“I forgot, the city bitch has rules.”
“Art, stop it,” Lou said, peering up at me with an apologetic wince. “He’s had a rough day.”
“Day?” Artie scoffed. “I haven’t seen my kids in months, and now that bitch won’t even let me speak to them.”
Through the grapevine that seemed to run right through here, I’d heard Artie’s ex-wife had left Kelly Lakes with their two young children and never looked back. In the limited contact I’d had with Artie, I could see why a woman would want to keep her kids away from him. I’d blown it off to Jude, but I suspected there was more to him than just a jerk with an ever-present chip on his shoulder who didn’t like being bested by a woman.
He’d come in with Lou a couple of times after I’d refused to keep a tab for him. He hadn’t approached me since, but I was creeped out by the way I’d catch him watching me. Not in a sleazy way, but in a fuckload of resentment way. I hoped that since he hadn’t come at me, it would wane into a simple dislike over time and he wouldn’t make any trouble.
But now, I had no choice but to make it worse.
“We will serve you whatever nonalcoholic drink you want until you sober up.”
“I don’t want a Coke. I want scotch.”
His words were sloppy enough for his spit to ricochet off my face. He’d had plenty of scotch already, judging from the whiff I caught of his breath.
“Then you need to leave.”
Lou nodded, shaking his head with a loud exhale. “He came in here before I could stop him. Come on.”
Artie swatted Lou’s arm when he tried to help him off the stool.
“Fuck you, this bar, and your stick-up-his-ass cop boyfriend,” Artie spat at me as Lou led him out.
“I’ll tell him you said hi,” I said, smiling despite the twist in my gut. I tried to pull off a relaxed smile when Brandon and Cece looked at me with identical creases in their foreheads.
I resolved to look into those bouncer employment agencies when I had the chance today. I didn’t mind being the one who had to throw people out, but I—at the very least—needed adequate backup.
I’d been too wrapped up in my business plan and Jude to really think about what I’d do to protect myself from more than just financial failure. I’d romanticized Kelly Lakes and this bar, forgetting that small towns were still a part of the real world and not everyone would be a nice neighbor.
I chatted it up with the Thursday crowd for the rest of the day, while keeping an eye on the door. Artie was probably sleeping it off and would be a worry for another time, but I couldn’t put it off any longer.
Jude:Who is closing with you tonight?
I smiled, shaking my head at my phone screen. Jude sent this text every day right before we closed when he was working. I would have to tell him what happened today, and I didn’t doubt that once I did, I’d have a police escort home every closing time.
“Claudia, would you mind if I cut out a little early?” Brandon asked me before I could text back. “My roommate just texted me that a pipe burst in the kitchen, and the whole damn place is flooded. He’s not good under pressure,” Brandon said, chuckling as he stuffed his phone into his pocket. “I’ll stay if you want.”
“No, go. I’ll close up now since it’s empty anyway. Go save your friend and your apartment.”
“Thank you,” he said, letting out a relieved exhale. “See you tomorrow.”
I followed Brandon to the door and locked it behind him. I’d opened and closed the bar for the past week, but I’d only opened alone. It was barely nine but still dark. I closed out the register for the day, putting the cash and the receipt in the safe. I’d log it all in the morning light when the hairs on the back of my neck weren’t sticking up.
Blowing out a frustrated, uneasy breath, I set the alarm and pulled down the front gate after I locked the door. I’d walked the streets of Brooklyn from the subway station to my apartment at all hours of the night without any worry, so I wasn’t sure why I felt eyes on me on this quiet street. My car was parked right in front of the bar. Any closer, and I could have slid into the driver’s seat from the counter.
Closing alone was something I’d most likely have to do sometimes, and I hoped maybe the more I did it, the less I’d be creeped out by it. I glanced at my empty back seat, a habit I’d had for years, but I’d never really looked for anyone there after I’d come up here. I rolled my eyes at myself and clicked the key fob to open my door.
“Fucking bitch.”
I fell against my driver’s side door when something slammed into me from behind.
Artie still reeked of liquor but was now more sober and steady. His eyes were clear as they glared at me, thinned to angry slits.
“Look, you were drunk. I couldn’t serve you. In fact, I think it’s against the law to sell more alcohol to someone so drunk they can’t stand without assistance.”
“Like you have to follow any laws.” His humorless laugh made my skin crawl. I just wanted to get away from him long enough to get into my car and speed away. But where? Jake and Peyton had taken the kids to the Finger Lakes for the week, and I didn’t want him to follow me home to an empty house.
