Page 5 of Bewitched & Bewildered
“You’re ready to let the job go that easily, huh?” The smile on Denise’s face is polite, but there’s a marked sadness behind her eyes.
“Um…” I’m not sure what the correct answer is. “What else am I supposed to do?”
“When I care about something, I fight for it.”
I let the obvious pass between us; Idon’tcare about this job.
Denise nods as if I said the words aloud.
“Can you tell me what I did wrong?” I ask. “Handling unruly customers is hard for everyone. I know I’m not the first to blow up like that.”
“You’re not.”
“Why is this the breaking point?”
“Because it’s harder for you. This is not the first time customers have complained about your attitude.”
My jaw drops. “I?—”
“I don’t need you to defend yourself.” She pushes her glasses up her nose. “This isn’t personal. If anything, it’s because I care about you—and my bar. I want you to do something you care about, too.”
Icareabout paying for my house renovations and caring for my sisters. I care about tips and minuscule paychecks. That’s enough for me to do the job she’s paying me for. Why do I need to care aboutherbusiness?
I know she doesn’t want to hear that.
“Idocare,” I say. “I was having a-an off day, I guess.”
“You’ve had a few of them. Is everything all right at home?”
No.
It hasn’t been all right in a year, but that can’t be my excuse anymore. I’ve been going through a rough patch since I first met Denise. At a certain point, she’ll get sick of listening to me whine about my dead mother.
She may be more interested if I could tell her whatreallyhappened to my mother. I can’t. We still don’t know what led to the demon attack.
I shake my head. “Everything is fine.”
“That’s good.”
I’ve been through my fair share of jobs, but I’m usually the one leaving them—and for good reason. Leaving because of rude customers is a new low.
I don’t know how to handle this. My smile slips off without me realizing it. I force it back on and straighten up.
“There isn’t anything I can do to change your mind, is there?”
Denise shakes her head. “Do you want to be here? Be honest.”
“I—” If she’s already firing me, I can tell the truth. “No. I don’t.”
“Good.” She leans back in her seat and crosses her arms. “Go find what you want to do. I’ll be rooting for you.”
“You don’t hate me?” It feels silly to ask. My cheeks burn.
“No.” She chuckles. “You’ve been stuck here for too long. We both know that wasn’t the plan. I can’t wait to see your next move.”
“Yeah. Me, too.”
I’m as in the dark as Denise is because… I have no ideawhatI’m going to do next. Goddess, help me.
