Page 34 of Hold the Pickle
“Good one,” I say. “Are they usually one word or two?”
“It varies,” Max says. “Colt’s dad was ‘The Cure’ and Colt was ‘Gunner’ because of his fighting style.”
I turn to Luca. “What’s your style?”
“Loser,” Parker says with another laugh.
I almost shoot him a look, but it seems like all these friends are tight, the level of closeness that allows you to insult each other in good fun.
Luca shrugs. “I’m not sure I have a style yet.”
“Enough on names,” Maddie says. “Who wants to shoot some pool?”
The group wanders over to the back corner of the bar where four pool tables stand, two of them empty. Luca carries my stool. I wonder if he’s been assigned to me, or if his attention has warned off the others.
“Shots before shots,” Maddie says. She stops a shot server with a holder full of test tubes. “Put them on Max’s tab.”
“Hey!” Max protests, but hands the woman a card.
A few of the men wave off the shot server. They have fights tomorrow. But most everyone but Cam takes one. So I do, too. So does Luca.
“And down!” Maddie cries.
I chug the shot. I haven’t done that in a while. We pile the empty test tubes on the woman’s tray.
“I’m going to grab a water,” Luca says. “Gotta stay one-to-one on the hydration.”
Camryn takes the extra stool. When Luca’s gone, she says, “Let me know if he gets too attentive. We can shoo him off you.”
“I’m not really in the market for a guy,” I say.
“Oh, but these are so pretty.”
“Hey!” Max says.
She pats his cheek. “You’re the prettiest one.”
“He kind of is,” I tell her.
Max stands behind Camryn as Maddie racks the balls. It looks as though she and Parker are going to play two of the other fighters.
“That’s Hudson, Jo’s brother,” Camryn says, pointing at a wiry fighter who looks like pure strength.
“Jo?”
“Colt McClure’s wife. Hudson’s wife Chloe will be here later.”
“And the other one?”
“Everyone calls him Hex.”
“Is that his fighter name?”
“Yes, and he won’t tell anyone his real one.” Camryn sips her Sprite and sighs as she rubs her round belly. “I’m wearing out already.”
“Can I do anything?” I ask.
“No, it’s just random exhaustion that hits unexpectedly. I’ll be all right.”
