Hard Checked (Ice Kings #4) - Stacey Lynn Page 0,18
Figured we could blow off some steam before heading back out again in a few days.”
“Saw the game. You’re playing great.”
“That’s because I’m the best,” Jude says, grinning and filling his glass.
“She meant the team, dumbass. Besides, we all know I’m better.”
Brothers. These guys are a trip.
“Two hundred bucks says I’m better than you at pool.”
Jason grabs his wallet from his pocket and thumbs through a thick stack of cash before slapping down two one-hundred-dollar bills. “You’re on, dipshit.”
“The team coming in too?” I ask as they slide out of the booth, grinning at each other in that way I know there’s bound to be some serious shit-talking coming soon.
“Yeah. Most of the rest will be here soon.”
“Good. I’ll bring out the rest of the pitchers when they get here.”
“Thanks, Gigi,” Jason says. “Your dad on tonight, too?”
“He’s in the back office right now. Need him?”
“Nope. Just making sure you’re not here alone. It might get busy.”
“We’ll get you handled.”
“Always do. That’s why we like it here so much.” He grabs for his wallet again and hands me another hundred dollars. “This is for a bottle of your best bourbon. Bring that to the table with a few shot glasses, too okay? On me.”
“Maker’s Mark?” I ask before I can stop myself. I haven’t been able to pour a glass of bourbon without thinking of Sebastian and wondering how he’s doing.
“You know Sebastian’s favorite drink?”
Unfortunately. I slide the cash into my pocket and shrug.
I attempt an innocent expression. “Is it for him?”
Based on the narrowing of Jason’s blue eyes, I fail. “Yeah.”
“Hey old man!” Jude shouts. We both turn to where he’s chalking up the tip of his cue. “You get so old you need a cane to get your ass moving or what?”
“Brothers,” Jason mumbles, winking at me. “Little brothers are a pain in the ass.” He grabs his beer and heads toward the table.
I trudge back to the bar and try to shake off the sudden, strange tingling sensation in my fingertips.
Sebastian and I have done nothing wrong. So why does it feel like I lied to Jason for no reason?
If he’s surprised I know what Sebastian drinks he either doesn’t realize I’m a bartender and that’s my job, or Sebastian hasn’t told anyone of his night getting skunk drunk at my bar.
I’m back where I belong, filling pitchers and setting up more glasses on a tray to take when my dad makes his appearance, first going over to where Jude and Jason are and shakes their hands.
He’s moving slower these days. He gets mad at me when I ask him about his health, but he isn’t losing the weight the doctors have told him he needs to. Fortunately, when he was hospitalized and I got the phone call from my aunt, it wasn’t anything serious and the doctor said he was overworked and needed to slow down. Not that he’s done much of that, either.
“When it’s my time, it’s my time,” he always mumbles when I try to get him to do something different.
The problem is, when it’s his time… it leaves me alone. And I’m not ready to think about that yet.
For now, I smile as he clasps Jason and Jude on the back, watch as he jokes with them and hangs out while they shoot pool, and I slowly brace myself for the arrival of Sebastian. If another bottle of bourbon has been ordered, it means he’s most likely not in any better of a mood than he was the last time I saw him.
I’m aware of the exact moment he walks into the bar. I’m serving Sawyer a fresh bottle of beer, and I’m not facing the door at all, but I still know it’s him. Partly because Sawyer turns in that direction and he tenses. The bottle of Maker’s Mark Jason paid for earlier is still sitting untouched, unopened, like he’s not letting anyone touch the thing until Sebastian arrives.
“Thanks, Gigi,” Sawyer says, shoving a ten-dollar bill into the tip jar.
When I turn back toward the door, I catch Sebastian. Another of their defenseman, Duke Fletcher, is at his back, and he’s pushing Sebastian toward the table, pointing.
Sebastian’s features are tight and he looks worn down. It’s one glance I give him, a moment, where I watch him but as I catch him turning to look at me, I quickly glance away.
I’m here to work, not worry about how a guy I barely know is doing.