wife died from cancer and he has three sons. I don’t even know his last name.
“Usual?” I ask, smiling at him. Every day he drinks straight whiskey. Just one. He’ll spend hours in this bar, nursing his two-fingered glass of the finest we have to offer. He tells me “you don’t waste the good stuff. You savor it.”
I have to admit he’s right. I’d savor a two-hundred-dollar bottle of whiskey too.
Fletcher nods and drapes his smoke-gray jacket over the stool beside him. “You know me well, darlin’.”
I reach for the Middleton. “What are you up to today?” I ask, realizing I never had the chance to talk to him yesterday.
“Oh, you know, honey.” His gruff voice stretches between us, the sound a product of his years of smoking. “Same thing as yesterday.”
I wink and slide the glass toward him. “And what’s that?”
He winks back. “Stayin’ alive.”
Fletcher’s not much for small talk. He comes here to relax. Most do. They’re not here to make friends. They’re here to escape and forget about their problems.
My gaze finds the pier. The Amphitrite is still docked. At least I know he’s still here. Even knowing that doesn’t provide me any relief. It only makes my heart race, wondering if he’s going to show up here or not.
Blade Bait - A weighted, fish-shaped blade made with a swinging hook and designed for deep fishing.
Weldon’s Tavern has been in our family for over forty years. After my transplant, with the unbearable amount of overhead and my medical bills, Avie was forced to take out a loan against it. Sadly, we almost lost it to the bank. Somehow—and I don’t know how—Avie managed to come up with the money to keep the bar running. Because of this, we only have eight people working here, which means we never have days off. But this place is our life. I grew up in this tavern as neon beer lights lulled me to sleep most nights. I wouldn’t have it any other way. From noon until 2:00 a.m., I’m here with my friends and family. And that’s exactly what they are to me. Family.
When I started my period, Mal was there for me.
When I had my first broken heart, Dylan comforted me and told me to “buck the fuck up.” It was last week.
And when I need a guy friend, Everett has always been there.
I can’t, nor do I want to, imagine my life without them.
Presley’s at the bar, sneaking shots when she can because as she tells me she comes to life after a few drinks. One would think coffee might be the answer, but not Presley. Smiling, I watch her dance around behind the bar, filling drinks, laughing, forgetting the fact that every time she turns away, sadness warps her features and her eyes betray her. It sucks when you’re in love with the wrong person.
Kylo eventually emerges from Avie’s office, looking a little rattled. He comes up to me, his brow dipping. “Why are martini glasses so expensive?”
I smile at him. “Sorry, buddy. But seriously, did you catch E’s microwave on fire?”
He blinks slowly. “He told you?”
“Yeah. He said he had to call the fire department.”
“Oh, uh, I guess he did.” He picks at his nails, biting the corner of his lip nervously.
He guesses? I want to laugh at how random he is. I hand him a tray of glasses. He takes it, his eyes lifting to mine as I wrap my hands around his. “Don’t. Drop. This.”
Nodding, his cheeks flush pink again. “I won’t.”
Not likely a promise he’s going to keep.
Presley watches him walk by. When he’s out of sight, she grins. “That boy has the biggest crush on you.”
“How old is he anyways?”
“Just turned eighteen a week ago.”
I frown. “And we didn’t do anything for him?”
“I know, right? We should throw a party for him. He has nobody.”
Sadness pulls at me, and I watch him in the pass-thru window in the kitchen. In part, I know how he feels. I know exactly what it’s like to have everything in your life ripped away and be left wondering what your place is and if there is one for you.
“We’re throwing him a party here,” I say, nodding as if I have that kind of pull here. “Saturday night.”
“What party?” Mal asks, coming behind the bar.
“For Kylo. He turned eighteen last week.” I pause for the dramatics. “We didn’t do anything for him.” My eighteenth birthday, we had a huge party at the bar, and the entire