Chapter 45
KC
The clock, hanging right above the entrance to The Purple Room, lets me know that there’s only an hour left before closing time.
I let the other staff know that I’m done for the night and will be hanging out with a friend.
Our two newest bartenders are fresh: twenty-one, beautiful, and eager to please.
I walk over to Liz—the bubbly, cheerful one. “Liz, I’ll be over there in the back corner booth until it’s time to close. If you need me for anything, don’t hesitate, okay?” My thumb is hiked over my shoulder, showing her which booth.
She finishes clearing off a table near the bar, and smiles at me. “No problem, boss lady.” Blue eyes go to where her friend is working behind the bar. “We’ve got this. Promise.”
Shelah’s laughter lets me know where to find her; she’s next to some older women who are talking her ear off.
One is telling a story with exaggerated hand gestures.
When tired chocolate eyes connect with mine, she gives me a subtle nod.
“Ladies, my date has finally arrived. I wish you nothing but the happiest of times tonight. Now, get you a ride home; no driving tonight.” Her finger waggles back and forth, like she’s scolding these women.
They give her a mock salute, then raise their glasses up in her direction.
Looping her arm into mine, she whispers, “I was starting to think you didn’t actually want to talk.”
I continue leading us to the corner booth in the back. It provides the best view to watch over everything. “Oooh, honestly… there was some internal debate on sneaking out the back door.” My wink lets her know I’m kidding… kind of.
The speakers are near the front of the bar, so back here at our booth, it’s much quieter. Shelah looks at my face and quirks an eyebrow at me. “Do you need a drink before starting?”
“Hey, now. I’m the designated driver for you tonight, young lady.”
Her hands go up in surrender. “I was only offering you some liquid courage to get you started.”
Liz stops at the table, placing two ice waters down. Shelah’s eyes follow her as she walks away. “Smart woman.”
“She is. I like her. I think she’ll do well here.”
I sit back into the cushions and watch the condensation start to trickle down my glass. My fingers grab the cup, moving it back and forth. Finally, I look up at Shelah. “You’ll think I’m crazy…”
Shelah sucks in a breath before responding.
“I’d never think that, KC.” Scooting her water glass to the side, a trail of water follows it, she leans both elbows on to the table.
“You have this vibrant energy that makes people want to be near you; it’s one of the reasons I come here,” she points at me, “for you and our chats. I would hope that you know you could tell me anything.” She leans back and clasps her hands together.
“I was once your age, you know, so go on, hit me with it.”
I blankly stare at her for a moment, overthinking what I should do. This is it: spill all the secrets of my life from five years ago, or tuck it back under the rug, keeping it masked.
Bringing my glass to my lips, I take a small sip, hoping it’ll help with the dryness that’s consumed my mouth.
Placing the cup down softly, I clear my throat.
Okay, here goes all or nothing. “So… It all started around five years ago, back in my hometown… where I found true love and experienced an all-consuming heartbreak, which then led me to Chicago.”
Shelah sits quietly, no attempts at interrupting me.
She lets me bare my soul for her ears only.
I give her the whole story. When I don’t speak for a few minutes, she realizes I’m done.
Her body slides into the booth next to mine, and she grips me into a tight bear hug.
Immediate relief washes over me. I didn’t realize how much I needed that until I felt the tension ripple through my body, disappearing.
After what feels like forever, Shelah slowly pulls her body away from mine.
She pushes a few stray strands of hair out of my face and then grabs my chin, forcing me to look at her. “You, KC, have endured more than you should in a lifetime already at such a young age.” Shelah’s fingers release my chin, my body is now stiff. “But, I do understand why you did what you did.”
My back goes straight at hearing her words. “You do?” I shake my head, words barely above a whisper. “I wasn’t crazy for ruining any chance I had at happiness with Jared, and blaming him for something he didn’t do?”
She scoffs at me. “You were young. And you dealt with the pain the best way you knew how. There are no wrongs or rights in this scenario.”
I hold back a sob and lower my head. “But now, Jared’s back,” my index finger goes to my head, “and my mind is playing tricks on me. All I can think about is him.”
“And is that really so bad?” Her eyes scan the room before coming back to mine. “I know you don’t date exclusively, KC. You’re single, so what if Jared coming back into your life was meant to be?”
“Well, before he just showed up out of nowhere, I was going to give Mattie a real go…”
Her thin eyebrows raise and her tone goes hushed.
“You do know what he does for a living? That life isn’t for you.
You deserve the best, and that’s not it.
A good fuck? Sure. But the real deal? Nah, you know better.
” Her hands reach out, one lays on top of my head and the other over my heart. “What are these telling you?”
“That’s just it. I don’t know!” Defeated, I rest my face into my palms.
“I think you do though. You’re at war with yourself, trying to stay on the same path that you left on.”
The Purple Room is now officially closed.
Liz and her partner, Taylor, closed it efficiently.
Each one grabs a towel to start wiping the tables off before placing chairs on top so the floors can be mopped next.
Resting my arm on the back of the booth, I let Shelah’s words sink in.
Is that what I’ve been doing? Fighting the attraction that has burrowed so deep in my bones I’d have to cut off a limb to get him free.
Because I think it’s the right thing. What am I supposed to do?
Clearing her throat, she pulls my attention back to her. “Who’s to say you can’t be friends with him? Who’s to tell you that you can’t see where the attraction goes?”
“Ha! He probably hasn’t even given me a second thought over the years. And he only happened to run into me by chance, calling me by that old nickname just to be a dick.” Biting my bottom lip, I add, “But damn, does he look good.” We both burst out in laughter.
“KC, listen to one last piece of advice I have to offer before you take me home.” She stands up from the booth and looks down at me. “You don’t answer to anyone but yourself. You’re young; don’t have regrets because of fear.”
Pressing my palms flat onto the table, I push myself up. “I hear you, Shelah. Thank you for listening; it felt good. Really good to let it all out.”
“Anytime. Shit, you listen to me vent all the time!”
“But it’s because I love your ER stories.”
“Don’t worry, I saved a good one for the ride home. I’ll wait here while you check in with your girls.”
After helping the bartenders close out the cash register, I place the money in a zippered bag and take it to Carter’s office to place it in his safe.
Closing his office door, I walk back in the hallway, heading back to the bar.
That uneasy feeling from earlier comes back.
My steps falter while I look around in the darkness.
I hear a noise behind me; turning around, I see a shadowy figure and jump back. “Agh!”
Hands grab my elbows and steady me. “Damn it, KC. I’m sorry! Didn’t mean to scare you; I was just making my rounds.”
Whew! It’s just the bouncer. He goes silent. I lean over, attempting to catch my breath. “I think you might’ve made me pee a little, Kevin.” Looking at his expression, I can’t help but giggle.
“Don’t tell me that! Carter would have my head!”
“Okay. Okay.” Patting his shoulder, I tell him, “I’m heading out for the night. Have a good one, big man.”
“You too. Drive safe.”
Shelah’s now standing by the door, along with the staff. When she notices me walking up, her hand goes to the door to push it open. “Whew, I’m ready to get out of here.”
Once Shelah, the bartenders, and I exit, I triple lock the door behind us.
We say our goodbyes to the girls, then walk in the opposite direction to where our vehicles are parked.
I grab my key fob out of my back pocket and press the button twice to unlock my blacked-out Jeep Liberty.
The closer I get to the driver's side, I see little, brightly-colored round candies scattered everywhere.
It looks like someone has spilled a bag of Skittles, a big one, and only next to my vehicle. Idiots…
I pull out of the parking lot, and Shelah leans over the middle console. “Soooo, did I ever tell you about the lady who shoved a three-wick candle—with the lid still attached—up her hoo-hah?!