“Great. So you’re going to go home, take a nap, go to the bar with Dakota, and then you’re going to take the best everything shower you have ever had. I’ll send you an outfit from Lily and Lace. You’ll look hot and feel confident telling your husband thatyou owe a little groveling too. But still not nearly as much as him.”
Her last addition makes me smile. “Always the girl’s girl.”
She takes my cup and gives me a refill before sending me off. “And eat something with protein please, not just sugar.”
I wave to her as I leave. Feeling a little better. I bet I’ll feel totally better after a little nap. I’m not a morning person so everything will feel better around lunch time.
I need to let Dakota know my plan.
Me:Want to meet me at noon at the bar? We need to do a little clean up and I’ll be closing for the night due to bar fight damage last night. But I don’t want you to miss out on money for it.
Dakota:Shit. What happened?
Me:Black Key came last night. Sanders was playing.
Dakota:Shit. There’s a lot of blood then?
Me:> Yeah.
Dakota:They punched YOU?!
Me:Obviously their asses are banned thanks to Murray.
Dakota:Sorry, I should have been there last night. But I’ll meet you at noon for clean up duty. Mind if Ibring Jaycob? He’s still not feeling great and I don’t have a sitter.
Me:Of course. Little man can set up in my office with the TV.
I feel bad even offering that because I should be telling her to keep him home, but the problem is I actually need her help if we have a chance of opening Wednesday.
Dakota:You’re the best boss ever. >
Me:Only because you’re the best employee. > Oh, by the way, you might have to fight Jess for Murray.
Dakota:She can fucking have him. > He brought Jaycob his favorite pancakes from Ms. Patti this morning.
Me:Oh we will absolutely be dissecting this at lunch.
I truly couldn’t run The Hidden Hollow without her. I’m happy to give her whatever time she needs because she’s more than just an employee.
Now that I have a plan for the day, I’m ready to get home and snuggle into my bed, taking a nap and spending a day rage cleaning my bar sounds like a great idea. I just hope my husband doesn’t leave me in Bozeman tonight.
Grabbing the bucket of cleaning supplies and the hydrogen peroxide for the blood, I set off to start cleaning while I wait for Dakota.
The more I scrub, the angrier I get at those damn Black Key ranch hands. And the more I bend over to clean, the more my head throbs from the black eye.
The front door opens and I pop up to see Dakota with my little buddy.
“Hey, JJ! You’re still not feeling good?” I take him in, holding his favorite stuffed animal tight to his chest and his eyes are glazed over. He shakes his head slow in response.
“What happened to youw eye Aunty Juwes?”
Dakota’s eyes are stuck on my black eye too. “I just fell and hit my head. No worries about me. Let’s go get you set up with your favorite movie, okay?”
“One hundwed one Dawmations?” He questions timidly, holding out his stuffed animal from the movie.
“Absolutely, bud. Come on! I might even have some secret popsicles stashed away.”
“Yessss!” He pumps his little fist in the air, followed by a big cough.
