Don't Let Me Fall(14)

I got set up on a stool and ordered a few shots.

“Bad day?” Peyton asked sliding over a shot glass.

“My moods are unpredictable,” I said throwing my head back. The vodka burned its way down my throat and I didn’t mind.

“Think you can sign a few papers?” Peyton asked leaning on the bar with his arms. “Tim said you’re officially hired.”

“Awesome,” I said downing another shot. “I’m ready.”

I am now an official employee at Happy Hour. And number two of the rule book is that employees can not date or see each other while working here. I literally frowned when I read

that but I guess its fine. I do know Peyton’s name. That goes against my very low standard rule. Number one is that we have to card the customers if they don’t look twenty-one or

over and we have the right to refuse service when they start having too much. No one wants to clean up puke or blood off the bar.

“Here’s your shirts,” Peyton said handing me a few black shirts with Happy Hour written on the right breast. Tim knows what men want to see. “You start tomorrow at noon.”

“So I can go?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

I work every day next week from three to eleven because of classes and I have to get time to see Kelsey, and the weekends are noon to eleven. As it turns out, Peyton works every day

from noon to midnight because he has nothing better to do than serve people drinks (his words) and he likes working at the bar. He gets the longest breaks because he’s such an

excellent bartender (his words) and since he’s twenty-three and not in college, he has time.

“What’s with the sweater?” Peyton asked as I turned around. “I mean, your tattoos are amazing and unique. Why hide them?”

I turned and stared at the bar counter for a bit, trying to form words. I looked up at Peyton and took a deep breath. “I’m not the same person I was back when I got these.”

A guy walked up to the bar and signaled Peyton to get him his usual. There are a lot of those guys out here. I nodded and turned on my heel. He’s busy.

“Rebeckah,” Peyton called out. “People change. Don’t let your past define you.”

I glanced at him over my shoulder and saw the look in his eyes, trying to sell me that. He really believes that.

I wish I could let that be true.

I wish I can move on.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and walked out of the bar. I waited for Dad to pick me up and when he showed up with Matty in the car, I tried to push aside all the raw

feelings passing through me. They come and go but right now they’re not going.

They know I’m trying.

I’m trying to be better.

“I’m the new bartender,” I said getting in the car.

“Am I going to have to keep a bat handy?” Dad asked eyeing the bar. “I don’t like knowing you’re going to be working around drunks all day.”

“I’ll be fine,” I whispered.

Dad started driving and I noticed he kept looking at me through the rearview mirror. Don’t make him worry, Becka. Don’t do that to him! “Birdie, you okay?” he asked stopping at

a red light. I caught his eye and nodded. I even added a smile. “You sure?”

“Dad, she’s a girl. Their moods change like seasons.” Matty sighed, glancing at me over his shoulder. “Is it that time of the month?”

“No and it’s creepy if you ask,” I snickered.

Dad went back to driving but he didn’t give up looking at me. I get it. I know something is off about me today. I have to stop it or it’ll get worse.

We got to the hospital and went up to Kelsey’s room after we picked up food from the cafeteria. She was all smiles and happy eyes when we walked through the door. She was basically

beaming…and it was weird.

“Why are you so happy?” I asked her.

Kelsey blushed and played with the thin sheet covering up her body. She’s avoiding the question. She’s happy. And she’s blushing.

It’s because of a boy. And not just any boy.

It’s Micha.

I touched her hand and she caught my eye.

We have a special connection so with just a look I asked if he kissed her. She gave me a look telling me he did.

Ohmygod. Finally!

I smiled and let Dad and Matty talk to her as I walked over to the window trying to let my sister’s happiness consume me. Finally, there’s a boy that can get Kelsey to smile the

way she is right now.

My eyes drifted outside again and I felt the urge to step closer to the window and not stop until–

Stop!

I blinked and stepped back.

I turned and joined the conversation of how Kelsey’s day went. Tests are still being done but the doctor came in and said that maybe in a week or two, Kels can come home. When I

told her I have a new job, she wasn’t that excited because that means we won’t be spending so much time together when I come home from school. Yeah, right. I won’t let that stop

me.

Kelsey’s eyes became too heavy to keep open so two minutes later, she was snoring lightly and we grabbed our things to head out.

The car ride back was quiet but nice. Kelsey will be coming home and we’ll have the family back together. Jacky and Remy are so close that they’ll come by more often after work.