Page 82 of Worth the Chase

“Not really. I just feel like I’m running him ragged. I forgot how insane it gets here when the tourists come to town.”

Addi had lived in Manhattan for a few years. And even though she’d told me all about the crowds there, she hadn’t been making barbeque or anything that required hours of cooking on top of days of marinating.

“It does get pretty intense around here,” I agreed.

“Take any keys today?” She laughed as she asked the question that had kind of become our joke in the past week or so.

“Surprisingly, no.”

“That’s good. So, listen”—she propped her hip out and readjusted her ponytail as she shot me a look—“you need to hiresomeone else. You can’t be the only bartender. We’re going to be too busy, and you’ll need days off.”

My last boss had never uttered those words to me before, but I shouldn’t have been so shocked to hear them coming out of Addi’s mouth.

“I know. I could use the help.”

“Have anyone in mind?”

I tapped the side of my head as I thumbed through my mental contact list. “There might be someone. And I don’t mean to sound sexist, but it might be helpful to have a guy behind the bar.”

“For safety reasons or…” she asked.

I nodded. “Yeah. I mean, it sounds kind of stupid, but when there’s a man around, the patrons don’t typically get as grabby or mouthy toward me.”

“It’s not stupid. It’s logical. Who are you thinking about?”

“Ben. He worked at the saloon with me. I’m not even sure if he’s still there or not. I heard things went downhill pretty fast after I left, but I don’t know how true that is,” I explained.

“Reach out. Get him in. Hire him tonight.”

I laughed. Addi made everything so easy. I was used to planning my conversations with my old boss, Barry, for days. He was so combative and resistant. Everything had been a challenge. Even when it made him more money, he fought me on it. The man hated change. And sometimes, I’d thought he hated me as well.

“I’ll give him a call either tonight or tomorrow,” I said.

She smiled. “Sounds good. I’m going to go tell Butch how much I love him and what a good job he’s doing.”

“You know he’s not real, right? It’s just a machine, not your—”

“Hush!” Addi interrupted me and threw up a hand. “He’s the second love of my life. I’m nothing without him.”

“I won’t tell yourhusbandyou said that,” I teased, emphasizing the wordhusband, and I saw Addi’s cheeks instantly blush.

“He knows. I have Butch, and he has Jasper. It’s fair.”

“You two are weird now that you’re married.”

“I know! It’s so fun!” She didn’t even argue as she walked away, giggling before disappearing out of view.

I fired off a text to Matthew, letting him know that I had about an hour left at the restaurant and then I’d stop at home to grab a few things before heading over. He responded the way he had been lately.

Bring all your things. Just move in.

LOL. See you in a bit.

I love you.

Love you too.

After cleaning and prepping the bar for the next day, I tossed all of my dirty towels into the washing machine in the back room.

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