Worth the Risk_ A Contemporary - Megan Hart Page 0,54

Hal remembered he was a terrible dancer.

The beer went flying, aided by the hot wings. Hal crunched broken glass and blue cheese under foot while Sandy yelped. The bar groaned collectively.

"I'll get the mop," Sandy said. She patted him on the arm. "Don't worry about it, Hal."

Wearily, Hal began sweeping up glass and gunk. The restless, booze-craving zombies shuffled impatiently at the bar, muttering amongst themselves. What perfect metaphor for my life, Hal thought with more than a little bitterness. Shattered heart and gunked-up emotions. If he could sweep away the five days he'd spent with Laila as easily as he swept away the broken glass, he'd be set.

"Hal, buddy!"

The familiar voice automatically set Hal's jaw even as he turned. Rick had muscled his way up to the bar, seeming not to notice the nasty glares he got from the other customers. He rapped the bar top with his knuckles.

"Dude, grab me a beer, will ya?"

Hal held up the broom. "I'm a little busy here, Rick."

It took Rick a moment to look around and see he wasn't the only person in the room. A long, painful moment. "Oh, sure, man. Yeah. Whatever. I'll wait for it."

Shaking his head, Hal finished clearing the floor of the worst of the mess, then set about filling all the drink orders. Surprisingly, once he'd found his rhythm again, clearing away the backlogged crowd didn't take very long. Or maybe they were afraid I'll drop a plateful of wings on them, Hal thought.

Once the free Happy Hour snack buffet opened up, the undead moved away from the bar to scarf down cheese sticks, onion rings, and a plethora of other fried bar fare. Hal actually found himself with a moment to breathe. Sandy took the opportunity for a smoke break. Rick sat at the bar and drank his beer.

"I'm on another date." Rick spoke up when it became clear Hal had a free minute.

Hal, who'd been hoping for the chance to grab a sandwich from the kitchen, managed a smile. "You're on a roll. Uh, dude."

"Dude!" It seemed Rick could make just that one word mean any number of things, just by using a different tone of voice. This time it clearly meant he was happy. "And man, this babe is sweet!"

"Yeah?" Hal asked, not really caring. His stomach grumbled, especially when he looked out and saw the zombies chowing down like the world was about to end. When Sandy got back, he'd get something to eat.

Rick made a waving motion with his hand and jerked his head back and forth. "Oh, yeah. Dude, she is a hottie! And I think she really digs me."

"Good for you," Hal said, keeping his eye out for Sandy's return. "Dude."

"Dude!" Rick replied with a sly grin. "She made an emergency request for me, man. Whitehead cancelled my other gig 'cause this babe was so hot for me."

"Cool," Hal said. Finally, he spotted Sandy weaving her way through the crowd back to the bar.

"I'm getting laid for sure tonight," Rick said. "And I won't even have to fake it with this babe. Let me tell you, man, she is hot!"

"You said that," Hal told him. Rick's rambling was becoming more than just background noise. It was starting to get on his nerves. "Hey, Sandy!"

"I thought she might want to go to Wanda's Beach Club or someplace." Rick shrugged. "But she insisted we come here. Whatever. Dude, one place to get beer's as good as any, am I right?"

"Especially when you're not paying for it," Hal said absently. Sandy had gotten hung up in a gaggle of mini-skirted singletons who appeared to be asking her if their hair looked all right.

"Dude, you are so right." Rick drained the last of his beer and Hal handed him another.

"So where is this mystery woman?" Hal asked, not that he cared. It looked like Sandy was going to be a few more minutes.

"She had to hit the ladies'. Freshen herself up for me, you know." Rick let out a lusty chuckle that made Hal grimace. "Dude!"

"Dude," Hal agreed. His stomach protested its chronic emptiness again, and he decided he couldn't wait any longer. "I'll be right back, all right? If anyone comes up, just tell them to wait a second."

"Sure, man." Rick happily went back to sucking down his draft.

Hal put in a quick order for a roast beef sandwich and fries, then ducked back to the bar. The crowd still hovered around the buffet, though the contents of most of the warming