“They’re traveling. I sent them the invitation a while ago, but they haven’t mentioned it at all. I think they’re in Bermuda. I’m old. All the other students walking the stage are in their early twenties. Besides, it’s just an associate’s degree.”
“In financial management. That’s badass. You’ve worked so hard to get it done a semester early.” Harley leaned over the counter and cupped Tammy’s hands between her own. “Can I tell the Cold Foot Crew? Let us cheer you on. You should walk the stage.”
Tammy pursed her lips against a smile. She had ordered the cap and gown and signed up for it just in case. “I’ll think about it and let you know by tomorrow.”
“Atta girl.” Harley swung her gaze to Cash, who was messing around on his phone. “What are you doing?”
“Ordering balloons for Tammy’s graduation party. Do you like veins on your penises, or no veins?”
Harley snatched his phone out of his hand and stared at the screen with a horrified look on her face. “You don’t order graduation balloons from adult sites.”
“Why not?” Cash asked, looking truly baffled.
Harley handed his phone back and sighed, closing her eyes for a three count. “I’m going to take him to the table now. I promise we won’t order penis balloons for you.”
Harley grabbed her water and a beer for Katrina and left, and Cash grabbed his and King’s beers, but turned a couple of yards into his trek back to the table. “But if youhadto choose, veins or no veins—”
“Cash!” Harley snapped.
Tammy couldn’t stop her laugh over the vision of that atrocious delivery. Wreck would have a conniption.
She settled her giggling, and then made a drink for another customer, and then started laughing again, hung her head and closed her eyes at how mad Harley had been. God, she loved the Cold Foot Crew. She had no doubt if she said she was going to walk the stage for the small associate’s degree graduation ceremony, the Cold Foot Crew would be there, and that was such a cool feeling.
She was glad she moved here.
“Financial Management, huh?” someone asked from down the bar, and she startled when she realized who it was.
A set of gold eyes was staring right into her soul. Tawk.
The smile fell from her face, and the laughter died in her throat. “H-hi,” she said lamely. A frown took her. Why was she being weird? She was a professional at bartending. She could talk to anyone about anything.
She cleared her throat and lifted her chin higher as she approached his seat across the bar top. “Iced tea?”
“Ummm,” he looked over his shoulder at the Cold Foot Crew. Wreck was glaring at him. “Maybe something a little stronger.”
“I thought you didn’t drink.”
“Are you judging?”
“No, but if I’m about to mess up your sobriety, I just wanted to point out it’s not really worth it.”
A smile took his lips as he lowered his gaze to the cardboard coaster in front of him. “No, it’s not a sobriety thing. My animal doesn’t do so well when I drink.”
“Oh.” Tammy turned the coaster in front of him so the label faced him, just buying some time to think. “So, your dragon is an angry drunk.”
“No.” He cleared his throat and sat up straighter. “I’ll have whatever they’re having.”
“Happy Hooker?” she asked.
“That’s what their beers are called?”
With a snort, she nodded. “Yep. It’s locally brewed too.”
“Okay. Sure, I’ll drink a beer called Happy Hooker.” He muttered a curse under his breath and cast another look over his shoulder. “Why the hell not?”
She was pretty sure Wreck hadn’t even blinked.
“He doesn’t like you much,” she observed.
