early because of the money, but also excited about seeing Reid.
He sighs heavily, a stain on the front of his old T-shirt. His eyes are sad as he scans the bar. “I just don’t think I’ll need the help until closing tonight, kid.”
I fiddle with the ends of my braid. “That’s been happening a lot lately,” I murmur.
He’s apologetic when he turns to me. “I know. I don’t know what to do. The area just isn’t developing like howthey promised it would and we just don’t get enough foot traffic around here for walkbys.”
“Have you thought about moving locations?”
He shakes his head. “Can’t afford it.” He blows out another puff of air and pours himself a drink. He raises it in silent question to me and I wave him off.
He takes a heavy swig. “You know, you’re young, you’re pretty, this city is full of people with too much money and not enough things to spend it on. Surely you could snag someone and you wouldn’t need to work.” He’s teasing, but it hits a nerve.
It reminds me of Nicole’s joke to me the other night, when we were texting after her birthday party.If things work out with the rockstar, you won’t even need a job anyways.
I know she wasn’t serious, but it still didn’t sit right with me. I’d never quit my job to let Reid support me, even if this does end up being something long term. There will never be a time in my life where I allow myself to be dependent on someone else, let alone for finances.
Even though I accepted Reid’s gift of paying off my loans, I’m not going to let him provide for me just so I can sit around and do nothing.
I just need to figure out my next steps.
“I’m happy to have you here,” he adds, throwing a towel over his shoulder and leaning a hip against the counter, “but if there’s something else you want to pursue, I don’t expect you to work here forever. I never did when I hired you.”
“Illegally,” I tease, and he chuckles heartily.
“Well, sometimes it just makes sense to bend the rules.”
I put a hand over my heart and bat my lashes. “Well, how honored I am that you did it for me.”
“Oh, hush.” He wipes the corner of his mouth. “All I’msaying is, when it’s time for you to move on from this place, I’ll understand. You have so much more potential than serving a handful of drinks to the same folks every night.”
My chest squeezes. “Thank you.” This job is comfortable, it’s consistent, everything I yearned for growing up. But he’s right. It’s not where I want to be forever, and looking around at the empty chairs, it’s not going to be here forever anyways.
He gestures toward the door. “Now go on and get out of here. Have a fun rest of your night.”
I toss my apron below the counter in a small cubby and grab my purse. “Thanks, Kev. See you tomorrow.”
