“Went over those before they had their fitting with Hilary. We’re set, no issues, and we’ve already gone over the girls’ responsibilities for working the floor.” Shane grabs a clipboard from behind the bar. “We’ve got these three ugly bastards working opening night and the next three nights after.” He points at Travis, Garrett, and Denton before looking back at his paperwork. “After that, it’s a rotation between them. Some nights all six, though, especially weekends, working the main bar. Then we have the other guys working the three other bars, but they won’t be in until tomorrow.”
I nod. I know without adding that he’s made a note to have Denton fill them in on “Lollipop” before looking over to where the girls are standing. “You ladies ready for opening night?” They all smile and nod. “Things might be a little intense, but you’re all aware of where the bouncers are stationed and there won’t be a second when you girls aren’t covered. But if you don’t feel safe, find one of them or us and let it be known.”
“And let’s not forget that we’re expecting close to five hundred bodies opening night. That’s just ticket holders, so I’m sure we’re going to have our share in the holding room. For those who aren’t assigned the VIP area, don’t forget to make the rounds out there, too. None of the VIP assigned girls should be handling anything but the people in your area up there. Everyone else remember—just because they’re not in the hot zone and stuck out in the holding room doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have fun. Plus, allowing them to drink in there means they’re going to be ready to party once they get in the door. They’re carded before they even get that far, so no worries there.” Shane looks over at me when he’s done talking and we both get the same giddy-as-fuck smile on our faces.
“Most importantly, have fucking fun and remember we’re the best of the fucking best,” I boom. Everyone laughs, and with the excitement of opening night giving us all one hell of a high, I walk around the bar and start making enough of my go-to drinks for everyone. “Grab yourself a drink and let’s toast to Dirty Dog!”
“FAMILY DINNER,” I HEAR MY sister bark through my phone, and I pull it away from my ear with her sharp tone. Bam, my five-year-old English mastiff, looks up from his bed in the corner but loses interest quickly. With a huff, he drops his big head back down. “That means the whole damn family, Em. What part of that is confusing to you? You’ve skipped the last eight! Eight months you haven’t been there and don’t think that hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
Dropping my brush into the water next to my canvas, I walk over to the couch in the corner and look out the window of my back room. When I moved out on my own, this room sold me on the small house. Huge picture windows cover every inch of the back wall, giving me a breathtaking view of the woods that surround my property. I’ve been here a year now, and I still get chills when I’m in my painting room.
“I’m busy,” I tell her, which isn’t a lie, just not the full truth. “And it wasn’t eight. I came a few months back.” Six actually, but who’s counting.
“You’re always busy. I know for a fact that you finished up the last piece you had to do for your exhibition next month, so don’t give me that busy shit.”
I sigh. “Just because I finished all of that doesn’t mean I don’t have other pieces that need my attention.”
Maddi’s humorless laugh comes through the line. “You could knock out any of your beautiful paintings in no time. What is going on with you? You’ve been like this for a while now.”
I watch a bird fly around one of my birdfeeders before leaning back on the couch. “I’m just busy, Maddi.” Bam’s head settles on my leg, and I move my hand to scratch him behind his ears like he loves.
“Dad said if you aren’t there, he’s going to come toss you over his shoulder and force your ass to—and I quote—make time for your goddamn family.”
“No doubt he will too.” I laugh.
“Don’t you know it,” she responds, her tone less heated than just moments before.
“I’ll be there, okay?”
“Perfect. Don’t forget we have plans this weekend too!”
My brow furrows, and I try to remember what plans we could possibly have.
“What plans?”
“I swear, Emberlyn Locke! You’re the only girl I know who couldn’t care less that her twenty-first birthday is coming up. We have plans! All the girls. Even Dani’s in. Her parents are watching the boys, and you had better believe she’s ready to turn it up now that Evan’s finally off the tit.”
“You’re so crass,” I interrupt.
“No, I’m not. She’s the one who said it. The second he hit six months and tried to take off her nip with his tooth, she was done. Off the tit, she said. Time to party, she threatened. So Cohen is all-in for a girls’ night out getting his wife drunk off her ass because he says he will reap the benefits when she gets home.”
“That should be interesting,” I comment, not really listening to her.
“You bet your ass. She hasn’t had a lick to drink since right after the honeymoon when she found out he knocked her up again. She might just be all the entertainment of the evening we need.”