Ember

By R.A. Krauszer

Ember doesn't have the best home life but makes the best of a bad situation. She is a strong-willed and stubborn young woman that does whatever is necessary to survive. But having an addict for a mother makes things more difficult than it should be. When Ember learns how bad her mother's addiction is, she realizes she cannot do much more to help her...

 

See how Ember learns to navigate her world with an addict for a mother, a non-existent father, two best friends, and co-workers that are there when she least expects it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.A. Krauszer
• Release date: Jul 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223090724

R.A. Krauszer

Mom to children and furbabies. Wife to an awesome, supportive husband. Crafter, beader, almost all the things. I have always wanted to publish a book...I have done that....now I have the bug and want to do it more. So many ideas, so little time. Love to meet new people. Love to learn new things. Love to create. I am an open book....pun intended...you have questions, please ask :)

Book preview

1

Ember woke to the shrill sound of her alarm. She groaned as she turned over to reach for the alarm clock and stop the constant beeping that made her head feel worse. She had gone out with a few friends the previous night and had too much to drink.

Em, you need to get moving before you are late for work, she heard her mom yell from the bottom of the stairs. She slowly got out of bed and dressed for work; doing anything quick with a raging hangover was out of the question. After dressing, Ember snuck quietly out of her house and got in her car. She needed to avoid her mom for a little longer, and she didn’t have the energy for the interrogation her mom would give her. It was always about money with her mom, never anything else...money, money, money.

As Ember pulled into the club’s parking lot, she noticed that the cops were there. After parking, she climbed out of her car and headed into the club without being stopped by any officers, thankfully. She couldn’t have been more grateful. With her headache, answering questions was the last thing she wanted to do, especially when she knew nothing.

Ember clocked in and headed toward the bar. She grabbed an apron from behind the bar and tied it on, ensuring she had an order pad and pen.

Why are the cops here? she asked Damon, the bartender.

Not sure. Dominic might know, he told her, pointing toward the bouncer by the door.

I don’t want to bother him while he is working. I will wait, she told Damon as she watched Dominic talk to the manager.

Ember noticed some guys come in and sit in her section, so she walked over to the table to take their orders.

What can I get for you guys? she asked with a smile.

Couple of beers and two shots of Jack, they told her.

I’m Adam, said the shorter of the two guys, grinning at her.

Nice to meet you, Adam. I will be right back with your drinks, she told him, turning away toward the bar. She waited until she was fully turned away, until she gave an eye roll. She was always cordial with customers, but she knew what would happen with this guy before he said anything else. He was going to hit on her and possibly not take no for an answer; he seemed like nt to cause a problem.

I need two beers and two shots of Jack, Damon, she replied as she stopped at the bar.

No problem. Everything okay? he asked, nodding toward the table she had just left.

Yeah, everything is fine, she told him, watching him place the drinks on her tray.

Ember strolled back toward the table with the drinks. They seemed harmless enough, but she never told customers her name, which was just a rule she had; there were too many creeps out there.

Here you go, she told them as she placed the drinks on the table before them. Let me know if you need anything else, she said as she quickly turned away.

Ember started walking toward the entrance. She knew Dominic couldn’t leave the door unless he dealt with a pain-in-the-ass customer or was on a break. She had never heard him talk all the time she had worked the same shift as him, at least not much besides a hello here and there, which had been the last few months or so.

I just wanted to check and see if you needed a drink or anything, she told him as she stopped before him.

Water would be good, he told her. She turned away and walked back toward the bar. She noticed that Damon was busy, so she went behind the bar and grabbed a bottle of water instead of waiting for him to finish waiting on the guy at the bar.

Aren’t you a pretty little thing, commented the guy sitting at the bar. Rolling her eyes at him, she walked around the bar and headed back toward the entrance, where Dominic was perched on a stool.

Here’s your water. Let me know if you need anything else, she told him.

Thanks, Peaches, he said as he took the bottle from her.

Ember turned away and headed back toward the only table she had customers at. It was still early, so the club was almost empty. She secretly hoped the evening would remain that way since she had a horrible hangover.

Did you need anything else? she asked as she approached the table.

Couple more beers, Adam replied. Ember smiled in response and walked toward the bar to retrieve them.

She noticed that Damon was deep into a conversation with a guy at the bar, so instead of asking him for the beers, she again walked around and grabbed them herself. Just as she had done with the water for Dominic, she opened them and placed them on the tray, heading back toward the table.

Here you go, guys, she said as she placed them on the table.

I couldn’t help but notice that when I introduced myself, you didn’t do the same, Adam said, slightly annoyed.

You are observant...and correct. I don’t tell customers my name, she told him.

You really should be nicer to customers and probably get you more tips, he said.

I am not going to apologize because you don’t feel I was being nice because I decided not to tell you my name. That is my choice. Now can I get you anything else before I get back to work? she asked, giving him a slight eye roll. She couldn’t stand self-righteous guys; they irritated her to no end.

It isn’t a hard question to answer, and I just want to know your name. That’s all, sweetheart, he chuckled.

You are not getting my name; I already told you that. Two, don’t call me sweetheart, she told him sternly. She turned away and was stopped by a grip on her wrist.

Looking at his hand gripping her wrist, she looked him in the eye, Get your hand off of me, now!

Tell me your name, he told her, tightening his grip.

Is there a problem? Dominic said as he approached, scowling.

Not your concern, bro; kick rocks, Adam told him without glancing in his direction.

You doing okay, Peaches? Dominic asked her.

Yanking her wrist out of his grasp, she nodded to Dominic. Everything is fine. He was just unhappy that I wouldn’t tell him my name, and I think he will get over it, though, she told him.

Turning away from the table while she had the chance, she walked to the bar to grab a rag to start cleaning tables. She needed to keep herself busy.

I have to say, I am surprised you are here at work, considering how much you drank last night, chuckled Damon.

Believe me, I would rather be anywhere but here, but I need the money, she said, giving him an exaggerated eye roll. You are the one that served me all night.

I learned a long time ago never to tell a pretty girl no, he grinned, winking at her.

Shut it, she giggled, walking away and shaking her head.

Ember took her time cleaning tables. She took a deep breath when she reached the table the two guys were still occupying. She tucked the rag into the back pocket of her shorts.

Can I get you guys anything else? she asked, praying they would say no, but she knew otherwise.

Couple more beers and shots, Adam told her.

Without saying anything else, she turned to head to the bar. Hey Damon, I need two more beers and two more shots for the guys over there, she pointed over her shoulder.

Three beers and two shots in less than an hour. They keep that drinking speed up, and they will be torn up before too long and have to call their night short, he told her, shaking his head as he poured the shots. Ember decided to grab the beers instead of waiting for him to do it. The quicker she got the order to them, the faster she didn’t have to deal with them.

Ember placed the drinks on the table, not in front of anyone. Anything else? she asked.

If you won’t tell me your name, how about you give me your number so I can call you sometime? We can go out for drinks or something, he told her, still not giving up.

Taking a deep breath, she looked around discreetly to see who was around. She noticed no one was within earshot, so she could say what she wanted without consequence.

What in the fuck makes you think that if I don’t want to tell you my name, I will give you my number. I am not some bitch you can call up when you want to fuck. I don’t date my customers, so just give it a fucking rest, she snarled at him.

Ember turned and walked away before she could hear whatever reply would spew from his lips. She had no desire to listen to anything else this loser had to say. As far as she was concerned, he could leave without giving her a tip, and she would be more than pleased. She couldn’t decide what was worse, Adam running his mouth constantly or his silent partner sitting next to him just letting him do it.

This night is going to drag, she told Damon as she stopped in front of him at the bar.

Don’t worry, your cute little ass about it, sweet cheeks. He was not going to let anything happen to you tonight. See, he told her as he pointed over her shoulder.

Turning, she watched as Dominic approached the only occupied table. She was too far away to hear what was said but could tell the guys were unhappy. She could tell Adam was denying anything to Dominic by shaking his head no. Dominic cocked his eyebrow, frowning right back at the guy, then leaned in and said something in his ear. Adam’s eyes slammed into hers as she watched their