Page 4 of The Bad Brother
One year, nine months, and twenty-six days if we want to get technical.
“Okay.” Lifting her whiskey shots, two at a time, I set them on her tray before folding my arms across my chest. “Conversation’s over.”
“Will you just think about it,” she asks while picking up her tray. “I think you’d really like her.”
Heris the older sister of a friend of hers that she’s been badgering me about for weeks now. She wants to set me upon a blind date with her which is equal parts humiliating and terrifying.
“Sure.” Even though I’m not even slightly interested and have no intention ofthinking aboutanything, I nod. “As long as you don’t bring it up for the rest of the night.”
River flashes me a wide grin. “Deal.”
“Anything else you’d like to harass me about?” I ask with a scowl that would scare anyone but her. She knows it’s an act. I couldn’t be mad at River if I tried.
That grin of hers brightens. “Can we talk about the loft?” My scowl deepens to a snarl. “No.”
Instead of retreating, River gives me an exasperated sigh. “It’s just sitting up there—empty.”
Looking away from her, I pick up a pint and fill it with ice, just to give myself something to do. “So?”
“Jesus.” She huffs it at me likeI’mthe trial in this conversation. “You’re surprisingly stupid about money for a successful business owner, you know?”
“I own a dive bar, Riv,” I remind her with a head shake. “I wouldn’t exactly call myselfsuccessful.”
“And dense.” She rolls her big hazel eyes. “Denseandstupid.”
Slamming my pint glass full of ice down on the bar, I use the mixer gun to fill it with club soda. “If it really bothers you that much, why don’tyoumove into it?”
She wrinkles her nose at me like I just suggested she sleep in a refrigerator box, down by the river. “OrI can find someone to move into it for you.”
“Great. Fine.” Giving up because I know she won’t, I fish a lime wedge from the garnish box and squeeze it into my drink. “You do that.”
“I will.” She gives me a little head bob that sends her ponytail bouncing before she spins away to deliver her drinks.
Shit.
“Riv.” I practically shout it at her back but she either legitimately can’t hear me over the crowded bar or she’s ignoring me because after months of badgering, she’s finally managed to wear me down.
Without River and her relentless pestering to focus on, the barely controlled chaos of the bar suddenly closes in on me. Loud music from the better of the two local bands, here in Barrett. Men shouting. Women laughing. The back door slamming behind someone who’s probably going to puke all over the side of my building. Pool balls clacking.
Looking up, I focus on the bank of pool tables on the other side of the bar. I watch while a couple ofcreekersstrut around one of the pool tables like they own the place, swilling beer and making a general nuisance of themselves.
There it is.
Exactly what I need.
Wiping my hands on the bar towel slung over my shoulder before I toss it in the bin, I shoot a look down the length of the bar at Cade, one of the other two bartenders on duty. “I’m taking thirty,” I shout at him above the din.
Because he’s probably the closest thing I have to a best friend and knows me almost as well as River does, Cade laughs. “You know it’s bad form to hustle pool in your own bar, right?” he shouts back while popping the caps on a couple of longnecks. Passing them over the bar to a couple of starry-eyed women who barely look old enough to drink, he gives them a smile that nearly lays the pair of them outflat. Whether they know it or not, that’s about as much as they’re going to get out of him. While he’s not above flirting for tips, Cade is even more out of the game than I am. His entire focus is on raising his son, Gunner, and staying out of trouble. No easy task when you’re your family’s black sheep, the town pariah,anda convicted felon.
Cade and I have a lot in common.
“Don’t worry, Dad,” I say while I work my way out from behind the bar. “I won’t take their money.”
I don’t need their money. Don’t even want it.
I just want to embarrass them a little bit.
“Whatever you say, cousin.” Cade flashes me a smirk before he gets back to work.
