Under Fire Read online

  I stop my pacing and drop my head back against the wall as I realize what I’ve done. Oh god, I hope I didn’t just lose my job over this. He’s not worth it even if he does have that fine ass V in his pants.

  The door flies open and my boss comes barreling in. And he’s pissed.

  “What the fuck was that, Lacy?” He gestures toward the front and I know he didn’t just hear about it, he saw it all happen. That’s even worse.

  “I’m sorry, Miguel. I… I know him from before and he’s not a great guy. I just… snapped,” I try to explain, knowing it’s not going to get me anywhere.

  “I don’t care if he’s an ex-boyfriend or an ex-lover. Hell, I don’t care if he just got out of prison. If he’s a paying customer, you serve him with a smile and move the fuck along. Do you know how that looks to the other paying customers?”

  “I know, I know.” All my bravado from earlier is gone as I realize the gravity of what I’ve done. Panic starts to take over. I have to fix this. “I’m so sorry. I’ll go out there an apologize to him and put any of his drinks on the house. It can come out of my paycheck.”

  Miguel looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You think I’m letting you anywhere near the bar after that?”

  My gut sinks, fearing the worst.

  “Please, Miguel. How can I fix this? You know I need this job and I’m good at it. What can I do?”

  He crosses his arms and looks away as he considers me. I hold my breath as I await his verdict.

  “I won’t fire you for this because you’re right. You’re a good employee and this is the first time anything like this has happened.”

  “Oh thank you, Miguel!” I hold myself back from hugging him, knowing he wouldn’t appreciate that.

  “But you can leave for the night.”

  My elation plummets. “But…”

  “No buts. You screwed up and he’s still here. The customer gets first preference. Maybe we’ll get lucky and he’ll never come back. But for tonight, you’re gone.”

  I sigh in disappointment but know he’s right. I can’t very well go out there and try to serve the people who saw me lose my shit. That’s not good business.

  Leaving means I’m going to have to survive on Ramen for the next week or so, but it’s my own damn fault I’m in this situation.

  “I understand and I really am sorry, Miguel. Thanks for not firing me.”

  He nods once. “Just so we’re clear, I will fire you if it happens again.”

  I turn toward the door but it opens before I can reach for the handle. The last person I expect to see walks through.

  “Tucker?”

  Miguel is obviously as confused as me to see the man in question standing in the doorway, but immediately moves into management mode. “Mr. Hayes. I’m so sorry for the incident that happened tonight. Lacy is on her way home now so I assure you it won’t happen again.” Miguel gives me a pointed look and I begin moving around Tucker to leave. The sooner I’m away from him, the better.

  “Actually, I came back here to apologize.”

  That stops me in my tracks.

  “Apologize?” Miguel asks with all the same confusion I feel.

  Does Tucker finally remember where he knows me from? Has he put two and two together? I’m not sure how to feel about this.

  “Lacy, that’s your name, right?”

  I puff out a breath and shake my head. Of course he doesn’t remember my name. Doesn’t matter that I’ve spent almost five years not able to forget his. Because unless it has to do with partying and hockey, everyone else is insignificant to great Tucker Hayes.

  “Lacy was right to call me out. My buddies and I, the last time we were out we completely forgot to tip her. It was an oversight but I used to wait tables in college and I know how shitty people can be with that, especially when it’s a huge tab. I plan to make it up to her tonight.”

  “Well, I’m leaving so feel free to tip the rest of the staff well.” The words come out angrier than I intend, but I can’t help what I feel. He has some nerve coming back here to apologize for being a shitty tipper when that’s the least of my worries when it comes to him.

  Miguel looks completely baffled at this entire situation. “That’s still not an excuse to throw a drink in your face, Mr. Hayes. So please accept our sincerest apology and your drinks are on the house tonight.” Turning to me, he tacks on, “Lacy, you can leave.”

  I don’t wait for another hint from my boss. I walk out of the room as fast as I can, saving Tucker the trouble of trying to figure out why “tip money” could make a lowly bartender like me so angry.

  Ellie’s feet plunk to the floor as she shifts her body to the sitting position on our ratty couch, not even bothering to hide her surprise when I walk in the door. Her guilty pleasure in the form of The Bachelor reruns are forgotten.

  “What are you doing home so early?” she demands? “You’re not fired are you?”

  I plop down next to her, rubbing my eyes. “Not yet.”

  “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “It wasn’t,” I admit.

  “What happened? It’s not like Miguel to make someone leave early.”

  “Two words—Tucker Hayes.”

  Her eyes widen with shock. It’s probably exactly how I looked when I first saw him. “Nooooo.”

  “Yep. Showed up at the bar all floppy hair and super cut physique, looking spiffy in an expensive suit. And didn’t have any idea who I was.”

  That last part still stings.

  “Oh that sucks. What did you do?”

  “Threw a twenty dollar shot in his face.”

  I chance a look at the woman who has been my best friend and most supportive person I know for almost three years. She’s fighting a smile, which reminds me of why I love her so much.

  “Well, that explains being sent home early.”

  “Yup.” Sighing deeply, I lay my head back against the couch and turn my head to look at her. “I’m so sorry Ellie. I promise I’ll still be able to pay my part of the rent this month. I just might have to give it to you on the first instead of a couple days before.”

  “Stop.” She grabs my hand. “We’ll figure it out, okay? We always do.”

  I’m so grateful for how Ellie’s always gone above and beyond for us. If it weren’t for her, I’m honestly not sure where we’d be right now.

  “Thanks.”

  Sitting back up straight, she gets down to the business I knew would come up eventually, no matter how much I try to deflect.

  “So. Did you tell him?”

  “You mean when I threw the drink in his face or when he told Miguel it was his fault because he’s a shitty tipper so I have a right to be angry.”

  “Oh no. That’s why he thought you were pissed?”

  I shrug.

  Ellie pauses for a few seconds before asking the inevitable question. “What are you going to do now that he’s back in town?”

  I can honestly say I don’t know. I wish I could call my mom and talk to her about it. Pick her brain and get her advice. She’d have some words of wisdom to help me out. But that shipped sailed years ago. I’m on my own with this one. At least I have Ellie to help me sort through it all.

  I don’t get a chance to respond to her question before Sutton stumbles out of the bedroom rubbing her eyes, her blond curls a rat’s nest on her head. She’s clutching her stuffed puppy, as per usual. “Mommy?”

  I pick her up and kiss the top of her head, snuggling her close.

  “I don’t know Ellie. I really don’t. But I have a strong feeling life is about to change.”

 

 

  M.E. Carter, Under Fire

 

 

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