to get her eyes to adjust. She rushed through the room to the break room. The couch was gone, in its place was a lopsided loveseat that looked like it had been in a war with nineteen cats.
“Chloe?”
She turned to Lou’s voice. “I’ll be right up to prep the bar.”
“Can you come in my office?”
Chapter 21
She stared at her feet. “Look, Lou. I’m sorry about the reporters. It’s going to die down any time now.”
“I’d rather not talk about this in the break room, Chloe.”
Her chest tightened as she lifted her gaze to his. His eyes were looking at anything except her. The floor, over her shoulder, the new used couch—except her. “I’m the best goddamn worker you have.”
“Not if this nonsense is driving people away.”
Her eyebrows snapped together. “Our sales are up because of all of this crap.”
“No, I’ve had to give away a lot of damn beer because of this.” Lou put his hands on his hips. “I can’t deal with the distractions. My distributors can’t even get the truck around the back. No beer, no booze, no money—get me?”
Panic bloomed and threatened to choke her. She couldn’t lose her job. Not after all she’d sacrificed to keep her kid in diapers and food. She’d worked doubles and every shift someone wanted to give up.
She clenched her fists, and prayed that she’d hold back the tears. She’d beg for her job, but she wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t use girl tears, dammit. “I’ll take a week off. They’ll die down.”
“Until next time? This isn’t the first time you’ve had trouble follow you around. You’re a good worker, but I can get another bartender in this town. Everyone knows how to mix a drink.”
The sting went bone deep. The unexpected ache that followed expelled all the anger and frustration she’d been stuffing down up and out like a geyser. Was she really so replaceable? She’d been with this place for years, and he was just going to toss her out like garbage?
The anger was so overwhelming she couldn’t hear anything over the blood roaring in her head. He muttered some sort of apology and handed her an envelope. All paid up. Don’t let the door slap you on the ass on your way out.
She walked stiffly to her locker and took everything out.
So very little. Some female items, a bit of makeup, a pack of gum. She reached to the back, but only found a receipt for a sandwich from a shop down the street.
Four years of her life down to things that could fit in a pencil case. She curled her fingers around the pink case with happy little cupcakes on it. The sprinkles blurred into a wash of pastel colors.
She dashed away the stray tear that had escaped and shoved the case into her purse. She lifted her head, then smoothed her ponytail. No big deal. Not like she hadn’t been fired before. Being a single mom included a lot of crap hours along with just as many call-ins for a sick or teething baby.
Chloe walked through the door and the overwhelming silence made her heart flutter like a trapped hummingbird again. Wanda had tears swimming in her eyes. Lou’s office door slammed shut a moment later.
Wanda rushed over to her. “Oh, honey. Are you all right?”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll find another job. I always do.”
“Can I do anything?”
“No, you’ve been amazing.” She forced her lips up into a smile. “Just keep everyone in line, okay?”
Wanda nodded as tears dripped down her cheeks and chin. Amber nibbled on her lower lip, but didn’t say anything. Jersey Janice had taken her place behind the bar. Evidently, Lou had already called in the reinforcements. So easily replaced—as he said.
She ran through the room to the door and out past the hoard of reporters. They chased her down the block and three enterprising camera guys even made it up the stairs to her bus. Chloe ran down the back and got off, waving at them with a double middle finger salute.
There was always another bus waiting. She took that one across town and into the heart of Venice. She needed to walk. She needed sand between her toes.
How many days had she wasted in Venice over the years? Endless summer days sitting on hot cement to watch Snake beat on an old white pail while Simon and Nick played guitar for a few bucks. Using her meager money to buy them water or a six pack on the good days.
Her first