“Trix, do we have to fucking go out tonight? I’ve been on two planes and around the world in the last twenty-four fucking hours I just want to watch the back of my fucking eyelids, not go to a bar,” I complain all while praying my sister doesn’t kill us as she races through traffic.
“Damn it, Troy! I haven’t seen you in, what, six years? I want to take you out and get something to eat and a few beers. Can’t you humor your baby sister and just go with it?” she sasses.
I can’t hide the indignation on my face at her words, “Did you just say, baby sister?”
“Yes! I am the sweet baby sister you want to make happy!” she says, and I am for the first time in fucking years, shocked for a moment.
“You aren’t my baby sister for fuck’s sake. You are only two minutes younger than me. The damn doctors swear you pushed me out of your way,” I say, slamming my foot on the floorboard of her car, trying to stop this speeding death trap.
“I need you to pull over and let me drive so we’ll make it to where we are going alive.”
“You hush! We are going to Donvan’s having dinner and some beers then we’ll go to my apartment and get some rest,” Trixie says, and I know by her tone she isn’t taking no for an answer.
We sit in silence for the rest of the ride. I take in how everything has changed since I left ten years ago as that seventeen-year-old kid. I’ve flown my sister to see me several times and we have spent time together, but I’ve never had any desire to come back. There was nothing but heartbreak and bad memories there. Turning on the street for Dovan’s I’m taken aback by the new houses that have popped up.
“Fuck, are there enough people in this town to feel these houses?” I ask her.
“If you had come around at some time, you’d know that this town is growing,” Trix says with a shrug.
“Whatever, brat.”
Trix laughs quietly as she slides into Donvan’s parking lot on two wheels, I swear. I climb out of the car taking in Donvan’s and how it’s not changed but still looks new. I’m not shocked at all to see that people are flowing out of the garage doors into the courtyard. Drinking and having a good time. I see several people we went to school with. Fuck I don’t want to do this. All I want is to get this shit over with and back to my unit.
“You know people would come and speak to you if you quit scowling.” Trixie says trying to copy me.
“I’m not scowling.”
“Yes, and my eyes aren’t brown.”
“You’re still a pain in the ass. Good to know some things never change,” I growl as I take a seat at the far end of the bar with my back to the wall.
I scan the room for all exits and people who could pose a threat to us. It doesn’t take long to clock the big guy in a suit, sitting in a booth in the opposite corner, doing exactly what I am. I know without a doubt that man brings trouble, it’s all in the way he holds himself and watches the room. Looking behind the bar I take in the two women.
Fuck, that ass isn’t like anything I’ve ever seen. The jeans hug it in a way I wonder if they are painted on. Her shirt is tastefully short, barely showing a strip of tan skin just begging for me to run my finger across it. My eyes make their way up her back to find blonde hair tied up into some fancy-ass knot on top of her head just asking for me to run my hands into it fisting it as I slam into her from behind.
“If you stare any harder at her you’ll burn holes into her back,” Trix says, snapping in front of my face.
“Fuck, is she new in town?” I ask Trix. I’m taken back when the beauty in front of me goes stiff.
“To be honest I don’t know when I'm looking at her back,” Trix says with a shrug.
She walks away never looking back and whispers to the other bartender who looks in my direction. She is a stunning woman in her own right, but right now though she doesn’t hold a candle to the woman walking away. The dark-haired bartender looks back and forth between us for a moment then her eyes go wide before smiling and nodding before coming our way.
“Good evening, y’all. My name is Khloi. What can I start you off with?” the waitress asks with a huge smile.
“Can we start with a round of beers and the hot boneless wings?” Trix orders.
“Do you want to start a tab?”
“Yes, please and keep them coming,” Trixie says smiling. “Big brother here just got home from the war.”
“Well thank you for your service. First-round is on the house. I’ll get your food entered and have your beers for you shortly,” Khloi says in a way that I can tell me being in the service means nothing to her.
“I wonder what her deal was?” I mutter to Trixie as I look around the room.
“Not happy because she didn’t fall all over you for being a soldier? Maybe it’ll be good for your ego.” She says laughing at her dig.
“You know you really are a pain in my ass.”
