I shut up and drank my bloody Mary. I really couldn't argue with free. Our food arrived, and my stomach growled loudly, making us both laugh.
"Want a piece of bacon?" I offered, holding it out to Logan.
He shook his head. "Oh no, I don't eat that stuff."
"Ugh, health nut alert," I joked.
"Oh, actually, I'm a vegetarian, not a health nut," Logan said through a mouthful of omelet. A vegetarian? Unexpected.
"Oh."
We ate in silence, finishing our food quickly. I slurped the last of my bloody Mary, dreading what was coming next. I flagged down our server and asked for our check, which Logan insisted on paying despite my protests- "It's a business-related expense and therefore is a tax write-off"- and we headed over to the courthouse, about a half hour away from the oceanfront, to meet Logan's lawyer friend.
My stomach was in knots during the drive to the courthouse. I knew I was being irrational, and I knew that I needed to get this done, but I couldn't help it- I was panicking slightly. I looked over at Logan a few times, who would look back at me and smile reassuringly.
"So, what's this lawyer friend's name?" I asked, staring at Logan as he tapped his fingers in time to the beat of the music coming from the radio.
"Kelsey Jones. I've known her for fourteen years," Logan said.
"Fourteen years? How old are you?" I asked, surprised. I'd guessed he was late twenties.
"I'll be thirty-three in September. How old are you?" he asked, looking over at me through the corner of his eye.
"Geez, haven't you read my personnel file? I'm twenty-six."
"Oh, that's right,” he nodded. “Okay, here we are," he said, pulling into the courthouse parking lot. "There's Kelsey right there in front, waiting for us."
Logan gestured towards a tall woman in a power suit who was leaning against her very own fancy car. She spotted us and waved, smiling broadly. She was beautiful, and kind of looked like Lawyer Barbie. Soft waves of blonde hair framed her face, which featured big blue eyes and bee-stung lips. I got out of the car and approached her, hand held out for a shake. She pulled me into an unexpected hug. I patted her shoulder blades awkwardly, then pulled back and introduced myself.
“I’m Jamie Jensen. I guess I need to get a restraining order.”
“Yeah, Logan told me about the situation, or at least what he knows of it,” Kelsey said.
“Okay. So what next? Do I have to testify or something?” I asked.
Kelsey shook her head. “Not today, at least. Today we’ll file a petition and get you something that’s called a PPO, or Preliminary Protection Order. Then the judge will have you guys back in court in two weeks after he or she has had time to review your case. At this point, you will both have to appear in court. After that, if the petition is granted, you will have a permanent restraining order against your ex-boyfriend for three years, which he will get in very big trouble if he violates. Hopefully this will ease your mind and make you able to breathe easier.” She smiled kindly and placed her hand out for me. I grasped it and she squeezed it reassuringly. “You are doing the right thing. This is so brave of you.”
With that, she herded me up the steps and into the courthouse, Logan following close behind. The inside of the courthouse looked very little like the fancy buildings I had seen on re-runs of Law & Order: SVU- it was just a garden-variety administrative building. Everyone was very friendly and the process wasn’t nearly as intimidating as I’d thought it would be. We had a lot of paperwork to fill out and hand in to the clerk, and Kelsey handled most of the legal stuff that made my head spin.
An hour later, we left, PPO obtained and court date set. It all went so easily that I wondered why I had been so nervous in the first place. Logan, Kelsey, and I walked outside, where the sun was now shining brightly in the noon sky. It felt like a good omen.
I held my hand out to Kelsey. “Thank you so much for everything you did in there. I’m so grateful.”
She inclined her head, grasping my hand, and said, “Of course. How could I say no after Logan called in that favor I’ve owed him for five years? Plus, this was a no-brainer- of course I’m going to help another woman out. We need to stick together in this world.” She winked at me, and turned to Logan. “Now that you’re here in my hometown, we have to go out. Let me show you the sights!”
Logan laughing, agreeing, “Of course. I look forward to it.” They hugged, and Kelsey left with a friendly wave. Logan and I were left alone together.
I was happy that today had been so easy, but I felt a knot forming in the pit of my stomach. In fifteen days, I would have to see Derek again for the first time in almost nine months. The thought made me queasy.
I felt a strong hand enveloping my own, and looked over at Logan, who was looking at me proudly. “You can let go now and stop worrying,” he said, his gaze unwavering. “Two more weeks and you’re stress-free for years, and I’m sure he’ll get the message and leave you alone forever.” I squeezed his hand back, not wanting to let go. We stood at the top of the courthouse steps, hands clasped together. My mood was considerably lightened, and I had Logan to thank for that.
“So, what do you have planned for today?” Logan asked me, pulling his hand away and letting mine drop to my side.
“Probably getting right back into pajamas and hanging out all day in bed,” I said, thinking of my soft bed and snuggly dog waiting for me at home.
“That sounds phenomenal,” Logan said. “Wish I could join you.”
“What?” I asked in surprise.
“No, I didn’t mean it like that,” Logan said quickly. “No. I meant I wish I could join you, but separately, like at my place.”
“You want me to hang out in pajamas in bed at your place?” I asked, not dismissing the idea out of hand. That did sound phenomenal.
“No! I mean, you in your apartment, me in my apartment, everyone separate. Forget I said anything, please,” Logan muttered.
I grinned widely. “Careful, Logan, you’re bumbling.”
Logan rolled his eyes, dropping the subject, and held open the passenger door for me. “Get in, I’ll drive you home.”
He dropped me off at my apartment with a wave, driving off quickly, and I was greeted by an excited, jumping dog who showered me with kisses. I settled into the couch with Luke, thinking about today.
I couldn’t believe how much lighter I felt, how much weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I jumped up on the couch and danced a happy little jig, with Luke bouncing around me and getting excited, then I changed into pajamas and did exactly what I had originally planned for the day- nothing.
CHAPTER NINE
After doing nothing all afternoon Thursday, I was ready to go out and do something productive on Friday. I leashed Luke up and biked to First Landing State Park. There was a little beach in the Narrows, which connected Broad Bay and Linkhorn Bay. Tourists almost never found their way there, and it was a completely different vibe than the Atlantic Ocean beach or the Chesapeake Bay Beach. I laid out on the towel I brought, using my floppy beach hat to shield my face.
Luke vigorously dug a hole in the sand under a large shady tree, which he then plopped into. He gave me a great big smile with his tongue wagging happily, sand covering his snout. Great, now I’ll have to give him a shower today. I shook my head and looked around at the beach. A couple of parents were lounging around, talking to each other while they watched their two kids play in the water. To the left of the couple, there was a small group of guys drinking beers, listening to music, and playing cornhole.
One of the guys turned around to grab a bean bag that had flown a little too far. He raised his head and I stood still, hiding my face. It was Eric, whom I hadn’t spoken to in a year and a half. I sat in shock, then wondered what I should do- should I approach him or not? What was the worst that could happen?
I fantasized about a happy reunion playing out- I’d say hello, he’d embrace me in a large bear hug, I’d apologize, and he would say never to be sorry,
it’s no big deal, he understands, and we’d live happily ever after, best friends forever yet again. It was such a nice fantasy. I had a feeling, though, what would actually happen was probably more along the lines of I’d say hello, he’d ignore me, and I’d feel terribly rejected-or worse, he wouldn’t ignore me and he’d tear me down scathingly and tell me all the awful things I already knew about myself.
I wasn’t going to stick around to find out which of these scenarios was correct- I quickly donned my large beach hat, packed up my things, and wiped all the sand off of Luke. I covered myself in my giant beach towel, then I fled the scene like a coward. I hoped Eric hadn’t seen me before I’d become aware of his presence. I biked back down Pacific Avenue, my thoughts going wild and my mood considerably dampened.
I got back home and made myself a sandwich, giving Luke little bits of my salami while I ate. I looked up at the clock after lunch- it was already three, and I had to be at work that night at four. I got in the shower and got ready, then walked to work. I wasn’t sure if Logan was going to walk me home again, but I left my bike at home just in case. It was getting a little tiring walking while holding my bike upright, even if it were only a half mile.
There was a burly bearded giant standing at Bender’s entrance when I got there. “Hello,” I said, smiling brightly and attempting to walk through the door. I was stopped by a beefy arm and a hand the size of my face.
“Can I see your ID?” Andre the Giant asked in a deep voice. Surprised, I fished around in my purse for my license and brought it out, showing it to him. He nodded and waved me in. I walked to the back room, bemused, and said hi to Logan, who was again buried in piles of file folders. He gave me a cursory smile before going back to his filing.
“Who’s the brute?” I asked.
Logan looked up. “I thought it would be a good idea to get security for the front door, to check everyone’s IDs before they come in.”
“Logan, you didn’t hire security just for me, did you? You really don’t have to do that, I don’t want to put you out.” I wanted to put everything behind me. First a lawyer, now a bodyguard?
“Get over yourself,” Logan said. “Every bar at the oceanfront has security guards. I’m just trying to make this place successful. Plus it’ll make it easier on my bartenders if they know everyone walking in is over 21, so they can be served more quickly.”
I couldn’t argue with that logic.
“Oh, okay,” I said lamely, dropping my purse onto the desk and tying on my apron. “Has Hannah gotten here yet?”
“Yeah, I think she’s in the dish pit polishing spoons or something.” I nodded and left to find Hannah. I found her in our tiny kitchen arranging mismatched coffee mugs.
“What’s up with these?” I asked, plucking a mug from the top of her pile.
“Just trying to make a giant pyramid of mugs,” Hannah said, grabbing the mug back from my hands. “Hey, do you mind closing tonight? Today was the first day of finals, and I need to start grading right away. Why the administration would schedule the first day of finals on a Friday is beyond me.” She pouted at me.
“Yeah, of course. I planned on closing anyway.” Read: I planned on closing and having Logan walk me home.
“Thanks girl,” she said, placing the last mug precariously back on top of the wobbling tower.
“Okay, watching this is giving me anxiety,” I said quickly, taking the top three mugs from the tower and setting them down gently on the counter. “Let’s go set up so we can open.” I grabbed a few kitchen towels and a cutting board and led the way back to the bar. Beard Guy was sitting on a stool next to the front door, looking bored and playing on his phone.
“You don’t have to sit there alone until we actually open in a half hour,” I called to him. He looked up from his phone and got off his stool to approach me and Hannah. “What’s your name?” I asked, extending my hand. His handshake nearly ripped my arm out of its socket.
“Bear,” he said, in a deep, growling voice.
“Your real name is Bear?” Hannah interrupted. “Like, that’s what your parents named you? And you just happened to grow up and actually look like a bear?”
He shrugged, then said, “My real name is Bernard. But who wants to be called Bernard? My friends gave me the nickname Bear when I was in high school and it’s stuck.”
“Can’t argue with that,” Hannah said, holding out her hand. “I’m Hannah, and this is Jamie. We’re the bartenders here.”
“Nice to meet you ladies,” Bear said, shaking Hannah’s hand. He looked up at the sound of the door opening, and hurried back to his stool to check the ID of the guy walking in- it was Dylan. He pulled out his ID and then came to sit at the end of the bar.
“We’re not open yet, but I can grab you a beer while you’re waiting,” Hannah said, leaning across the bar to pick a leaf off the front of Dylan’s shirt. He watched her do this with fascination and didn’t reply until she was safely back on the other side of the bar.
“I’m actually here to work today. I’m going to add your new menus to the website today,” Dylan said, producing his laptop from the messenger bag slung over his shoulder.
“Ooh,” Hannah said. “That’s exciting. I wonder why Joe never made us a website.”
“Joe doesn’t know how to operate Facebook, you think he’s tech-savvy enough to make us a website?” I asked Hannah. She stuck her tongue out at me. I swatted her arm, then went back to getting the fruit ready to cut. “You want to sweep under the bar stools while I cut the lemons and limes?”
Hannah grabbed the broom and made quick work of it, making sure to thoroughly sweep under Dylan’s stool while he was sitting on it. He kept swatting her away, obviously enjoying the attention though he pretended to be annoyed.
She sashayed back behind the bar, putting the broom away and looking over her shoulder at Dylan, who steadfastly ignored her and continued staring intensely at his computer. She smirked and flipped her hair over her shoulder. Tease. She turned the television on mute and turned on the music. A pop country song came on, extolling the virtues of beer and bonfires. Dylan grimaced, but Bear, Hannah, and I sang along.
I hummed along to the ending notes of the catchy song, wiping the bar down and managing to avoid knocking anything over. A large group of girls came in right when we opened and sat themselves at a high top table. I greeted them and got their drink orders- a mojito, a mai tai, a hurricane, a Long Island, and a chocolate martini. I sighed after walking away from their table- this would take a few minutes to make, and I had a feeling these girls were going to be high-maintenance.
I walked back over to their table after a few minutes, my tray full of wobbling drinks, and passed the drinks to the girls. They thanked me and went back to talking amongst themselves. Not high maintenance at all. Hm.
One of the girls, a bottle blonde with an impressive fake tan, stopped me before I could leave and asked, “Ooh, do you guys have a jukebox?”
“No, sorry. Just a regular music system,” I said, not actually sorry. I had heard drunk girls singing “Don’t Stop Believing” and “What’s Up?” enough to last me a lifetime.
“Oh. Does your music come from the radio or is it an iPod? I have my iPod right here and it would be amazing if I could plug in my iPod and play our own music. It’s Meghan’s bachelorette party today!” the blonde pouted.
Here we go.
“No, it’s satellite radio,” I lied. “Sorry.”
“Boo,” she pouted more. I shrugged and walked back behind the bar.
“Dude, did you know Logan was actually going to write me up? Unbelievable,” Hannah said, waving a form in my face.
I cringed. I’d forgotten all about that. “Oh yeah. Didn’t I tell you? I mean it’s not totally unbelievable. You did sleep through a whole shift and only call an hour before the shift was over.”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I left you guys completely in the dust. I knew you’d cover me. C’mon, how many times over the years have I no
t come into a shift and Joe didn’t do anything? You’ve got to admit that Logan is kind of being a dick about this.”
“No, he’s not. Joe was just way too lax with us. He let us get away with everything. Aren’t you a teacher? Don’t you discipline your students?”
Hannah considered this, then shrugged. “Well, I guess we’d better get used to it. And maybe I’ll cut back my shifts.”
I laughed. “You already only work three days a week. What will you cut it down to, one?”
“Well, I think it’ll be nice for the new bartenders if they get some extra shifts. I’ll help train them, then step back a bit. It’s summer, I’m trying to have fun,” Hannah said, peering over at the bachelorette revelers. “Like them.” I wrinkled my nose, then turned back to Hannah.
“New bartenders?” I asked. “What new bartenders?”
Hannah said, “You think Joe and Linda are leaving, and Logan would just keep you, me, and Victoria?” She looked at me as if I were stupid.
I hadn’t considered it yet, but new bartenders seemed like a great idea. I was going to need some help if both Hannah and Victoria both only wanted to work one day per week, and I doubted that Logan would want to hop behind the bar that often. I decided this was a good thing.
“Hello, bartenders?” I looked up at the bachelorette party, who were waving their already-empty glasses in the air and calling for me to come over. I glanced at Hannah, who said, “Don’t look at me.”
I gave Hannah a look, then begrudgingly walked over to the girls, who ordered five blowjobs (very original, ladies) and refills on their original drinks. I was dreading the night that they were going to put me through. To my surprise, they asked for their tab after the shots and told me, in detail, all about the epic bar crawl they were doing that night. I smiled and nodded, just glad that they were leaving. At some point while the bachelorette party was driving me crazy, quite a few people had filtered in. By the time the bachelorette party had left, the whole bar was packed and we were getting rocked. Logan had to get behind the bar to help Hannah and I out. We were so deep in the weeds that I was having vivid fantasies of just walking out and never coming back. I was so busy that I couldn’t even think. I was spilling liquor everywhere and knocking into people left and right.
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