“He definitely seems much happier since he got out of that terrible relationship,” Stasia said. She pretended to scratch her nose with her middle finger.
“Who signs your paychecks?” I reminded her.
“Some things are worth more than money.”
I didn’t need this abuse. I had shit to do. A life to live. And these assholes could just get on with forgetting all about me and Naomi.
“I’m goin’ to Honky Tonk,” I said.
“Have a great night,” Jeremiah called after me. I threw a middle finger in his direction.
Instead of the bar, I ducked into my office. It didn’t feel like a sanctuary. It felt like a prison. I’d spent more time locked in here this week than I had the previous month. I’d never been this caught up on paperwork. Or this disconnected from what was going on with my businesses.
“Why the hell does anyone in this town give a damn who I date or don’t date?” I muttered to myself.
I picked up the rent check for one of the apartments upstairs. The tenant had also included a “You fucked up” note scrawled on a sticky note.
I was starting to worry that everyone else was right. That I’d done the wrong thing. And that sat about as well with me as the idea of wearing a suit and tie every day for the rest of my life.
I liked freedom. That’s why I owned my own businesses. That lottery ticket had bought me stability and freedom. Although, I supposed running my own businesses also sometimes felt like a thousand fucking zip ties lashing me to responsibility. But it was a responsibility I chose.
I could run my businesses without worrying about other people… Well, except for the ones I employed. And served.
Fuck.
I needed to get out of my head.
I headed down the hall and let myself into Honky Tonk. It was early still for a Friday, but the music was loud, and I could smell wings cooking in the kitchen. It felt like home. Even though my eyes did a quick scan of the bar, looking for Naomi. She wasn’t there and the disappointment I felt cut like a goddamn knife.
Silver and Max were both behind the bar. Fi was shooting the shit with Wraith. All three of them looked at me.
“Evening,” I said, testing the waters.
“Boo!” they chorused. Silver and Max were giving me the thumbs-down. Fi was giving me one thumbs-down and one middle finger. The other server, Brad, a new hire brought on to even out the estrogen, refused to make eye contact with me.
“Seriously?”
The handful of patrons snickered.
“I could fire every last one of you,” I reminded them.
They crossed their arms in unison. “I’d like to see you try,” Max said.
“Yeah. I’m sure you’d bartend and serve and manage just fine all by yourself on a Saturday night,” Silver said. Her nose ring moved with the flare of her nostrils.
Fuck.
I knew when I wasn’t wanted.
Fine. I could go home and enjoy the peace and quiet of single life. Again. Maybe tonight it wouldn’t feel so fucking empty. I’d get used to it.
“Fine. I’m leaving,” I said.
“Good,” said Max.
“Bye,” said Silver.
“Fuck off,” Fi said. “I’m leaving too.”
“Fine. Whatever.” I’d go home and work out a new schedule where these three never shared the bar again, I decided. Even if it meant hiring five more people. I’d hire guys who didn’t get periods and didn’t give me shit.
I fantasized about that life on the leisurely ride I took on my bike, winding around Knockemout and beyond before finally heading home. After all, I didn’t have someone waiting for me. Someone to answer to. I could do what I wanted. Which was exactly what I wanted out of life.
I was so distracted by reminding myself how great my life was without Naomi that I almost missed the vehicles at Liza’s.
For a second, I panicked, wondering if something had happened. If there’d been another break-in or worse.
Then I heard the music, the laughter.
I drove by slowly, hoping for a glimpse of her. No such luck. I parked my bike in my driveway and was headed for the front door when the tang of bonfire hit my nostrils.
If Liza wanted to have a party and not tell me that was her business I decided, letting myself inside.
Waylon attacked, his paws scrabbling at my jeans as he barked and moaned about how hungry he was since his afternoon snack.
“Yeah, yeah. Come on. Pee break first, then dinner.”
I went straight to the kitchen and opened the back door. The dog bulleted out between my legs.