The front bar closed down almost a half-hour before Sabrina and I closed down the back bar. Tonight was brutal. Sabrina really only thrives at draft pours and Fireball shots so I was left covering the rest. I feel like I worked for twelve hours straight and never once got a break or reprive. Sabrina was apologetic and confused as to why Maggie threw her to the wolves and I never once told her it was my fault. Because once again, how did I talk about the Maggie thing, without talking about the Maggie thing? 

At first, I thought maybe Maggie really did just want to give Sabrina more experience, but then Maggie shoulder-checked me while trying to get to the bus bucket and refused to help refill my empty garnish bin. I also tried to take my quick fifteen-minute break multiple times, just to give my legs and back a break, but Maggie ignored me every time I asked to take a step away. But as soon as Sabrina said she needed a quick vape break, she and Maggie took off to the back. They then came back in twenty minutes later and Maggie announced a Fireball special. She had Sabrina solely focused on filling up plastic shot glasses while I continued to cover the crowded bar. 

Once I finally caught up on tickets and was done busing sticky glassware, she announced that she needed roll-ups for the kitchen and told me she wanted me to have one hundred done before I clocked out. Maggie finally disappeared sometime during the last game and thankfully, all the girls stayed to help me grab a plastic fork, knife, and spoon, roll it into a paper napkin and secure them with paper wraps. Even they thought the number of roll-ups was insane after the night we had. Lucy stayed silent as she helped me roll, but I caught her eye a couple of times. She wore a blank expression as she rolled, so I had no idea how she was going to be when I got home. 

She clocked out twenty minutes before I did and said a quick goodbye to Sabrina and me. Missy was in charge of closing down and I felt the hostile energy from her too. She was clowning around with Sabrina and Hannah, but when it came to clocking me out, she just glared at me and said, "Have a great night fuck face." I attempted a smile but I am pretty sure it came off as a smirk. I trudged toward my car, but when I finally reached the driver's door I stopped. 

If it weren't for the spotlight brightening the parking lot as I stepped out of the back door, I wouldn't have noticed. But now it's all I see. Someone keyed my fucking car. There is a light scratch across the driver's side down to the tail light. Maggie left over an hour ago, and I doubt Lucy, Brandon, our two cooks or Ashleigh would key my fucking car. If Maggie did this shit, she crossed a line. 

I stand there in disbelief after running my finger down the length of the scratch. I've had women do batty things to get back at me, but keying my Jeep is a new one. I am so pissed that my feet are leading me to the door before I realize where I am headed. I round the corner back into the office and find Missy talking to Sabrina at the computer. They are surprised to see me back in the office, so I quickly say, "Does Maggie still have the camera in the back? The one that overlooks the dumpsters?" 

Missy nods, "I think so. Why?" 

"Can you pull it up? The last hour or so?" I say, trying to keep my anger in check. They dart confused glances at each other before Missy pops up off the office chair. I was almost expecting a snappy comment back from her but maybe by the look on my face, she knows I am not fucking around. She pulls the cabinet doors that house the security monitors open and I watch as she bends over and clicks around on the keyboard. I don't want her to try and hide anything from me, so I cross the room and plant myself beside her. I open my phone and start recording the screen that shows the parking lot. She's hunched over as her squinty eyes watch the footage rewind. She catches it as soon as I do. Even in black and white, Maggie is recognizable. She had a unique updo tonight which is what gives her away immediately. Missy freezes before she plays the footage but we both know what we are about to see. 

"I already know what happens, I just wanted to confirm who did it," I say as I push away from Missy, ending the recording and then tucking my phone into my pocket. 

"What happened?" Sabrina asks while striding over toward Missy. Missy and I lock eyes but I don't say anything. I don't want to start shit or throw gasoline on this dumpster fire of an evening. I point toward the screen and say, "I think I just quit." They both stare at me wide-eyed, shocked at my resignation. "I'm not dealing with this shit," I add as I quickly open my locker. 

"I think you may have fucked with the wrong woman, Jack," Missy finally says as I clear out the minimal trash I had in my locker and tuck the few swag buttons and pins I've accumulated from vendors into my pockets. 

"I kissed your sister while I was in love with someone else. I cut it off because I wanted to go all in with that girl. I didn't date Maggie, sleep with Maggie or tell her I wanted anything from her. Maybe I should have never kissed her after she initiated it all three times, but I don't deserve to have my car vandalized." 

"If you were in love with someone else, why did you even kiss Maggie in the first place then?" Missy snaps, quick to defend her sister. 

"Because I am a fucking idiot who thought Lucy was gone forever. Now that she's back, no one else matters."

"You're in love with Lucy? Like, our Lucy?" Missy asks in shock and Sabrina is enthralled. She's standing between us in silence but her gaze darts between us. 

"Yes, Lucy and I are together. Hence the miles I was trying to put between Maggie and me."

"Lucy didn't say a word when I told her about you and Maggie. Even tonight she looked stunned to hear about you two."

"Tonight? Jesus, what happened tonight?" I ask, exhausted but too curious to let this conversation end. 

"I just told her the truth. I had no idea how much she already knew," Missy says while folding her arms over her chest. Sabrina looks at me, still keeping any thoughts she has to herself. I shake my head, now wanting to get the hell out of this bar and home to Lucy. 

"Well, tell Maggie I received her message loud and clear. And Sabrina here is witness to her keying my car. So let her know I expect to have the cost of whatever it's going to be to fix included in my last check." I spin around before I see the crazy side of the other Valentine and stride out the back door. I don't glance back as I get into my car. I can't remember the last time I have been this mad and so caught off guard. 

 As I pull out of the lot, I wonder if that will really be my last shift at Mag's. I had three more months to get through before I graduated, but I feel like I can't continue to work there if Maggie is going to be that hostile. I can't imagine she'll take anything out on Lucy, but I wouldn't be surprised if Lucy felt the animosity too. 

As soon as I am on the main street that leads me home, I call Lucy. She doesn't answer my first attempt so I immediately try again. 

"Hey," she finally answers. Quietly, like I maybe just woke her up. 

"Hi, you already asleep?" I ask, trying to keep the edge out of my voice. I am pissed about my car and shocked I just quit my job but I don't want to take any of it out on her accidentally. 

"I just got out of the shower. I was going to make a quick dinner. You hungry too?" She asks me flatly, in a tone I still can't read. I glance to the dash and see it's already almost 1:30. I am wiped the fuck out but could use a beer and chipotle burrito. 

"Do I even have anything to make?" I ask her, wondering if we got much to eat at Target. 

"You have pasta. I am just throwing that together." 

"Alright, then yeah. Just make the whole box then. I'll be home in less than ten." 

"Okay." She's quiet again and I want to yell out in frustration. If Maggie and Missy fucked up my relationship already...I just shake my head. Why did I have to drop my head that night at Maggie's house? I could have stood upright, not allowing her to reach my lips. I also didn't think Lucy was ever coming back. I cheated on someone I wasn't even in a relationship with. 

"Lucy..." I say quietly. 

"Yeah?" She replies, holding back again. 

"I love you." I click the phone off because I want to talk to her in person. I'm not handling all the attention this new relationship is receiving well and I am sure Lucy is up to her ears in anxiety. Being with her is easy and natural. But I wonder if being with me is a struggle and a massive gamble to her. I suddenly feel an emotion roll through me and I almost start heaving. I pull off into a neighborhood and drop my hands from the steering wheel. I've never felt this feeling of loss and trepidation before. I've also never cared this much about anyone, so I am feeling all sorts of new, unexplored emotions. 

I pull my phone out and call Fischer. I know he's two hours ahead right now but he's probably still up. 

"I can't bail you out of jail man," Fischer says when he answers. "That can be the only reason you're calling me on a Sunday in the middle of the night."

"Maggie fucking keyed my car," I tell him flatly with a light laugh after I release a deep breath. 

"Dude, are you serious?" 

"I told her very nicely that she needed to back off because I was dating someone and I get my car fucking keyed."

"You go all-in with Halloway or what?" He asks. His voice is gravelly but I don't think he was asleep. 

"Yeah, Lucy and I are kinda dating now and I think she is already ready to end it."

"Why? Because of Maggie? Nothing happened there," Fisher says.

"This is too much drama man. I don't know if I can do all this fanfare." 

"Fanfare? What the hell am I missing? I left Friday."

"Everyone is so shocked that I actually have a girlfriend but no one is shocked it's Lucy. Apparently, I am the last person to know she's been into me for years." 

"I fucking told you that dude."

"Alright well, now I am dealing with all these other girls' bullshit. It's been a lot of nonsense in the past two days."

"So, what? You just gonna break it off with Lucy?

"No, but I think she's going to break it off with me." 

 "But still work together? Won't that shit be way worse?" 

"I just fucking quit dude," I tell him, and hearing it out loud still stuns me.  I have worked there four nights a week for three years and I quit without any hesitation. 

"You quit your job? Man, this is a lot when I am only half awake." 

"Sorry to call you. I just...man I have no clue what I am doing. This shit is getting messy." 

"Nah, you're good. I just actually got done watching Shawshank with my pops."

"Until three in the morning?"

"Ah, well no. I smoked a bowl with my brother after and we were just shootin' the shit."

"I figured you'd be up otherwise I wouldn't have called." 

"Well fuck man. I can't believe she did that to your car, but don't let a girl you have zero feelings for fuck up anything with the one girl you do have feelings for. You weren't with Lucy when you kissed Maggie. She really can't hold it against you." 

"She's convinced I am going to cheat on her."

"Well are you?"

"What? No."

"You sure?" 

"Yes. I am fucking sure. I wouldn't get into a relationship with someone I thought I would cheat on."

"You ready for just one girl then? You have a lot of options you know. Hot options." 

"Dude you're not helping," I mutter in annoyance. 

"Sorry. I'm stoned. And also shocked you finally got with Lucy. I thought you were gonna drag your feet. Or she was going to want to stay single for a while." 

"She might after tonight," I say as I drop my head against the headrest. The street I found is dimly lit and silent which causes my exhaustion to finally hit me. 

"Dude just go get your girl. Fuck Mag's and Maggie. Well don't fuck Maggie, but you get what I mean. If Lucy has really been into you all these years, she's not going to want to give up after two days either." I hear a beep and glance at my phone. I see it's Lucy and tell Fischer I have to go. I quickly switch callers and Lucy softly asks, "You alright?" 

"Yeah why?"

"It takes like ten minutes to get to your house from Mag's this late. I was just making sure you were okay." 

"Oh? Yeah, I'm good. I'm a block away." 

"Okay, good. See you soon." She clicks off and the tightness in my chest has finally subsided. If she called because she was worried it means she isn't hoping I am in a ditch somewhere. That she does want me to come home quickly. Or she's wondering why the fuck it's taking me so long to get home and what the hell am I up to? I rub my palms down my face and release a long exhale before continuing home.