Party Foul - Abby Knox Page 0,71

on the street. And so on and so forth, until I’m feeling better,” he explained.

She smiled. “You mean, tomorrow you’ll send Billy to hang around the science building to give everyone the stink eye.”

Levi laughed. “Something like that.”

“We’re working on this, right?”

“Yeah, Fi.”

She studied the haunted look in his eyes, and it squeezed her heart. Three weeks had passed since the incidents at the New Year’s Eve party of doom (their little nickname for it). For those three weeks, Levi and Fiona had barely left each other’s sight, except when she, her mother, and YaYa would spend a couple of hours in the evening fussing over George Locke while Levi worked nights. The governor was healing nicely, but Fiona insisted on giving her mother a break. The old man was, of course, a terrible patient. He spent most of his time watching his lieutenant governor campaign on his behalf on all of the news channels, and grousing about it. The runoff election was at the end of the month, at which time the doctors predicted George would be fully recovered and able to go back to work. If he won the runoff, of course.

As a couple, their routine consisted of time spent at the beach house, the governor’s mansion, his apartment at YaYa’s house, or Crow Bar. She had even come with him to work. But that could not continue, as she had to be on a normal person’s sleep schedule in order to be rested for classes. Normal life had to resume. Their normal, new life.

“How about after my classes we go to Crow Bar and see Mavis? I haven’t seen her around at night lately, and I miss her.”

Levi agreed.

He kept his word. After class, he was waiting for her outside in the hallway and did the same for the rest of the morning.

After her classes ended, they met at Crow Bar, where the rest of the Brute Squad had gathered for lunch amid a smattering of regulars whose shifts ended at midday.

Surprised to see everyone there all at once, Fiona then registered that an impromptu meeting was in progress.

“Levi, you’re here. Good. I can do this now and pull off the Band-Aid once and for all.”

“Uh-oh,” Fiona said, inching away. “Maybe I’ll go play some pinball.”

“Nope, you’re with me.” Levi hitched her close, then hoisted her onto his lap when he slid onto a bar stool across from Mavis. Fiona could not imagine it was comfortable to have her in his lap on a rickety bar stool, but it’s not as if she could argue.

“What’s up, Mavis?” Levi said, looking worried.

The memory of her conversation with Mavis at the party three weeks ago came to mind, and then Fiona had a sinking feeling she knew what this was. In all the excitement and terror of that night, she’d completely forgotten.

She turned and examined the other faces of the Brute Squad. It was clear to her none of them had a clue what was happening.

“Well, boys,” Mavis said. “I have an announcement. I’m selling Crow Bar. I’m retiring and moving away.”

Fiona’s wary eyes studied all their faces. It was clear none of them had seen this coming.

Billy, of course, was the first to speak. “Well, fuck.”

“I know this is unexpected,” Mavis began. “But I’ve been approached by a buyer and it was hard to turn it down. I need to go and be with my grandchildren. My daughter and son-in-law live in a nice house on the beach down in Mississippi…”

Holden interrupted. “You live at the beach here. Your house is literally on the beach.”

Mavis eyeballed him like he ought to know better. “Sweet baby Holden. It’s cold as a witch’s tittie right now, and it’s not good for my joints.”

Dash’s long fingers twisted a bar rag so hard Fiona thought it might unravel. “Are we gonna lose our jobs?”

Mavis looked at him. “Dash, do you think I would agree to sell to this man if I didn’t think he would keep all of you on?”

“In writing,” said another one. “Did you get that in writing?”

Levi broke in then. “Focus, guys. Focus. Maybe let’s don’t forget what’s happening here. Mavis, you’ve owned this place for 30 years. You’ve been my boss here for ten years. We’ll miss you, but we’re happy for you, right, guys?” Silence followed and Levi grew agitated. “Right, guys??”

Somebody sniffled. “I’m really gonna miss you.”

Fiona looked and saw that Holden was crying.

She looked to her right, and the rest of them were in similar