|September 22 | Friday |

This was it.

Tonight was the grand opening of Jinx 2 and I was way too excited about it.

I walked out of the bedroom and found Megan sitting at the counter typing away on her computer. She noticed my presence and peered up at me through her reading glasses.

"Well, you look excited," she said. "Especially for seven in the morning."

"Yeah. And you look really hot," I countered.

"It's the glasses, huh?"

"It's definitely the glasses."

She just rolled her eyes and laughed.

"So are you gonna come visit me tonight at Jinx?" I asked.

She leaned on the table. "Hmm, I don't know. I have a lot of chores to do around the house and a test Monday..."

"It's Friday."

"And?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Megan."

"I'm just kidding, Sam. Of course I'll be there."

"You're not funny."

She smirked. "I'd beg to differ."

I took a moment to lean in and kiss her. If there was anyone I wanted there on my first day managing and bartending Jinx, it was Megan. I was nervous, but her presence would put me at ease.

I grabbed my keys. "Last day at Buddy's."

"Are you sad?"

"A little," I confessed.

She gave me a small smile. "You know you'll still see him around."

I sighed. "I know."

Before I could dwell my feet were bringing me to the door. Sure I was a little bummed out. I had spent an entire year working for Buddy and had learned a lot along the way. He was a good friend that had looked out for me and helped me conquer the challenges of a new town. It sucked knowing that after today my usual routine would no longer consist of heading to the shop.

I parked and exited my car. When I walked in the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled my nose. I couldn't help but smile.

I greeted the guys that sat behind my desk. "Morning."

"Well, good morning," Buddy answered.

"Don't be nice to her," Jake challenged. "She's leaving us."

I laughed. "Awe Jake, are you sad?"

He scoffed. "What? No. I'm happy."

"Oh? Happy I won't be around to embarrass you anymore?" I joked.

His playful grin fell from his lips.

"Alright kids," Buddy interjected. "That's enough."

"You'll miss the banters," I said.

"Yeah you two always make me laugh."

I beamed as I pulled the day's appointment sheet.

"Looks like a full schedule," I informed. "Should've figured my last day would be a long one."

Buddy stood from his chair. "Don't try to act all hard-ass now, Sam." He hugged my shoulders. "You'll miss us when it's over."

I smiled through the sadness. "You're right. I will."

"I know," he answered. "Now go unlock the front door. Someone just pulled up."

* * *

Friday afternoon at the shop passed with ease and I was grateful. Buddy even allowed me to spend most of the time in the shop with him and Jake since the phones didn't seem to need much attention. I enjoyed it.

I currently stood over Buddy who peered inside the hood of a car while I held a light. He was doing most of the dirty work, which I didn't mind, but I felt the need to break the silence.

"Have you found someone to take my place?" I asked.

"I have a few people to consider," he informed. "Why? Changin' your mind about leavin'?"

I smiled. "Maybe."

His attention stayed on the engine while he spoke. "Sam, no offense, but you're not meant for this job."

My face showed my confusion.

"Now I don't mean you didn't handle this job well, because you did. But you have a lot of potential. More than what this place can offer."

My cheeks heated. "So you're saying I'm too pretty to be in this dirty old shop?"

He laughed. "No, that's not what I'm sayin'. Even though it's kinda true." He stood straight. "I'm sayin' you're a people person. You're out there. Young and fun. And this new job is really gonna make you happy."

"You know I'm still gonna come around and bother you and Jake, right?" I joked.

"Well, you better!" Buddy wiped his hands. "Cause if you don't, I know where you work."

I just laughed.

He patted my back. "And if that Andy guy ever gives you any trouble, let me know."

"You gonna wreck his car too?"

"I'll do a lot worse than car chalk, I can tell you that!"

He closed the hood to the car and just looked at me. I knew my shift was coming to an end, and the bitter-sweet moment of leaving Buddy's filled my stomach. Wow, who would've known I'd find a sense of family here in this auto-shop?

Buddy moved forward and draped his heavy arm over my shoulders. "And you know you can always come back if you need."

"Thanks Buddy," I answered while trying my best not to cry.

"Now, go get ready for your first shift at Jinx," he ordered. "It's gonna be a long night."

I said my goodbyes, even to Jake, and parted from Buddy's Auto Shop for the last time. Even when I was sad there was no doubt I was successfully closing another chapter to my life. Jinx would start a whole new adventure and I was ready. Or so I thought.

I wouldn't know until tonight.

* * *

"Alright," Danna announced. "This weekend is extremely important to the success of this bar." She paused. "So smile. Make kick-ass drinks. And last but not least, have fun. I have faith in you guys."

Over the course of Friday, Saturday and Sunday Danna would supervise the bar, but do her best not to interfere. She would mingle around and talk to the customers while we ran the bar on our own the best we could. This weekend would determine whether or not Jas and I could handle the bar without her in the near future.

Jas nudged me. "Excited?"

"Yeah. A little nervous, but more excited than nervous," I admitted.

"I think we'll be busy," she said. "I know that a lot of people at Mizzou have been dying for a local LGBT bar."

"Megan said the same thing." I clocked in at the computer. "Hopefully they're adventurous tonight."

"Is Megan coming?

"Yeah, along with Blair and Tony."

"That's sweet," she stated.

"What?" I wondered.

"That Megan's coming to support you on your first day."

I found myself smiling at the thought of Megan showing up. It was sweet of her, especially since the whole bar scene was never her favorite. But she had been super supportive over the past few years with the idea of me working here. Hopefully now that we were open it stayed that way.

Tonight's crew consisted of Me, Jas, and two other bartenders, Quinton and Sara.

"It's been a while since I've bartended but it'll all come back to me," Quinton confessed. "I hope."

"Don't act like you weren't the best bartender back at your old job," Sara challenged.

"You're right I was." He pretended to flick his hair.

"So you've all worked as bartenders before?" Jas asked.

"Yeah," they said in unison.

I didn't want to admit my ignorance, especially to the people I was supposed to be managing. If I did they would know I was young, and then probably refuse to respect me. Not that I felt they would. I just wanted to make sure just in case.

Luckily Danna had given me, along with everyone else, a book of drink recipes to study in our free time. So I felt confident I'd be able to keep up with the others.

Come five o'clock people started walking in and I was relieved as the excitement of the night settled in my veins.

At first everyone seemed pretty normal. Quinton and Sara handled the customers without a problem and Danna seemed to be pleased with how things were going. I spent most of my time behind the bar cleaning and keeping an eye on the door waiting for Megan to walk through any minute. Jas seemed to like socializing with the customers more than anything, which was fine with me because that wasn't my strongest skill.

Then Megan, Blair and Tony walked through the door and waved at me before pulling up chairs at the bar.

I leaned over. "Well, if it isn't my favorite customers."

"You tell all of your customers that?" Megan teased.

"Yes," I joked. "You caught me."

I smiled as more people walked through the door.

"Gin and tonic tonight?" I asked Megan.

"God no." She shook her head. "More like a beer."

I raised my brow. "Beer?"

"Yes. A beer."

I just nodded as I faced Tony. "What about you?"

"Same. You know what I like."

Then I looked at Blair. "Sorry youngin', no alcohol for you. What about a Shirley Temple?"

Blair frowned. "Screw you and your Shirley Temple."

"What about lemon water?"

"Better shut up before I go across the street," she challenged. "Besides, I'm driving tonight."

I just laughed at Blair and turned to grab their drinks. It seemed as if every minute there were new faces and the atmosphere was vibrant. There was a lot of talking and laughing and the look on Danna's face told me everything was going great.

But as the night progressed I found myself helping Quinton and Sara flip drinks, and that was the best part. I was pouring shots and shaking up concoctions every time I turned around. Beads of sweat had actually formed on my head, and I was having a blast.

Once I helped the bartenders get out of their bind I was able to socialize with my friends.

"That was fun," I admitted.

"Dude how are you already so good behind the bar?" Blair asked.

"Must've been a bartender in another life," Tony teased.

Megan's hand grabbed mine across the bar and seized my attention. Not that she didn't always have it, because she did.

"You look really hot," she said with a smile.

I bit my lip. "You think?"

She nodded. "I mean... you always look hot. You just look really happy."

"I am really happy," I acknowledged. "Especially since you came."

Before I could further our conversation, Jas rejoined us behind the bar.

"Hey," she interrupted. "This place is packed!"

I nodded. "It's great. You're really working the crowd out there."

She bumped my shoulder with her own. "And you? I saw you flipping those drinks like a pro."

"I've waited my whole life to do that," I joked.

I checked the time and realized that if there would be another rush it would be soon, so I prepared myself. That was until Danna joined us at the bar.

"I'm impressed," she said with a smile. "Sam, how the hell did you kept up with Quinton and Sara?"

I smirked. "I'm a natural."

"Oh yeah?" She leaned on the bar. "Well how about you and Jas switch places for the next rush. You go out and work the floor and Jas will bartend."

"Oh Sam you can use your great people skills," Blair teased.

I threw her a glare.

"You gotta be able to do it all," Danna encouraged.

"Fine." I twirled my bar towel. "I can schmooze."

Megan gave me one last reassuring look before I disappeared into the crowd.

Of course I had decent people skills, but kissing-ass wasn't something I did at all. Maybe to get out of trouble, but that was a different context. This was the service industry, and whatever the customer wanted they got. Courtesy of me.

I decided to start near the front and out of sight from my friends. That way if I did embarrass myself, they wouldn't witness it.

"Excuse me ma'am!" I heard to my left. "Could you come see?"

I tried to look confident as I leaned on the table.

"What can I get for you?" I offered.

"I just wanted to know if you're single," she wondered. "Cause you're smokin' hot."

At this I tried not to show what I really felt.

"I'm not single," I informed. "But if that's all, I'll go."

"Wait!" She grabbed my hand. "I do need something..."

I waited as I tried not to rip my hand out of hers.

"I need your number," she joked.

I faked a smile. "I'm gonna leave now."

And with that I pulled away, heading as far away from the table as possible.

On my way I took a few drink orders and grabbed empty glasses from tables. I realized I would much rather stay behind the bar. How was Jas so good at entertaining drunk people?

I made it back to the bar and squeezed between Megan and Blair. "That wasn't fun."

Jas was preoccupied with a shaker and obviously having trouble. Danna took it from her to demonstrate.

Jas looked at me. "No. This isn't fun."

I tilted my head. "Okay well I have a few drinks I need."

"Go ahead," Danna ordered.

"Three of our house shots and an Old Fashioned; single."

Danna moved for a clean shaker. "Jas make the Old Fashioned. I'll get the shots."

Jas looked like a deer in the headlights.

"What are you waiting for?" I asked.

"What the hell's in an Old Fashioned?" she panicked.

I decided I would take the reins on this one and moved behind the bar.

"Watch and learn," I told Jas.

In no time I was finished and Jas still looked lost as can be. Given I had never worked in a bar, this was probably shocking. But I had spent plenty of hours in the old Jinx watching Danna make countless amounts of cocktails, which paid off.

"How did you know how to make that?" Megan asked.

"That's a secret." Then I winked before leaving the scene with my Old Fashioned in my right hand and the three shots in my left.

I set the Old Fashioned drink where it was needed and attempted to make my way through the crowd. Damn, where did all these people come from?

I spotted the table where the shots were ordered and moved a bit faster. In all actuality, I just wanted to be back behind the bar.

That's when I slipped and my feet let me down. I fell on my butt and the shots in my left hand spilt all down the front of my shirt. Then to top it all off, the crowd erupted into manic screams of "Are you okay?" and "Oh no! Not the shots!".

And as I sat on the floor of Jinx in my alcohol-soaked t-shirt, I wondered if it was possible to die from embarrassment.

* * *

Later, after closing up the bar and fortunately making it through my first shift alive, I was back home quietly trying to open the front door. Megan was home and most likely sleeping, so I didn't want to wake her.

My shirt was stuck to me, my feet throbbed, and I was physically and mentally exhausted.

Once I made it to our bedroom I grabbed a change of clothes and headed to the shower. That's what I really wanted right now. To literally wash this night right off of me.

After the shower I walked into our bedroom to find Megan looking up at me.

"So," she stated groggily. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired, embarrassed, like I want to crawl in a hole," I countered.

She leaned over as I sat next to her on the bed. "Was it really that bad?"

I sighed. "I mean, it didn't go as great as I expected."

"But it was your first day." She leaned up and kissed me. "And I think you did great."

"I busted my ass."

"And?"

"In front of everyone."

"Sam, no one will remember that," she informed. "They were all drunk."

"Blair's gonna remember it," I countered.

Megan just laughed. "Well yeah, and she'll probably never let you forget it. But look at how successful the night was. It looked just as crowded as the original Jinx back in Baldwin."

I smiled. "You're right about that."

"And it's only gonna get more popular."

I leaned over and kissed her again just to show her how much her positivity was appreciated. And then I remembered something even more positive.

"I have some good news to add," I beamed.

"Oh yeah? What?"

I leaned over and grabbed the stack of money from my jeans. "I made two-fifty in tips."

"So was the night really all that bad?" she teased.

"It wasn't. You're right," I agreed as I lied down next to her.

"You'll only get better," she said. "It just takes time."

"Yeah." I pulled her into me. "I'm glad you came tonight."

"Of course I came. It was your first day."

"But I know you're tired and busy with school," I stated. "And you don't particularly like the bar scene either."

"I just went to keep an eye on Jas," she teased.

"You did not."

"Did to."

I narrowed my eyes. "Megan."

She laughed. "Just kidding."

I kissed her. "That's the last thing you should be worried about."

"If you say so," she finished. "I love you."

"I love you too."

She turned over and I pulled her into me.

Sure, my first shift wasn't perfect, but Megan was right. Just like with anything, time and practice would make me better. I had to keep that in mind.

And as long as I got to come home to her after, the struggles would always be worth it.