I was determined to keep our relationship under wraps at work, but as soon as I rounded into the office and saw Jack waiting for me at the lockers, I knew it was going to be almost impossible. We had the most magical time at Target and everything felt easy. I felt like I was being myself and not second-guessing everything I was doing or saying. Holding his hand felt comfortable and reassuring, like slipping on your favorite hoodie. He seemed to actually enjoy helping me pick out cooling racks and baking sheets. He even covered the entire trip- after much arguing in the check-out line - and seemed genuinely excited for me as I laid out the shooting schedule I had planned for spring break. Our first day as a secret couple seemed to be going smoothly and I still hadn't spoken to Stella about any of it. 

"Hey, long time no see," Jack says when he spots me. He had to come in an hour early today to finish prepping for the night shift, so I had an hour to myself to prep the guest room for my stay. 

"Oh hey, how have you been Jackass?" I jokingly ask him as I slide my water bottle into the locker. 

"Oh, it's going to be like that now, is it?" He asks with a smirk and twinkling eyes. 

"Yeah, you're definitely still Jackass around here."

"Couldn't agree more," Missy says as she rounds the corner, startling both of us. Her bright red lipstick matches her hair color and she's wearing one of Maggie's revealing tops. She smirks at Jack and adds, "Just kidding. Kind of." She winks at him, clocks in, and then leaves us alone in the office. 

"I told you she was giving me sass," Jack says as he points to where Missy was just standing. 

"Looks like she does think you slighted Maggie," I say in agreement and then shut my locker with my palm. 

"Yes, but does Maggie think so?" Jack asks rhetorically. I realize Maggie might be aware that I know something happened between her and Jack if Missy mentioned something to her. She might be willing to tell me her side of it. I don't mention it to Jack because I don't think he'd want me gossiping with Maggie about him, but if the subject comes up organically, I might seize the opportunity.

"How was the bitch work?" I ask him as I clock in and he moves away from the lockers as he answers, "Maggie had me barback instead. So if we're short on supplies tonight...my bad."

I watch him slide his phone out of his pocket, read a text and then look to me, "I know you work tomorrow afternoon, but what were you doing in the morning?" 

"Having brunch with Stella. Why?" I reply back and we start walking toward the back bar. It's already packed from the afternoon games and we hear a collective cheer coming from the front. 

"Taylor invited me to a barge party in the morning. If you're busy, I might go then." 

I feel my stomach squeeze. It was dumb to think Jack and I were going to live in a bubble. He was going to go be around his friends and lake rats sooner or later. We've only been an item officially for like, 14 hours and I am already nervous with him hanging out with that crew. I glance at him as we cross into the bar and his thumbs are already flying across his screen. It's spring break, and he always spends it on a lake, so I really shouldn't be surprised that that's what he wants to do tomorrow. I glance at him again as his eyes are still glued to his phone and I realize this is where trust starts. Something I am not good at. 

I see Hannah and Maggie covering the back bar and when Maggie spots us, it's clear that she is thrilled to be relieved. 

"Thank fuck you're here!" She tells me as Jack holds the panel up for us to cross into the bar. Hannah is at the computer and Jack quickly goes to help with her tickets. She's wearing black lipstick and her purple hair is in a pin-up style with a large loop resting on her forehead.

"Seems like a busy Saturday," I tell her as I glance around the cramped space and people are like sardines here, mashed up behind the pub tables and around the patio. Beer bottles and half-empty pint glasses litter the tables and I see empty baskets that need to be bused too. I can tell they've been swamped today. 

"March Madness is correct," she mutters as she drops dirty glassware into the bus bucket. She then whacks me on the shoulder and says, "Also holy shit about your place! Steve told me what happened."

"Yeah, not going to lie. That was kinda scary," I tell her as I start plucking glassware off the countertop. 

"He told me Jack went all apeshit on him this morning," Her eyes glance to Jack at the computer but he's out of earshot, "And that he gave you your rent back. I am so sorry that happened. I would have never suggested it had I known shit like that would happen," she says as she places a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Do you need a place to stay?"

"No, Jack helped me grab the rest of my stuff," I start telling her and then realize I don't want anyone to know I am going to be living with Jack yet. Especially Maggie. "I used his car to help move me to Stella's. I'm going to stay there while I go apartment hunting over break."

"Oh good. Well, I am glad you got that all sorted out then. I wanted to be out of here around ten, so I am going to go do some office stuff so I can bail."

"I can take over," I tell her as I steal the rag from her hand and she grins in appreciation. 

"Thanks, I think the sanitation buckets need to be switched out and we're low on coasters. I have some in the back," she says as she motions for me to come with. I grab the dirty bucket and follow behind her as we weave our way through the drinkers and move back into her office. "Ready for your party tonight?" I ask her over the rowdy crowd and she nods. 

"For the most part." 

"Who all from here is going?" 

She shrugs, "I think Ashleigh and Hannah B. Rissa and Ariana might come too, remember them?" I laugh as I remember all the details Maggie spilled to me after she fooled around with Rissa. I'll never be able to forget her. That and she was also obsessed with Jack. 

"Yep. I actually just saw Ariana last week. No Sabrina or Jack then?" I ask, wondering if that was the most strategic way to bring him up. Maggie pulls a package of costers off a storage shelf and hands them to me as she answers, "I don't think Sabrina really is one to mingle with her co-workers, and I think there will be one too many old co-workers for Jack to want to come." 

"Ah true, Jack's always actively avoiding Rissa and Hannah. I think Ariana may have moved on to his friend Mark though." Her eyes snap to me and then she says, "I think Jack may have moved onto someone too. He said he was seeing someone when we talked yesterday." She notes my surprise and adds, "Yeah, guess Jacky found another lake rat." My mind is still lingering on the fact that he told her that yesterday when everything went down with us last night. 

"How did you get Jack to talk about his love life? He said nothing to me last night." I ask with a smirk and she swipes the dirty bucket from me. I watch as she dumps the murky gray water down the drain as she says, "Ah, he just mentioned it when I asked if he was coming to my party. Guess he has plans with the rat." I nod and notice she didn't mention her involvement with Jack at all. I am surprised she's keeping it a secret. As she refills the bucket with clean water and sanitizer she adds, "I hope you drop by. Come unwind. Get laid. Have fun."

I let out a light laugh, "I don't think I'm there yet. I'm still wallowing." 

"Over that prick? Why? I'm sure he's getting laid somewhere." She hands me the bucket and adds, "Ashleigh told us what she told you last night. Makes sense as to why you looked sick all night."

"I wish she would have told me sooner. I wish there were a lot of things I had known sooner."

"We all kinda knew he was douchecanoe, babe. But we also knew you were in love and ready to get the fuck outta Phoenix. But now that you're back... there is no reason to wallow over an asshat." 

"I know, I'm just..." I don't know what to say, but I know I can't say dating Jack. She must take my silence as sadness because she says, "Sorry. You were engaged. I'm sure it's hard. I just have little patience with fuckboys. Move on at your own pace." I nod, realizing she's not going to give me anything on Jack and I'm not ready to confess my own Jack secret. 

"I'm going to wrap up in here and bounce. See ya later?" 

"Yeah, maybe. If not, I'll be in tomorrow night." 

"Come whore," she says with an evil grin and then shoves me out of her office, "I will see you tonight!" I leave her with an eye roll and continue down the hallway. I wonder why Maggie won't tell me what happened with Jack. Maybe it was so insignificant that to her, it doesn't even matter enough to tell me. Or it matters more than she wants it to and doesn't want me to know she got rejected. Maggie can be scary, but she's actually one of the most sensitive people I know. 

When I get back to the bar, Hannah is so ready to clock out that she is standing with her thumb hovering over the pad. She spots me and then stamps her finger down. 

"Ready to go?" I ask as she slides by me to get out from behind the bar. 

"Yes, the tabs have been mostly college guys that are shit tippers. That and I have a date tonight."

"You going to Maggie's?" I ask her and she shrugs. 

"We shall see where the night takes me!" I watch as she pushes through the crowd and then I spin around to face Jack. His hand is on the draft handle and he meets my gaze. 

"Maggie is pushing for tonight," I tell him and he shakes his head before dropping his hand and turning around with two pints in his hands. I have no desire to go tonight either. It's my first night as Jack's girlfriend and I have a million other things I'd rather be doing with him than watching Rissa fawn all over him. I see two guys decked out in Kansas gear push their way up to the counter and they raise their hands to steal my attention 

"Shots!" One of them yells and the other one howls in obnoxious laughter. I feign a smile and waltz over to them, preparing for a long night.