Page 53 of The Originals
She grabbed the three singles to hand back to him, but Joe put up his hand. “Keep the change, Gee. And thanks for the show.”
Regina tucked the cash in her back pocket, watching Joe walk out. Like most bartenders, she got paid an hourly rate but relied on her tips. Without a shiny disposition that she refused to fake, she didn’t make as much money as the waitresses. Cleavage helped, but that’s where she drew the line.
“Gee.”
Regina looked over as Ernie walked toward her, stopping a few feet away.
“Need you to work tomorrow.”
Regina snorted, which rolled into a snicker. “No.”
“Gee, I know I said…”
She slammed the register drawer closed and sauntered over to Ernie. When she’d started at the bar, she’d been a more compliant employee. Since then, she’d earned her spot as the best, most reliable, though not polite bartender. She knew her worth.And so do you, Ernie.
She rested her elbow on the bar and cocked out her hip. “I’ve worked the last three weekends. I wasn’t scheduled last weekend. But you needed me, so I came in. You might also remember me telling you under no circumstances am I workingthisweekend.”
He scratched his chin, slyly eyeing her. “Double time.”
You son of a bitch!Where was that offer last week? Regina narrowed her gaze and straightened. There were plenty of people she could intimidate with just one look. Ernie wasn’t one of them. He folded his arms.
“Timmy’s got some…”
Regina refused to let him finish. She held up her hand, silencing Ernie, and pressed her fists into her hips.
“I don’t give a shit what Timmy has going on. When you hired me, we were supposed to pass off every other weekend. Every one of the last seven months, I’ve worked three out of the four. It’s bullshit, Ernie.” She stepped closer. “I’m not working this weekend, so I suggest you call Timmy and tell him to get his ass in here tomorrow. And next time you want me to cover one of his weekends? I’monlydoing it for double time.”
“Sometimes I think you forget that I’m your goddamn boss.” Ernie drove his hand over his thinning hair.
For the most part, Ernie was a one man show in a sense. He had employees, but he was usually back up when someone called in sick or quit without notice. Regina was aware that if Timmydidn’t show up, it would be Ernie covering the shift. But that was a management problem, not hers.
“Oh no, Ernie, I remember. I just don’t put up with you handing me shit. I don’t take it from my dad, don’t take it from my man, and I’m certainly not taking it from you.” Regina pushed past him. “I’m going on a smoke break.”
As she made her way down the hall, she heard his faint muttering. “Fuck.”
She pushed open the back door to the parking lot and walked over to the small bench. Ernie had it delivered eight months ago when she complained about having to stand on a break after working a long shift. The small section was now equipped with a bucket filled with sand serving as an ashtray next to a wood and iron bench.
Regina sat, pulled out her cigarette, and lit it. She drew in a deep drag and relaxed into the hard bench. It would probably be the last time she had a chance to sit down for the night. Friday nights were usually busy. Mostly men, ranging from their thirties to sixties. Occasionally, she got a couple or two, but the locals usually scared them off. There would be at least two screaming matches, one physical fight, and someone would, without a doubt, puke in the bathroom. And they’d miss the toilet. After kicking out the stragglers wanting one more drink, she’d clean up, and hopefully close by midnight. A thirteen-hour day.
She took another drag from her cigarette, eyeing her car. She’d gassed up this morning, and her bag was already packed. She could have gone home then gotten up early and left in the morning. As it stood, she wouldn’t be pulling into Ghosttown until close to two in the morning.
Regina spent every other weekend in the small town with her man, Grain. They shared an apartment in Lawry not too far from Starr’s, but it was more of a home base for her than Grain. Hespent a lot of weeknights at the MC clubhouse in Ghosttown. It wasn’t the best scenario, but it had worked for them over the last year since they got together. However, with her added weekends at the bar and Grain doing more runs for the club, their time together had been limited. It was taking its toll on Regina.
While she’d never admit to it, she missed him. It had been almost four days since she’d seen him. Too long. This was a side to her she rarely showed anyone. She’d been labeled a bitch most of her life. It was warranted. Regina came from a long line of assholes. Her rough upbringing played a part. And she wouldn’t have changed it. She was tougher than most and didn’t take any shit from anyone.
She glanced down at her watch.
Only a few more hours.
His ass better be up!
****
Grain McCaffrey shot back the last of his whiskey, slamming his empty glass on the bar. It was his universal sign for fill it up. He leaned back on the barstool and stretched his arms over his head. Everything was sore from his neck to his back.Hell, even my fucking ass aches.
A total of thirty-six hours on his bike in the last three days with little to no sleep and barely any downtime was enough to drive any man over the edge. Runs were part of being in the club, and all the brothers had to take their turn, but some were worse than others. This last one was draining. Being tired only made him more irritable. Considering Grain usually started his day pissed off, it meant everyone in his wake had to deal with his wrath.
“Why the fuck am I waiting for a drink?” His voice echoed off the walls.