SNAP (The SNAP Trilogy Book 1) (6 page)

Since I have a break between filling drink orders, I walk into the diner section of the tavern to see how things are going over there. The diner itself closes at ten on weekends, but will stay open later for anyone who comes closer to closing time since the bar is still open. It's ten thirty and there are only two couples left. Mary is busy sanitizing all the tables and chairs while Jimmy is following behind filling all the condiment containers. I watch as he puts them in place on the table and begins flipping the chairs upside down on the table top in preparation to vacuum. I've told him a million times he is not to do this while patrons are still in the diner eating. I walk over and put the chair back on the floor as he turns to face me.

"Jimmy, we've talked about this," I whisper to him so the remaining customers can't hear.

"Hazel, they are getting ready to leave. I pulled a double with hardly any sleep and didn't want to cut out on Mary before everything was done because she pulled a double too. I'm exhausted and still have to go home to Gemma and try to get sleep for my six am shift tomorrow. Mariah is on third shift right now. Gemma has her sleep schedule messed up from our wonky shifts. So forgive me for trying to shave fifteen minutes off of our time so that I won't be late tomorrow." Huffing, he walks toward the next table to grab all the condiment bottles and holders to refill. I leave him be to vent his frustrations in his own way.

Having Gemma changed his life. He's nineteen and is getting a crash course in what life is about. Mariah was his high school sweetheart. I watched them over the last couple of years as they came here on dates. Their romance is the sweetest thing I've ever seen. She is literally his queen and he is her king. Watching their feelings bloom into a love most only wish for has been like watching a movie. Last year they graduated high school and a few months later they announced they were going to have a baby. Their parents were crushed because they wanted them to go to college and experience life while building their future. Instead, life handed them a different future. Jimmy couldn't have been happier, and Mariah just glowed. But now life is getting in the way of their happiness. Robbing Peter to pay Paul, they struggle weekly just to keep a roof over their head. I send up a silent prayer for God to keep them strong and see them through this, and that it doesn't tear them apart in the process.

"Hazel, girl, what are you doing in here bossing? You're all dressed up, shouldn't you be out there having fun instead of working the bar for Roger?" Mary asks as she brings her cleaning supplies up to the counter.

"You would think that," I mumble. "Hey listen, is it okay to get Jimmy out of here? He has to be back at six and still has to go get his daughter."

"I've told him three times to leave, he won't do it. Stubborn man thing, I think." She smiles over at Jimmy.

"He needs a day off with his family. Hell, we all do. I’m talking to Roger on Monday. This is becoming ridiculous. We can't make money if we don't have enough employees to serve the masses. Have you seen how busy we've been?"

Mary nods her head. "Yes. Tonight alone we had several groups ranging from five to twelve a piece. More tips are great, but when you are so busy you can't spend the time you need with all your tables, your tips suffer."

A large commotion comes from the bar and we all turn to see through the narrow doorway.

"Son of a bitch," I say under my breath. "I'll be back in a bit to check on you."

"No you won't either. I'll get Jimmy out of here and finish closing this place up. Go take care of business." She smiles at me, her eyes crinkling in the corners. She reminds me of my grandmother and works just as hard as she did. I smile back and pat her shoulder.

"I don't know how much I can do in this dress, but I can pull my heel off and smack someone with it," I say with laughter in my voice as I wave to them. I would never do something like that, but thought is entertaining.

A beer bottle whizzes in front of me as I walk through the doorway and shatters against the bar.
What the fuck is going on?
Shocked, I turn toward the direction the bottle came from and see several of the local farm boys wrestling one of their buddies into a chair. It's the same jackass that was starting shit earlier. That shoe thing is looking like a good idea.

"Hey!" I yell over the music, "You're done! I'm cashing you out!"

Turning toward the bar, I hear the asshole slur, "You're done, bitch. I'll leave when I want."

His words set off all the anger I've been packing down these past few weeks. Unable to stop myself, I walk toward the drunken asshole and shove the table into his stomach with fury in my eyes. Air gushes from his lungs and the smell of alcohol is more than I smelled on Phil earlier, and that's saying a lot. His eyes latch onto mine as his friends step back leaving him to me.

"I'm only going to say this once." I lean over the table getting up in his face for emphasis. His head wobbles in understanding. "Get up and get the fuck out."

We stare at each other for another second before a smile breaks across his face. "You're a feisty one. I bet you're a hellcat in the sack." Laughter breaks out in the group.

Great. Now he's a comedian.
I shoot daggers in his direction again and he holds his hands up in surrender. Standing up from the chair, he begins to stumble before his friends grab him. One of them follows me to the bar to cash out their tab while the rest carry him out of the bar. After he pays, I grab the broom and begin sweeping up all the glass into a dust pan and dump it into the trash. Luckily the bottle was empty.

Cady sits down on the only empty stool at the bar. The hair around her face is damp and her shirt is clinging to her skin like she just had a mini workout. She picks up a cardboard coaster and begins fanning her face and neck. I totally feel her pain. It's your normal one-hundred degrees August night, so the AC is working overtime to keep it cool with so many drunken bodies filling the bar.

"What was all that ruckus about?" she asks, seeing all the broken glass in the trash can.

"Same jackass from earlier. I kicked them out."

"How much longer before Roger gets back?" she whines loudly. "If it's much longer, I'll end up passing out and missing all the parties."

"Twenty minutes ago would've been nice," I say, looking at the clock. "What the hell is going on tonight? This is not normal even for our busiest times. Not that I'm complaining, really. Look at the tip jar."

Cady turns toward it and her eyes almost pop out of her head. She grabs the jar and slides it in front of her turning it to see what kind of bills are in it. "There's a twenty dollar bill in here! Wait, there are few twenties in here!" The knowledge of how much in tips we will be walking out of here with seems to give her a second wind. She bounces on the stool excited and I put the tip jar back into place. "So what are we going to do with all our hard earned dollars tonight?"

"First things first, we are going to my place so I can change out of this godforsaken dress and heels," I lean against the counter shuffling back and forth on my feet to relieve the ache in them. "I swear that my blisters have blisters. It's definitely going to be a flip flop night after this, that's for sure."

Cady begins speaking, but I'm distracted by the door opening. The sight of Roger has never made me happier.
About mother fucking time!
The relief must show on my face because Roger gives me an apologetic smile.

Cady turns to see what has caught my attention and yells, "Roger!"

The patrons also begin yelling his name and it's like it is echoing off the walls. He looks exhausted and I don't blame him. He just spent who knows how long in the heat changing tires.

"Thanks for sticking around. Got Laney taken care of and she's already off to a party. Teenagers," he scoffs, shaking his head. "Did you have any problems tonight?"

"Yeah, we did. But we took care of them." Cady winked at him in response.

"We? What is she talking about, Hazel?" His confusion makes me laugh.

"We will talk about it Monday after you see the sales from tonight." I jerk my head toward the tip jar and watch as his eyes bulge out of his head. Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen the tip jar that full either.

"We've talked about this–"

"And we are not talking about it tonight, Roger." I cut him off not wanting to have this conversation now. "I've been here longer than you asked and my feet are bloody and raw. Just think about it once you see the sales and we will talk about it on Monday, okay?"

"Fine, thanks again. Now get out of here," he says as he walks around the bar to relieve me.

"Huh-uh. Not without my payment!" Cady grabs the tip jar and opens her purse. Grabbing handfuls of bills, she shoves them inside.

"What are you doing?" Roger shouts. I can't help but laugh and begin helping her.

"We earned every damn dime of this money! We ran our asses off all night, in heels may I add, to serve all these people. I don't get a paycheck. These tips are my paycheck. So I'll be taking what's mine, thank you very much!" She doesn't hold any punches.

My head snaps up to Roger's hearty laugh. He has tears in his eyes watching her shove the money in her purse like she's robbing a bank and about to make a run for it. The expression on her face is priceless.

After filling her purse with all the money, I grab a twenty and put it back in the jar for Roger. He had some in there before we got here. Not nearly that much, but maybe leaving him a little something will make him think more about hiring Cady on to help out around here.

"Later, Roger!" I say as we turn to leave the bar.

"Yes, later as in Monday! Don't call her, you promised!" Cady says, turning around and pointing her finger at him while walking backwards toward the door.

Roger nods at her. "Get on out of here!"

She turns around almost running for the door in her excitement. My feet hurt too damn much to keep up with her. I wave to some people as we leave and finally make it through the door with a sigh of relief. The heat outside is almost suffocating. I instantly feel like I'm swimming through the humidity. Cady is already off the sidewalk and walking through the parking lot toward the SUV. I stop while near the lights to find my keys and pull them out of my purse. Stepping off the sidewalk onto the lot, I lift my keys to unlock the doors and see Phil standing next to it.

For the love of all things holy, I don't have time for this shit!

Anger takes over as I stomp over to Cady who is standing in front of the car.

"What do you want, Phil?" I ask as I come to a stop next to Cady. After what happened in the bar, I'm confused as to what he wants with me. I've made it perfectly clear to him that I don't want anything to do with him. He is definitely a special kind of stupid.

Looking at me only, he smiles and begins to walk toward the front of the car. His cocky swagger makes my eyes roll and I sigh in aggravation.

"Cady, why don't you give me and Hazel a minute to talk?" He tries to sound sweet, but we can hear the underlying menace in his voice.

"No way in hell. Whatever you have to say to her you can say in front of me," she states firmly.

Phil drops the act and shoots a hateful look at Cady that makes my skin crawl. This guy just keeps getting creepier and creepier. The hundred degree weather doesn't stop the chill that runs through my body from the vile eyes that stare upon me. I have the feeling if she doesn't comply with his wishes, he may get physical with her.

"Cady, get in the car," I mumble to her, not taking my eyes off Phil. A smirk breaks across his face as his beady eyes latch onto mine like they are trying to break my will.

Not gonna happen buddy.

Cady's head whips to face me, her mouth hanging open in outrage. "Are you fucking crazy? No, Hazel, not happening!"

"Get in the car," I grate out. Still in my staring contest, I hold the keys up for her to take.

Cady huffs, shaking her head in disbelief. "Un-fucking-believable," she says, snatching the keys from my hand. She opens the car door and climbs inside, but doesn't close the door. I can see her in my peripheral waiting to see what comes next.

"Close the door, Cady." Phil isn't going to talk until he thinks she can't hear and I want this shit over with so I can enjoy the rest of our night; if that's even possible now.

She slams the door so hard I'm surprised that the glass doesn't shatter. I get it, she's angry. Hell I'd be angry too if she told me to do the same thing. It's not like I told her to go back in the bar where she can't see me. She can see. Hell, if she cracked the window she could probably hear us.

Phil steps forward still not breaking eye contact with me. He looks wired, as if he's waiting for the gun to fire so he can start a race.

"Just say what you have to say so I can leave, Phil. I don't have time for this shit."

"Earlier was unlike me. I thought maybe if I came to talk to you, you could over look it–"

"Unlike you?" I cut in. "Are you being serious right now? That was so you. More you than you have ever shown of your true colors. Well, except for that one time." He knows what time I'm speaking of. It's almost as if the memory is calming for the sick fuck.

"As I was saying, I thought maybe if I came to you, you could overlook the outburst earlier. I would like to start over and thought you would let me make it up to you…tonight."