Although it was always difficult to get back into the swing of the real world after a vacation with Ben, after the weekend she had Jackie was actually enjoying her return to the daily grind at the Busted Knuckle. It made it much easier to forget about her poor, faithful truck settled at the bottom of the water by now at the docks.
When she came in for her evening shift nothing about the bar appeared out of order. There were a few familiar faces who hadn't seen her during her mid-day shift on Monday who greeted her warmly, asked her how married life was treating her so far. Even a few patrons she knew extremely well made quite the show of how they didn't know what to do with themselves now that Jackie Lee was off the market. All the jokes were met with a laugh, a shrug, and more shots.
As always, even on such calm evenings, there were a few new faces scattered into the crowd. Some were grabbing a late dinner. Others were simply investigating a new spot where they could relax and drink. Jackie was surprised that for the most part everyone was rather behaved aside from one man she didn't know who was one of the hands on sorts. He liked to lean in close, brush fingers when switching out glasses, and even graced Jackie with a smack to the a*s after he cashed out with her since her shift was ending.
Any other night she would have raised hell, but she let it go. She was far too tired to toss a fit and she was hoping that Ben might have arrived early to pick her up. She grabbed her cut of the tips, bid the other girls farewell, and she was out the door.
Unfortunately when she got outside Jackie's hopes came crashing down. Ben wasn't waiting for her. Not that it was his fault considering she shaved a little time off her own shift. She chalked it up to being spoiled by her vacation and perhaps some part of her was still lounging around in France or Italy. Tomorrow would be better, tomorrow she would have her head in the game.
She waited at the edge of the parking lot where she usually met Ben for their Wednesday lunch dates. It was much different at night, tucked in the stray shadows and away from the door, but she figured in a few minutes Ben would show up and this night could be behind her. Until then she had her attention pointed at the ground, scuffing a boot into the gravel while she waited.
It was only when she heard approaching footsteps that she lifted her gaze. It took some time for her eyes to adjust, but once they did she realized it was Mr. Handsy from inside. What was his actual name? He had told her in a slur.
"Hey there, Lonnie. You all finished for the night?" She offered in a casual enough greeting. He must have gotten his fill and was aiming to stumble his way on home. Though, how he got his fill Jackie would never know considering how tall and broad he was. He reminded her of the guys that would drink the nights away back home in Georgia with his worn jeans, beat up boots, and ragged flannel shirt.
Lonnie gave a curl of his lips which could probably be considered a smile and a shrug. "I wasn't, but my pretty waitress with the pert a*s decided to leave in a hurry." His words came out slow, full of grit and liquor. "Figured if she was going to take the party somewhere else, I was going to go along."
Jackie's expression went flat. Inside the bar she would have giggled it all off, gave him an 'oh you' pat on the shoulder, and rolled her eyes about it all in the breakroom with the other girls. Here and now? She didn't have the patience and wasn't being paid to take it. "I'm afraid I ain't much of a party tonight, Lonnie. I'm goin' home, with my husband, and I'm goin' to sleep." Her gaze moved from the man to the entrance of the parking lot, attempting to will Ben's arrival to come a little quicker.
When she came in for her evening shift nothing about the bar appeared out of order. There were a few familiar faces who hadn't seen her during her mid-day shift on Monday who greeted her warmly, asked her how married life was treating her so far. Even a few patrons she knew extremely well made quite the show of how they didn't know what to do with themselves now that Jackie Lee was off the market. All the jokes were met with a laugh, a shrug, and more shots.
As always, even on such calm evenings, there were a few new faces scattered into the crowd. Some were grabbing a late dinner. Others were simply investigating a new spot where they could relax and drink. Jackie was surprised that for the most part everyone was rather behaved aside from one man she didn't know who was one of the hands on sorts. He liked to lean in close, brush fingers when switching out glasses, and even graced Jackie with a smack to the a*s after he cashed out with her since her shift was ending.
Any other night she would have raised hell, but she let it go. She was far too tired to toss a fit and she was hoping that Ben might have arrived early to pick her up. She grabbed her cut of the tips, bid the other girls farewell, and she was out the door.
Unfortunately when she got outside Jackie's hopes came crashing down. Ben wasn't waiting for her. Not that it was his fault considering she shaved a little time off her own shift. She chalked it up to being spoiled by her vacation and perhaps some part of her was still lounging around in France or Italy. Tomorrow would be better, tomorrow she would have her head in the game.
She waited at the edge of the parking lot where she usually met Ben for their Wednesday lunch dates. It was much different at night, tucked in the stray shadows and away from the door, but she figured in a few minutes Ben would show up and this night could be behind her. Until then she had her attention pointed at the ground, scuffing a boot into the gravel while she waited.
It was only when she heard approaching footsteps that she lifted her gaze. It took some time for her eyes to adjust, but once they did she realized it was Mr. Handsy from inside. What was his actual name? He had told her in a slur.
"Hey there, Lonnie. You all finished for the night?" She offered in a casual enough greeting. He must have gotten his fill and was aiming to stumble his way on home. Though, how he got his fill Jackie would never know considering how tall and broad he was. He reminded her of the guys that would drink the nights away back home in Georgia with his worn jeans, beat up boots, and ragged flannel shirt.
Lonnie gave a curl of his lips which could probably be considered a smile and a shrug. "I wasn't, but my pretty waitress with the pert a*s decided to leave in a hurry." His words came out slow, full of grit and liquor. "Figured if she was going to take the party somewhere else, I was going to go along."
Jackie's expression went flat. Inside the bar she would have giggled it all off, gave him an 'oh you' pat on the shoulder, and rolled her eyes about it all in the breakroom with the other girls. Here and now? She didn't have the patience and wasn't being paid to take it. "I'm afraid I ain't much of a party tonight, Lonnie. I'm goin' home, with my husband, and I'm goin' to sleep." Her gaze moved from the man to the entrance of the parking lot, attempting to will Ben's arrival to come a little quicker.