"This is…too much," Bug said, looking at the check Baze had just handed him in disbelief.
"You earned it," Baze replied.
"Nah, man." Bug shook his head. "Gavin trashed the bar. You lost business 'cause you had to close the bar down. You had every right to fire me and you didn't. I don't deserve this."
"Yeah, Gavin trashed the bar. But you cleaned it up," Baze said meaningfully. "I know how easy it would've been for you to just hide out, let me clean up your mess."
"I wouldn't do that. I really appreciate you giving me this chance," Bug said honestly.
"I know," Baze replied.
"You do?" Bug asked. "'Cause it kinda seemed like you hated me."
"No, I hated that you're…" Baze trailed off awkwardly. "Well, you know…with Lux. But, I didn't hate you. I didn't even know you. Now that I do, I can see that you're trying to change."
Bug offered Baze a crooked half-smile. "I guess I can't blame you for that." He hesitated, not sure if Lux was good conversation topic. "Look, Baze, I love Lux. Hell, she's the only good thing in my life." Bug shrugged. "I just thought you should know, I would never hurt her."
Baze gave him a hard look. "You better not."
Bug rolled his eyes, and turned for the door.
Baze stopped Bug from leaving, grabbing his shoulder. "I want you to know, you're doing a good job. In the last month, you've shown me that you have a good work ethic and you're a fast learner."
Bug looked down uncomfortably. He wasn't used to people complimenting him. "Thanks."
Baze nodded. "See you tomorrow."
Bug climbed the stairs to the third floor of his apartment complex. It was a rent-controlled apartment in a bad part of town, but it was all he could afford. Honestly, it was more than he could afford.
If Baze hadn't given him a chance, Bug would never have made rent. It wasn't easy to get a job with no high school diploma.
Bug hadn't wanted to drop out of high school when he'd turned sixteen, but he had to save up money. His main goal had been to save enough so that he'd be able to walk out the door of the foster care system and never look back.
Hell, he'd been sixteen. He hadn't thought about long-term consequences of dropping out. His only thought had been that he couldn't get out of foster care soon enough.
As Bug entered the third floor and headed for his apartment, he saw someone waiting in front of his door and stopped cold in his tracks.
"Hey," Bug's father, Jake, slurred drunkenly.
"Hey? That's all you have to say to me?" Bug demanded angrily. "I haven't seen you in years."
"And whose fault is that?" Jake retorted, stumbling toward his son. "I was in prison. You didn't visit."
"I was a little busy growing up without a dad!" Bug said, in his dad's face. He could smell the alcohol on his dad's breath.
"You'll want to remember who you're talking to and treat me with a little respect," Jake said, his face reddening in anger.
"Respect has to be earned," Bug shot back.
Jake's fist collided with Bug's face a few seconds later. Bug stumbled backward.
He hadn't been expecting that. He didn't know why. Beating the crap out of Bug was Jake's favorite pastime until Bug was taken away.
Bug's hands balled into fists. He watched his dad, clearly intoxicated, lean against the wall for support. Bug knew he could fight back. He wasn't a little kid anymore. And he was sober. He'd win easily.
Something Bug didn't understand stopped him. For some reason, he just couldn't hit his dad. He knew Jake had it coming.
Instead, Bug pushed past Jake toward his apartment. He noticed a duffel bag in front of his door and glanced up in surprise. "You're not staying here."
"I put a roof over your head, food in your mouth and you won't let me crash for a night?" Jake retorted belligerently, advancing on Bug again.
Bug shook his head. "I don't owe you a thing." He quickly entered his apartment and locked the door.
Jake immediately began banging on the door loudly, swearing a blue streak.
Bug closed his eyes and leaned against the door.
"Shut up or I'm calling the cops," Bug heard an angry neighbor threaten.
Bug sighed. He didn't want his dad to go back to jail even though he knew it's where Jake belonged. He opened the door.
Jake barged in uninvited.
"You can stay for one night. That's it," Bug said firmly.
Jake laughed coldly. He weaved drunkenly over to Bug's bed to lie down and passed out within seconds.
Bug grabbed a pillow and blanket and settled on the floor.