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I didn’t expect there to be such a line for a shower at the gym today. I know most people have their own bathroom facilities at the dorms, why did they insist on using the gym’s today of all days?

I’m grumpy as I ease my car out onto the road. BlaringBrad Paisleyon the radio as I pick up speed in accordance with the speed limits, I’m careful of my typically heavy foot on the speedometer. Speeding tickets are no joke here, so I suffer as I drive through traffic toward the bar.

Zipping into a parking spot for employees in the back of the bar, I change out of my jeans to shimmy into a tiny pair of ripped jean shorts and exchange my trusty sneakers for boots.

Jumping out of the car, I’m again grateful for the warm weather of October we have happening right now.

I know my luck isn’t going to last forever, so I’m going to need to buy more blankets toward the end of the month. The need to burrow underneath them for warmth is so strong, I’m disappointed I can’t go shopping for blankets right now.

Smiling at the bouncer, I wave hello to Terri as I run inside, bypassing the rest of the bar to find my boss.

“Good, you’re early,” Patrick sighs, taking me in. He’s my manager, and one of the better ones. He’s more laid back even as an alpha as well. “We’re starting to get busy, so get ready to be slammed behind the bar. Let’s have a good night.”

“You got it.” I grin, losing myself to the routine of my job. It’s seven thirty, and the regulars and people just looking to have a good time are starting to flood the place. Smile permanently on my face, boobs on display in my low cut crop top, I work the crowd.

“Can I get a Jack and coke and your number, baby?” A man I don’t know at all smirks as he leans over the bar. I can’t smell a damn thing right now with my scent blocking gel underneath my nose, but I can tell he’s an alpha. I don’t make it a habit to overly flirt with my clients, because I don’t want to have to worry about someone following me out to my car, insisting that I promised more.

“Let’s start with the drink first, sugar,” I say instead, serving him his drink as his friends chatter around him.

The night continues on in a blur, until we close. Then after we nicely kick out the stragglers, we clean up the place together.

“Damn, it was busy today,” Hailey chuckles, out of breath. We both never stopped behind the bar as we made drinks.

Brian is a little slower because he likes to shoot the shit with customers, but they also tip him well for it. It’s a hard line to walk. Personally, I don’t want my customers pissed off at me for moving too slowly.

“Thanks for a great night,” Patrick says as he puts up the last chair. Brian is actually mopping, which makes me feel badly for a moment. It’s not that he’s lazy, he just sees his job differently than Hailey and I.

I made three-hundred dollars tonight in tips, which will allow me to pay the two-hundred dollar permit tomorrow. Therest of the money will be gas and maybe a coffee if I decide to splurge a little.

My next shift isn’t until Saturday, so I should really just squirrel the remaining hundred dollars away. Being an adult sucks. I grab my bag to go to the bathroom, glancing at Hailey to let her know I need a break. Nodding, she continues to do her thing as she dances as she cleans.

There’s no one else like her. If there’s music, her hips are moving. It makes working with her fun.

Walking to the bathroom, I do my nightly routine quickly. There aren’t any restrooms that are open this late, so I make sure to use the facilities, breathing a sigh of relief as I pee. There’s rarely any downtime, so I just end up holding it for most of the night.

Washing my hands, I dry them before working through the rest of my routine.

I wash my face with cleanser, toner, and moisturizer, and then quickly add a little eye serum under my eyes. I’ve never learned what order this is supposed to go, but as long as I do it every night, it should be fine.

My mother had an insane face care routine, she just never bothered to teach me.

Lastly, I brush my teeth and then throw all of my things in my purse. Thank God for bags that will fit all of the necessities of my life.

God, I wish so many things in my life were different. No little girl grows up and asks to be homeless.

I spent many hours in the tall tree in my backyard, dreaming about what my life would be like, even after I fell out of it when I was nine.

It always bothered my step-father, but he knew it was the only way that I could get away from my mother. I’m grateful I was able to grow up in the same house I was brought home to as a baby. Cooper wanted to make sure my life didn’t change too quickly, and I thought he’d always be around to help with all ofmy mom’s demands.

Sometimes he could help, but other things were out of his hands. None of my ruminations imagined me here in a bar bathroom, getting ready to find a parking spot to spend the night.

Sighing, I know I can’t change my fate, and I need to go back out to finish my job.

Finally done closing up a half an hour later, Patrick walks us out. It’s one in the morning, and I can practically feel my jaw crack as I yawn. I appreciate that my boss ensures our safety at the end of the night.

He’s been doing this since he started working here, refusing to let anything happen to the people he works with. I’ve heard the rumors of omegas going missing in Minneapolis, and it scares me, especially with my current living situation.

So many things could go wrong.