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"YOU SACKED DREW? YOU're a hard-hearted woman, that's for sure." Jackson didn't have to look quite so shocked. Already, I had regrets burrowing into my heart but I had to stand firm.
"If you'd seen what he did, you'd have sacked him too."
Jackson sat back on his stool and contemplated what I said. Then he shook his head. "I'd have never done that. Drew's young. He needs to learn and he's part of this place just like you and just like me."
That was okay for Jackson to say. He didn't work here or have any responsibilities.
"Well, it's too late now. He's gone. He'll probably come in Thursday to pick up his pay but that'll be it. That kid over there is on trial tonight. Brad. He seems to be working out well."
I looked over at Brad to see him staring blankly at the wall.
"Maybe you should sort your own shit out, then you wouldn't be so quick to fly off the handle."
I could've mentioned how Jackson had walked out himself but I didn't want to get into all that. The tension in the bar was bad enough without bringing up things better left buried.
"I hear Razer's doing well," I said. "They're killing them all along the coast. Violet says he might be getting a recording contract and there's a guy interested in managing them. He's some big shot." I wiped the bar as I talked.
"That so? Good luck to him. He did a mighty powerful thing turning down his shot at the big time to keep his band together and it's going to pay off for him. Not many would do that."
It sure had paid off. He had Violet and he had his career on track.
To be honest, I hadn’t thought of Drew until I got to work and had the sudden realization that he wouldn't be there.
Later, when Alex came in, I told him about Drew.
"Are you sure you did the right thing?" Alex asked. "Maybe you were a bit hasty? You can always take him back."
"You made me bar manager. This is on me. My decision, my responsibility."
He nodded. "You're right. So long as the bar is covered, I'm happy. I've got other things to think about this week. I need to find a new drummer. Sharing a drummer with Razer is not working out at all. The damn fool has taken off, leaving me in the lurch. So, I probably won't be in much. I hate to admit it but Razer is just getting more popular. "
He sighed as though auditioning drummers was the worst thing possible. I'd never done it so maybe it was.
The whole night dragged. Holden didn't come in but his butthole guitarist did. Shun played in Holden's band and he gave egotistical guitarists a bad name. He sat at the bar with Jackson, probably talking about something riveting like guitar strings or distortion pedals or some other guitarist shit. He had his hair tied in a man bun which made me hate him more and arrogance rolled off him in waves.
He called me over. "Where's my drink?"
I shot him a look that would shrivel a regular guy. "You want a drink, you order it with manners."
He did a double-take then glared at me as though I'd jump up and get it.
A bunch of dirty glasses sat on the nearby tables.
"Have you seen Brad?" I asked Jackson. I hadn't seen him around for a while.
"The new busboy? I saw him grab his jacket from behind the bar and run out the door. Just after you yelled at him, actually.”
I wondered what it took to be a busboy. Hell, it was just clearing the tables. It wasn't like it was that challenging. I had a few other candidates I could call, one of them would be happy to have the job.
"Looks like you'll have to wait a minute," I said to Shun.
That jerk had the audacity to snort at me. I bussed the tables myself. It wasn't like I'd even really yelled at the guy, just told him to do his job instead of trying to chat up customers.
I took my time wiping down the tables. Because that jerk could wait for his drink. He got my back up, the way he ordered me around.
Then I heard him mention Holden's name and my ears pricked up.
"No mate, the guy's the most boring motherfucker you'd ever meet on the road. Groupies, my arse. He has all the pussy he could possibly put his dick in. Every night, a string of chicks waiting for him. And what does he do? Goes back to his hotel room alone. Never even looks at them. He's not gay either. Well, I've never seen him with a guy." Shun laughed like a hyena. "Not to worry, just leaves more for me. If I'm their second choice, what does it matter? At least I'm getting some. Getting plenty actually."
A flush shot through my body. Was I meant to hear that? Had Holden put him up to it? I didn't think so. Shun didn't seem like he'd be anyone's bitch and he wasn't even talking to me.
What the hell did that mean, though? Holden had the sex drive of a maniac. He couldn't go a day without it, let alone months on the road. He had to be doing something.
I went to the bar to get Shun's drink but when I gave it to him, they'd started talking about something else.
He left shortly after that.
"Not much action happening here. I might head to that place across town. Coming with me?" he asked Jackson. “At least they’ll serve me there.”
I grinned at the idea of Jackson heading to some pick-up joint. He wasn't the type. He wasn't the type to even leave here.
"You're screwed," Jackson said, his attention back on me now that Shun had left. "You aren't going to get someone like Drew. Even with his mistakes and stupidity, he worked hard and loved this place. You'll end up with some dumb kid who'll slack off every chance they get and probably steal from the till."
"Thanks, Jackson. That's just the ray of sunshine I need right now."