Page 27 of Challenged by the Single Dad

Relief filled Chloe and she exhaled. “Oh, good.”

“You need to chill, lady,” Brooke said, setting her glass down. “We’re not here to report back to the guys. Just because we’re with them doesn’t mean we’re your bosses or anything like that.”

She said that, but they all knew that wasn’t the case.

“We come down here usually on Friday nights for a few drinks. Sometimes a few other women from the island join us. Did you see Jordana at yoga with us?” Justine asked. “She works at the grocery store. She’s great. Her great-grandmother is Sunflower Patrick over there with the Sewing Circle.”

“Oh yes, I made Sunflower an old-fashioned,” Chloe said.

“Yes, we’ve heard.” Vica took another sip. “Apparently, the best she’s ever had.”

Chloe rolled her eyes. “At least it’s not the worst.”

“We’ll leave you to it though,” Brooke said. “But just know, we’re all rooting for you.” She winked at Chloe, then she and the other made their way through the bar to an empty booth in the corner, but not before turning several heads as they passed.

“Well, that wasn’t at all terrifying,” Chloe murmured as she grabbed the next ticket and reached for the whiskey off the back shelf for a Jack and ginger.

“They’re three of the nicest women you will ever meet,” Renée said. “No need to be terrified of them at all. They’re your allies for sure.” She reached under the bar and grabbed her phone. “I’m going to go on break, okay?”

Chloe nodded. “Sure thing.”

“Just holler if it gets crazy.” Then Renée disappeared through the swinging door into the kitchen.

Even though she was sure they weren’t actually staring at her, it felt like every time Chloe looked up, Brooke, Justine, and Vica were watching her. She kept her head down as much as she could, but even then, it was like their eyes were made of lasers and her forehead grew hot from their intense focus.

They ordered a second round of Caesars, which even though Renée was back, Chloe asked Penny to deliver. Chloe was just too busy, and also too intimidated to take them over herself.

The two guys who Renée had been flirting with were on their second pitcher and getting loud and rowdy. In fact, the entire volume of the pub had gone up several notches in the last hour and by the time ten o’clock rolled around, Chloe had a splitting headache.

“What time do we close on Fridays again?” she asked Renée.

“Eleven.”

Chloe swallowed. “Okay.”

“You alright?”

“Just a bit of a headache.”

Renée gave an understanding smile. “Have you had anything to drink since you started your shift?”

Chloe thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. “No. I haven’t.”

“That’s probably why. Not to mention it’s really fucking loud in here. But it’s probably the water thing. Go back into the kitchen and ask Burke for a cup of pickle juice. Then start drinking water out here.”

“Why pickle juice?”

“The electrolytes. Just do it. I got things covered out here. People are starting to ask for their bills. So things will die down quickly.”

Nodding, and barely able to see straight, Chloe made her way back to the kitchen. Burke took one look at her and concern filled his gaze. “You okay?”

“I was told to ask for pickle juice?”

“Ah, you haven’t had anything to drink today, have you?”

“Not since I started my shift. No.”

“That’s common for servers and stuff when they first start. They forget. But they also don’t want to drink anything because it’ll make them have to go pee.” He stepped away from the grill and opened the walk-in fridge, coming out a second later with a giant jar of pickles. He used a clean ladle to scoop some brine out for her, then filled a cup. “This will help. But you also need to drink. Nobody will begrudge you for using the washroom.”

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