I’d been at it for over an hour when Coal appeared at the bar. “You doing okay?”
“Yeah,” I said and handed him a beer. “It’s busy, but I’m good.”
Layla sidled up next to me and bumped me with her hip as she continued mixing drinks. “She’s fucking phenomenal. There’s no way I would’ve made it through tonight without her.”
“Yeah, she is,” Coal said and leaned over the bar to kiss me before returning to his seat.
Shortly after that, one of the waitresses, Sydney, gave me a large drink order from one of the tables she was serving. “I need seven lemon drop shots, two margaritas on the rocks, three vodka and cranberries, and two whiskey sours.” I repeated it back to her to confirm the order before I started making the drinks.
She came back to pick up the drinks and scoffed. “This isn’t right. It’s supposed to be seven tequila shots, three margaritas, two gin and tonics, and two crown and cokes. If your fuck up costs me my tip, we’re going to have problems. I don’t know where you came from, but you can go back if you can’t do any better than this.”
“Sydney!” Layla scolded. “I heard you give her the order, and I heard her repeat it back to you, so if anyone fucked up, it’s you. You need to apologize to Aspen, and then you can give your orders to me for the rest of the night.”
“Sorry, Aspen,” Sydney sneered and walked away.
“Don’t let that bother you,” Layla said. “It has nothing to do with you and everything to do with Coal.”
“Great,” I said slowly, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
“It’s nothing like that. She has a crush on him, but the feelings aren’t mutual,” she explained.
“So she’s jealous?”
“Pretty much,” Layla confirmed.
Then, my least favorite customer returned and demanded two more drinks. I made them and handed them over. He’d been back several times before that, and I was starting to wonder if I should continue to serve him.
When he came back the next time, there was no question in my mind. He was slurring his words and could barely hold himself upright. “Two more, bitch,” he said and slammed his hand on the counter.
“I’m really sorry, but I can’t serve you anymore,” I said as nicely as possible. “It’s not safe.”
“The fuck do you mean?” he roared and pounded his fist on the bar. “I’m a paying customer, and I want my fucking drinks, bitch!”
Suddenly, Shane was on the ground, and Copper was standing over him. “She said no. Which means I said no. Now, I suggest you get up and get the fuck out of here before you find yourself in the kind of trouble you can’t get out of.”
Shane managed to get to his feet. “I can’t leave without paying.”
“I got it,” Layla said and handed the card and receipt to Copper.
“Don’t even think about fucking her over on the tip,” Copper warned.
I flinched when I felt an arm circle around my waist from behind before I realized it was Coal. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. I just hate that I caused a scene.”
“You didn’t. He did. You were right to cut him off.”
“Yes, you were,” Layla said. “A lot of bartenders don’t seem to care. I’m glad you do.”
Copper returned a few moments later. “I hope that little fucker has the hangover from hell tomorrow,” he grumbled.
“Did you get him in a cab?” Layla asked.
“No, one of his buddies agreed to take him home to get him out of here faster since he couldn’t understand when to shut his mouth.”
“We’ve had some issues with him at the gym, too,” Coal added.
“Is he the one who kicked you?” I asked.