***
Work was fun. I guess on the weekends is when all the older men come out. I’m talking older than fifty-five. The week days are for the drunks and the college students. All the old men were fun to serve and I thought it was adorable when they started to get flirty with me.
I’ve never been hit on by a grandpa and today that changed. I even got a few phone numbers but I slid them back over and told them their wives will not appreciate the infidelity. I know I wouldn’t.
“People love you,” Peyton said wiping a glass dry.
“It’s only because they don’t have to see you as much,” I said, eyeing him. “You’re in the back getting glasses.” Since the clientele request me, Peyton makes himself busy washing the cups, wiping down the counter and heading to the back to get more of whatever we need. It’s actually more work than being a bartender.
“You’re an upgrade from my boring face,” he said smiling. “Don’t you agree Paul?” I glanced at Paul, a man in his late sixties who thinks he’s twenty.
“Darling, you should be seen by the world,” Paul said, staring at me lovingly. “You are stunning.”
“You just want another drink,” I said. “Not happening. Your wife called and said two gin and tonics are allowed.” I’m not joking. His sweet wife really did call to warn me that if he gets an extra drink, she will come down here on her walker and beat me with a cane. I can’t have that happen.
“You’re a sweetheart. Peyton, maybe you can help this young lady find a nice man,” Paul said tapping his finger against the counter.
“I think Rebeckah can find a man on her own,” Peyton chuckled.
“What about your boyfriend?” Paul asked Peyton. Wait, what? “He treating you like the king you are?”
Peyton glanced at me and smiled even wider.
“Yeah, he is.”
Holy shit! How did I not see this?!
Peyton closed the distance between us and used his finger to lift up my jaw. “Stop catching flies. You have drinks to make.”
“You’re gay?” I asked, my mouth still hanging open.
“Yeah.”
“How come I had to find out from Paul?”
“Because I really wanted to see if you’d follow the rule book. I’m too sexy to keep hands off of.” That’s f-ucking true.
“Wow,” I said shaking my head. “I had no idea.”
Now that explains why he never hit on me. I mean, he smiled and winked a few times but he never got grabby or said something stupid about how nice my ass looks in these shorts. He had me completely fooled.
“Get back to work,” I said swatting his arm with a towel. “I need more cups.” Peyton laughed and headed to the back room.
I finished up my shift and headed home.
You’d think that because it’s late and all the lights in the house are off except for the kitchen stove that Matty and Dad are sleeping. Nope. They’re in the kitchen eating a sandwich with Jacky and Remy.
“Do I get one?” I asked eyeing the bread with two slices left.
“I’ll make you one,” Dad said getting up and grabbing the mayo.
“So why is everyone awake?” I asked. “And here?”
“Just stopping by,” Remy said in-between a mouthful.
I nodded and sat down beside him at the breakfast counter. “You guys know I won’t freak if you say you’re worried about me,” I said tapping my fingers on the counter.
I literally heard crickets for a few seconds.
“How are you?” Matty finally asked.
“Better. I mean, I’m not having thoughts,” I said. “I seriously think it started again because of Logan.”
“What happened? Did he try something?” Dad asked, sliding a plate over with my nice fat ham sandwich and leaning against the counter. He really wants to know.
“Uh, the first day of school he threw himself at me. Literally. He had a girl on his arm then decided to use me as the getaway. Having his tongue down my throat was not helpful,” I said.
“That asshole,” Jacky said. “He kissed you!” I looked up at her and found her visibly upset. That’s weird because she’s the one that keeps telling me to get a boyfriend and find some friends to hang out with. You’d think she’d tell me to suck it up and let it happen.
“I kneed him in the balls yesterday,” I blurted.
Everyone held their sandwiches hovering inches from their open mouths.
“You did what?” Remy asked leaning into me.
“I kneed him in the balls. He snuck into my class and kissed me again so I gave him a piece of my mind.”
Matty laughed and Dad winced as he thought about the pain I must have caused. Jacky was stuck between smiling and telling me that wasn’t right.
“Good job,” Remy said squeezing my shoulder. “I’m f-ucking proud of you.”
“Do you guys always have to put ‘f-uck’ in all your sentences?” Dad asked.
“Yes, we f-ucking do,” I said just to make a point.
“Kelsey is starting to swear. You’re bad role models.”
“Dad, Kelsey has been swearing since she was six,” Jacky said licking her lips nervously. “You and Mom used to fight a lot.”
Dad looked down at his sandwich and nodded.
“That’s so f-ucking true,” he said.
Hypocrite.
We finished our late snack and then headed to bed. Jacky and Remy took the spare room because tomorrow we’re getting up early to see Kelsey so it’s not worth them leaving and coming back.
“Love you, Birdie,” Dad said hovering outside my room.
“Love you, Dad.”
***
Kelsey doesn’t fully know her sister is a f-ucking nut job so when she saw the Band-Aid on my wrist, she demanded to know what the f-uck happened (her words, Dad just smiled and shook his head.)
I pulled a lie out of my ass and said I accidently cut myself on a broken glass at work. She nodded and accepted that.
Today, Kelsey has been a little less talkative and not so motivated and it’s because of the tests. We know because as soon as a kid walked into the room with a bag of gummy bears, she shot up and said nothing hurt.
This is Micha.
He’s taller than I pictured and his eyes are really green. No wonder Kelsey falls into a trance when she talks about him. I would. If I was her age.
He has short dark hair and he looks like a nice kid. The only problem is that he’s wearing a hospital gown. Because he’s sick too.
Kelsey didn’t tell me this.
When the whole family was done meeting Micha and we left the newbie lovebirds alone, I walked over to the front desk and asked what the deal was with Micha.
Micha Henson. Fifteen. Waiting for a heart transplant.
That’s not it.
If he doesn’t get it within three months, there’s no hope. That f-ucking broke me. Kelsey talks about him like he’s the moon and in three months, if he doesn’t get a new heart, he’ll die.
I watched the two laugh as they talked on Kelsey’s bed.
She’s happy. He’s happy.
Is there anything I can do to stop this before it’s too late? No, I shouldn’t get involved. Break-ups and losing someone is ugly but we need to get over them to move on. That’s what I need to do about the whole Washington thing.
I can’t get involved.
Kelsey knows I’m here if she needs me.
I wonder if she knows about the heart transplant. Why wouldn’t he tell her? So my sister is probably keeping a secret.
Aren’t we all?