I made my way past the restaurant and snuck into the bar. While the Watering Hole was busier than I’d ever seen it on a Sunday, it thankfully wasn’t as crazy as the restaurant.
I walked into the leather-and-wood-paneled space and was immediately swamped with memories of meeting here with Mr. Paige and the Lost Boys. Tommy spotted me as I walked in and waved me over.
Unsurprisingly, someone was sitting on the stool that Mr. Paige had bequeathed to me. Not wanting to make an issue of it, I headed for a different stool, but Tommy stopped me. He tapped the bar in front of the overwaxed gym bro in my spot and told him to move. When the guy started to complain, Tommy raised his brow, and… Huh. I didn’t think I’d ever seen Tommy’sno fucks left to giveface. It was effective. The guy grumbled, but he picked up his basket of fried food and his mimosa and moved a couple of seats down.
“Major, been a while,” Tommy said, wiping down the bar in front of me. “How are you doing?”
“I’m all right,” I said, starting off with a small bit of fiction. “What’s good today?”
“We’ve got some fancy Bloody Marys on special, along with Joel’s new cider. I do hafta put a food order in with your drink order, though.”
I chuckled. “Texas alcohol laws oughta be studied.”
“You know it.”
It was good to see Tommy thriving. He now managed the Watering Hole and was responsible for the new brunch offerings.
“I’ll take the fully loaded tater tots, then,” I said, “and add two fried eggs.”
When Joel and Ozzie had taken over the space next door for Kiyana’s, they’d connected the two spaces through a door by the office, which came in handy. They had someone in their kitchen who handled the bar’s brunch offerings that went beyond the usual fries and nachos, and they’d bring the dishes over when they were done.
It worked better than anyone had thought it would.
“You’ve got it,” Tommy said, punching the order in the system. A few moments later, he carefully set down a ridiculous Bloody Mary adorned with a bouquet of skewered bacon, olives, and lime wedges.
“Seriously, Tommy?” I asked, marveling at the spiky drink.
He grinned. “Only for brunch.”
I chuckled and freed an olive from its skewer. As I popped it into my mouth, someone slid onto the barstool next to me.
“Hey, Major,” Ozzie said, Walker at his side. “Joel’s cider not good enough for ya?”
“Hey, friends,” I said, rising quickly to pull them into a hug. “And no. I was planning on making my way through all of your drink specials today, but I hadn’t accounted for the fancy brunch version.”
I wasn’t sure I’d meant to say all of that.
“You okay, buddy?”
“Sure,” I lied, smoothing my expression.
He wrinkled his nose. “I don’t believe you. Your energy’s all wrong. You’re usually peaceful, but today you look like you’d punch someone for saying the wrong thing.”
I stalled by taking a drink… and nearly poked my eye out with a bacon skewer. Oz raised his brow as he grabbed a napkin.
“Let me try that again,” he said, unfolding the napkin and then setting the skewers on it in a neat line. “How’re you doing, buddy?”
I took another drink, grateful for the strong mix. Setting down the heavy glass, I finally answered. “I had a shitty morning. Figured I’d get a couple of drinks and some brunch in me and try to feel a little better about it.”
“Business going okay?” Ozzie asked as Walker gave Tommy their drink orders. “Are you getting any renovation projects?”
I nodded. “That contractor who worked with you on Kiyana’s? He and I collaborate on the renovations, and he’s been great. He’s even showing Leo some of the ropes.”
He tilted his head. “Then why do you look like your dog died?”
I loved Ozzie like a brother, and I knew he wouldn’t stop until I gave him a real answer.
“Got my heart broken,” I admitted.
