Moving off the bed, she walked toward the door and out of my life.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
SIX WEEKS LATER
EDEN
“Thanks, Janine.” Tucking the phone under my chin, I reached for a white wine glass from overhead. “Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll be by in the morning to sign the papers. I appreciate everything. Have a good weekend.”
Dropping the phone on the counter, the hardware store flashed in my mind. Earlier in the morning, I’d cleaned out the last box at the store and turned the key, locking the door to my past and the last reminder of the cursed Lachey legacy. The new CEO and liaison at RVC Enterprises, Janine Banfield, worked relentlessly and found a buyer for Lachey Hardware who was willing to pay close to my full asking price. The money would be enough that I could take a little time for myself before selling everything else I owned.
I had no idea where I’d move, but my home held nothing but memories for me—some bad, some good, and some that still tore my heart in two. I needed a fresh start and sticking around constant reminders wouldn’t allow me a chance to put what had happened behind me.
“Eden, are you going to pour that wine or dance with it?”
Shaken out of my thoughts, I shot an annoyed glance at Tiffany as she tapped her toe on the other side of the bar. Snickering, she motioned to the bottle of Kendall Jackson I hugged to my chest as I narrowed my eyes.
Bitch.
Tightening my grip on the bottle, I imagined it was her neck as I turned to the nice dressed couple at the end of the bar. “Chardonnay, right?” A woman with way too much makeup nodded, and I over-poured on purpose.
Screw this bar and their rules.
Bending over, I shoved the bottle into the mini cooler as Tiffany tapped her toe behind me again.
“If you want to keep that toe attached to your foot, I suggest you stop.”
Shifting her toe behind her opposite heel, she crossed her arms over her massive chest. “We’re not supposed to be on our phones while we’re at work.”
Slamming the refrigerator door, I stepped in close and lowered my voice to a warning growl. “We’re also not supposed to wear uniform sizes that fit a fucking toddler. Now get out of my face before I get that wine bottle back out and break it over your head.”
With her mouth forming a perfect circle, Tiffany shook her bleached blonde hair and stomped off with her ass hanging out of her Lycra short.
God, I hate these outfits.
I felt and looked beyond stupid in the black booty-shorts and half-shirt announcing to everyone that I was a ‘Naughty Irish Girl.’ Besides, I was Scottish, not that anyone cared.
After leaving Caliente, I realized Nash had been right. I had no skills other than the ability to mix a Long Island Iced Tea in under forty-five seconds. After searching through every trash can in my house, I finally found one of the University of Texas brochures he’d stuffed in my purse and started the application for admission and financial aid. While I waited to hear if I got accepted, I got a job doing what I did best—slinging drinks. Only this time, instead of shaking margaritas in a Mexican cantina, I poured Guinness in the shittiest Irish pub in town.
Cashing out my bartender book, I nodded to Zach, the newest hire, who’d come to relieve my shift. He was a nice guy with a mop of sandy brown hair and a beard he tried hard to grow. Maybe one day he’d succeed.
“Hi, Eden. How’s tips?”
“Shitty, as usual.”
“Tiffany here?”
I rolled my eyes and pointed my thumb over my shoulder toward the manager’s office. “Unfortunately, yes, and probably ratting me out for threatening to cut off her toes.”
Zach laughed until I glanced up from grabbing my purse from underneath the bar, my eyes cold and serious. He swallowed uncomfortably, and a satisfied smirk coated my face.
“Enjoy your night, Zach. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Uh, yeah. Sure thing, Eden.”
Pushing the heavy, wooden door open, I inhaled the mild, seventy degree, September weather. With a full chest and clear mind, I realized the exchange with Zach epitomized the new Eden Lachey.
The person that walked into the hardware store that June morning was no longer me. Even the way I reacted to situations and people had drastically changed.
