Pieces of Us (Missing Pieces #3) - N.R. Walker Page 0,25

grumbled.

“You’d hate tripping or injuring your leg even more,” I replied. He took a few steps with it. “Does it hurt your arm to use it?”

“Nah. It’s okay. If I was sitting on the ground, I wouldn’t like to have to use my arm to get up, like to take all my weight, but like this it isn’t too bad.” He actually walked pretty good with the cane. He wasn’t gonna win any gold medals in a speed-walking contest, but that was okay with me.

I held the door for him and he gave me a cute smile as he walked in. “Thank you,” he said.

“You’re welcome,” I whispered back. I followed him, and once we were in the main bar area, he stopped.

“Do you know where they are?”

It occurred to me then that he had no memory of this place. He’d been here many times, but he’d lost all that. “There’s a bar out the back with tables and seats and a huge screen for the footy.”

“Ah.” He turned to the end of the bar area but didn’t move.

“This way,” I said, leading the way. It was busy. Not overcrowded but enough that people edged out of Justin’s way when they saw him with the cane to give him room to walk through.

Sure enough, Davo and Lauren and Sparra and his new girlfriend were seated at a round table with two spare seats. Davo gave us a wave when he saw us. “Hey,” he said. “Was wondering where you two were.”

“We’re not even late,” I said.

“Footy’s about to start.”

In about an hour, but whatever. “Then I better get to the bar,” I said, grinning. I said hello to Lauren and smiled at the new face. “Hi.”

Sparra stood up. He’d obviously put an effort into his appearance, and he even looked a little nervous. “Dallas, this is Carissa. And Justin. Carissa, my girlfriend.” He just about beamed at the word.

Carissa was short and curvy, with pastel pink hair and a stud in her nose. She had huge blue eyes and a killer smile. She stood and shook our hands. “Nice to meet you. Tony talks about you all the time.”

“Nice to meet you too,” I replied.

“Tony?” Justin asked. “Oh, Sparra’s real name. I forgot, sorry. What the hell kind of name is Tony?”

They all laughed, and I pulled out the seat next to Sparra for Juss and he sat down, hanging the cane handle over the edge of the table. “Okay, it’s my shout. What are we having?”

I took their orders and made my way to the bar, ordering for everyone. It was probably long overdue that I shouted these guys a few drinks. I tucked some menus under my arm and carried the tray of drinks back to the table. I got two Carlton Zeros for me and Juss. It was non-alcoholic but it looked and tasted like a beer, and I hoped it made Juss feel like he wasn’t missing out.

He took the bottle and shot me a look before reading the label. He gave it a sceptical once over, then took a sip. “I haven’t had beer in . . . well, I can’t remember having a beer in five years, and this actually tastes pretty good.”

Sparra clinked his bottle to Juss’ and said, “Cheers, mate. And it’s good to have you here.”

I sat between Juss and Davo and we chatted about the menus, and once everyone had decided, I went to the bistro counter and ordered and paid for that too.

“You don’t have to do that,” Davo said. He’d come with me to the service counter to collect the cutlery and condiments.

“I know. I want to. As thanks for what you and Sparra have done, but also as a bit of a celebration. This is Juss’ first time going out somewhere for a meal. Like to a restaurant type thing and to watch the footy. He usually falls asleep on the couch watching with me at home.”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d be here, given he didn’t have a real good day yesterday.”

“Yeah, he’s okay. He’s just no good if he bottles stuff up. His brain trips a circuit if he gets stressed. But we talked it out and he slept it off.”

“Good.” Then Davo nudged me. “Have you ever seen Sparra scrubbed up like that? He’s on his best behaviour. Showered and shaved and everything.”

I chuckled. “Ah, bless him. She seems nice.”

“He’s a goner already,” Davo said. “Smitten kitten.”

I snorted. “How’s Lauren? Keeping you in line, no