Love Her - Andrea Johnston Page 0,2
me. “I’ll think about it.”
Seemingly appeased with that response, TJ signs off and I’m left alone to play a bunch of strangers or by myself. My phone buzzes on the table. I didn’t respond this morning and I’ve paid the price all day. No wonder my battery never lasts.
Another buzz, this time it doesn’t stop after a notification. Tossing the controller on the couch, I lift up and grab my phone, sliding my finger across the screen to answer.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Connor Hall. Where have you been?” Her question is high-pitched, which leads to a string of coughs. She doesn’t sound well, the rattling of her lungs more prominent than they were just six months ago. I hate this for her. For my sister and me. We both know one day that rattle will land her back in the hospital and the possibility of her never coming home is far greater than any of us like to acknowledge.
“I’ve been working, Mama. How are things? How’s Meg?”
“Your sister works too hard. As do you. So much you can’t even call your mother.”
Rising from the couch, I make my way to the kitchen and put the call on speaker before placing it on the counter. While Mom catches me up on the gossip of my old neighborhood and my sister’s recent promotion, I go about fixing my lunch.
The pride in her voice as she talks about my sister makes me happy. I’m glad she has Meg nearby to help her. I wish I could do more for both of them other than in the form of money. But my mom and sister both know I can’t go back there. Not to the place that will easily pull me into a life I left behind. I may have exchanged one kind of war for another, but the battle I faced in the desert gave me a brotherhood and family I never had before. No, the war on the streets of Cleveland was far more lethal.
“Tell me about what’s going on there, honey. How is small-town life?”
Placing the top slice of bread on my sandwich, I grab the bag of chips I opened yesterday from the counter and head back to the couch as I reply, “Small.”
“Connor.” Her tone is a warning, that maternal one that always had me apologizing before I did anything wrong as a kid.
“What? It is. There’s no traffic or much crime to speak of and the people are friendly. It took some getting used to at first. Instead of flipping you off at a stop sign, you can sit there for a solid five minutes waving each other forward.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with that kind of life. Maybe I’ll visit soon. It would be nice to see you other than on my computer screen.”
There it is. The maternal guilt that I haven’t been home in over three years. She forgets that I offered to take her on a real vacation, something with white sandy beaches and umbrellas in her drinks.
“We’ll see. As soon as I save a little more money, I’ll get a bigger place and y’all can come visit.”
Giggling, I realize I just let some of the southern I’ve adapted to slip out.
“I bet the ladies are all over you with that accent.”
Groaning, I pop a chip in my mouth and let her ramble on a few more minutes before bidding her goodbye. I try to let go of the guilt I often feel after speaking with her and get in the right mindset of a night behind the bar. Flirting and pouring beers is what the customers expect, not a guy with a case of mom guilt.
Chapter 2
Connor
I knew the night would be busy, but I had no idea it would be like this. Loud and rowdy, the crowd is a far cry from what we’re used to. The cocktail waitresses have been running like never before and honestly, giving me the stink eye because of it. Sure, it was my idea to add live music once a month but how was I to know every twenty-something in a forty mile radius would show up?
“This is crazy,” Taylor, my buddy and boss, says as he dumps a bucket of ice in the well.
“I know. I’m glad we brought in the extra staff and security.”
“If this is a sign of what’s to come, we’ll need to consider hiring more servers and a bartender. You got this?” I nod as I close the door to the dishwasher.
He continues, “I’m going