“No, I won’t just let this slide. I’m the only one in this godforsaken bar who actually works, and you’re telling me I can’t even defend myself?”
“Defend yourself from what? A guy who’s drunk enough to find you attractive?”
“That’s it, I’m fucking done with this shit show,” I yell.
“No, this shit show is done with you. You’re fired. Get your stuff andget outof my bar,” Donny shouts.
Cindy steps closer to him, clinging to his arm. “Donny, you can’t fire her. We need her,” she whispers, but he shrugs her off.
“Go be useless somewhere else.” He snarls at her while I remove my apron and crumple it into a ball before tossing it at Donny’s feet.
The night airis cold as I walk to the 7-Eleven, still fuming.
Who does he think he is?
I’ve endured a fucking lot in my life, and I know how to just take it and shut my mouth, but I’m not going to be told my body must be available while I work and anyone can just touch it if they want.
If I thought I could be a prostitute, I would be. The pay would be much better.
Howie is sitting in our usual space, and I let myself fall beside him, the concrete hitting my butt hard. I drop my head into my hands.
“What’s wrong, kid? What are you doing here already?” Howie asks, concerned.
I sit there, rocking back and forth, desperately tugging at my hair.
What the hell did I just do?
Yeah, I despised that job, but it paid decently, and the tips were usually good. Now that I’ve lost it, I don’t know how to make things work.
“I messed up,” I whisper.
“What happened?” Howie asks, his voice filled with gentleness. But I can’t stop rocking to form a reply. My head feels like it’s spinning out of control. “Kid,” he says softly, placing a hand on my back.
The gesture momentarily halts my rocking, and I look up at him. Howie and I have never touched each other before. We’ve always just sat side by side and talked.
Tears well up in my eyes. “I got fired.”
His gaze softens even more, and there’s so much compassion in his voice as he says my name. “Lina.”
A sob bursts out of me, and I start crying. I can’t remember the last time I cried in front of someone, maybe at my parents’ funeral. I usually don’t allow myself to break down while anyone can see. I never let my guard down completely. But now, here Iam, sobbing because I lost a job that paid our rent, all because of a stupid slap on the ass and my big mouth.
Howie wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me close in a side hug. He leans his head against mine. “You’ll find another job, Lina. Nobody works as hard as you do. Everyone will want you, and you’ll have a new job in no time,” he assures me, swaying slowly from side to side as he comforts me.
“And what if I don’t?” I sniffle, trying hard to regain my composure.
“Then you’ll find another way. You’ve always found a way,” he says softly, gently stroking my upper arm.
I slowly pull away from the embrace, looking into his bright blue eyes that stand out in his dirty face. “I’m so sorry for breaking down on you.”
“You didn’t break down, kid. You just needed a moment. You grew up surrounded by emotional chaos, and you find comfort in the pain. This is just another rock on the road.” He nods at me, leaning back against the concrete wall.
“Thank you for being here for me,” I whisper, rising to my feet.
“You’re the closest thing to family for an old lost man like me. Of course, I’m here.” He huffs. “Now go home and get an extra hour of sleep. All this emotional stuff is making me tired.”
TEN
The following day,it’s like I’ve been hit by a train. I didn’t get a wink of sleep, even though I had more than enough time to do so.
