Page 34 of So Much More
Ash tells him where our girlfriends are as a fresh beer appears in front of me.
“Thanks, Tammy,” I say to our waitress. “How do you always know exactly what I need, exactly when I need it?”
“I’m finely attuned to your needs at all times, Randall Hamilton. And my tip better reflect that,” she teases with a wink.
“Eh, we’ll have to see if you keep up the excellent work,” I tease right back. She knows I’ll tip at least thirty percent, like I always do. “Where were you when we got here?” I ask. “Some guy we don’t know took our order.”
“Kitchen emergency. You don’t want to know.” She cocks her head at Bobby. “Who’s your friend?” Tammy gives him the once-over, but she doesn’t seem interested, even though Bobby’s an attractive man. Maybe she thinks he’s too old. I’m not sure how old he is, but I’d guess late thirties, and Tammy can’t be much older than twenty.
“Tammy, this is Bobby Jacobs,” I say. “Bobby, Tammy.”
“Nice to meet you, Tammy.” Bobby shakes her hand. “Have you worked here long?”
“A couple years. I go to school during the day and serve these two ugly blockheads at night and on the weekends.”
“Hey!” I protest. “You know I’m the most handsome man you’ve ever seen.”
“Whatever you want to tell yourself.” She winks again and heads off to check on another table.
“Look at you being nice to a woman,” Ash says to Bobby. “I knew you could do it.”
Bobby ignores him and points at me. “You have a girlfriend now, young man. Stop flirting with the waitress.”
“I wasn’t flirting! We’re friends.”
“That was definitely flirting.” He nudges my brother. “Ash, back me up.”
“Yep,” the traitor confirms, “you were flirting. I didn’t notice, because you always flirt with her, but Bobby’s right. You need to stop now that you’re with Wendy.”
I flick my wrist. “Tammy knows I’m not serious.”
“Does she?” Bobby asks. “Because it seems like she’s into you.”
“It’s nothing,” I say. “She’s like that with everybody.”
“Whatever you want to tell yourself,” Bobby says, echoing Tammy’s words with more than a little sarcasm. “She didn’t give me a second glance, and I’m pretty sure I’m better looking than you are.”
“You’re definitely not.” He maybe is. “And you’re old enough to be her father.” I take an extra-long sip of my beer.
Ash gives me a sharp look. “You’re drinking faster than normal, and there’s been something off about you all night. What’s going on?”
I take another big gulp and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand before responding. “Dad called.”
“What? When?”
“Right after I got home from work. Before you got home.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to ruin your night.”
Ash takes a deep breath, holding in whatever he was going to say. Finally, he asks, “What did he say?”
I stare into my beer. “Basically that I’m a loser and he never expected me to amount to anything, and he reminded me that he has forbidden us to see or talk to our sisters and Mom.”
My brother curses.
“I thought you were trying to clean up your language,” I say.
