Don't Let Me Fall(12)

nodded.

“Come back in an hour. And lose the sweater.”

Dammit. I guess that was going to happen.

“Sure. I’m Rebeckah, by the way.”

“Peyton,” he said, with a smile.

Kill me now. You’d think that all the guys here would have normal names and now I’m being tossed into a job with a guy named Peyton. I always wanted to meet people that don’t

have normal boring names.

“See you later, Peyton.”

I turned around and I walked my ass out of the bar with a spring in my step and a f-ucking idiotic smile. I must be on drugs. It wouldn’t be the first time.

“No shots?” Matthew asked when I got into the car.

“Better. I got a job,” I said. At least I hope I have the job. Peyton just said come back in an hour. He could just try to see if I practice what I preach.

“How is that better?” Finn asked, brows furrowing. “Now I can’t see your beautiful face when I stay at your house longer than necessary.”

Both Matty and I stared at him.

“Stalker,” Matty breathed.

Finn laughed and wiped his eyes. “One day, your sister will have sex with me. I’m just making it easier for her to do it.”

“Um, you know I’m sitting right here,” I said.

“I know, babe. Don’t worry,” he said winking at me.

Oh. My…

I blinked a few times then stared out of the window until we got home. I’m not even going to bring that conversation back up.

Dad was surprised that I got a job and I think he knows it’s because I know we’re having a hard time right now.

If only I didn’t have to go to school…

But Kelsey wants it and Dad won’t allow it. I’m twenty-one and I’m being told what to do by my dad and my fourteen-year-old sister. Wow.

An hour later, I was showered and dressed in a tank top and shorts and walking into the bar. Happy Hour. It’s the perfect name for a bar.

As soon as I walked through the door, I smelt the alcohol. Before, it wasn’t that bad because it was packed and cigarette smoke and body odor masked it but now it’s all I smell.

It’s familiar. Bringing back old memories.

“Wow.” I followed the voice to the bar and found hazel eyes staring back at me. Peyton. “You weren’t joking,” he said, staring at every tattoo I have visible.

I lifted my hands up in mock surrender. I tried to hide my wrist but it’s harder to do without a sweater so I threw on a large bangle. It’s not my favorite but it’ll stop people

from asking questions. Questions I don’t want to answer.

“Why would I lie?” I asked.

Peyton smiled and told me to walk through the kitchen to get to the bar.

“You’re wearing a bra,” he said.

“Sorry to disappoint.”

I should roll my eyes at Peyton noticing that but I didn’t. I couldn’t. I just smiled and bit my bottom lip as we walked to the bar.

“Alright, boss wants someone who knows what they’re doing. He left me in charge of hiring so please don’t make me look bad.” I glanced at Peyton and he was all smiles.

Beautiful.

“You don’t have to worry about me,” I said. “I know what I’m doing.”

My first customer just wanted a pitcher of beer so that wasn’t hard. I handed it to him and his eyes took in my whole body. Rule number one of being a bartender, a female one, is

that you have to show some skin. Men want something to look at so if they see b-reasts and skimpy clothes, they’ll order. So everyone started hovering over the bar, flirting,

ordering, yelling and staring. It’s part of the job. You have to do it for the tips.

Happy Hour closes at five in the morning because it serves food as well as alcohol but since I’m a college student, I get off at twelve. Eh, I have five hours of sleep left. I

cleaned up the bar and told the guys to wipe the drool off their face as I headed to the back and counted my tips. Half was Peyton’s but he wouldn’t take it. He said I deserved

all of it because I did all the work. The customers even said so.

Two hundred thirty-nine dollars and fifty cents.

Not bad for a first day which was basically just training.

I headed out the back and got into Dad’s car. I locked the doors once I got in and drove home. The house was dark and Matty and Dad were sleeping so I crept into my room as silent

as a mouse and threw myself into bed.



***

“You working now?” Matty asked as I stepped off the last stair, heading to the kitchen.

“Kind of. After class I’m heading over to the bar and setting up everything then I’m going to see Kelsey. Are you and Dad going?” I asked.

He goes over the weekend and since it’s Friday, it’s technically the start of the weekend. Matty stared at his orange juice as he leaned against the kitchen island. He looked up

and nodded. “Uh, yeah. We’re seeing her today.”

I know Matthew hates seeing Kelsey in the hospital but she misses him and he can’t not see her. He loves her. We all do. She’s our kid sister and she needs us.

“Can you guys wait for me?” I asked. “I won’t take long and I really don’t want to take the train.” And I don’t want Matty to feel alone. Dad tries to cheer up Kelsey so