And hopefully toward something more stable and far less dangerous.
* * *
When I pulled up to Tom’s Billiards, there was only one other car there—Tom himself, who sometimes opened the bar for the earlier customers. I had to remind myself frequently that the sound of a motorcycle engine or the sight of a bike parked outside of this particular bar was not a threat.
I got out of my car slowly—another welcome change compared to Brewskis, when I had to hurry to the safety of the other side of the bar—and stepped inside to see Tom watching a baseball game by himself.
“Ah, Jess!” he said. “You earned glowing reviews from your work on Sunday.”
“Why, thank you,” I said. “I didn’t think I did anything special.”
“And that’s precisely why you’re special and a valuable addition,” he said. “You think you’re not doing anything, and you’re still one of the most loved bartenders here. If that’s not the sign of a good hire, I don’t know what is.”
I gushed as I put my purse underneath the bar in a corner where no one could have even seen it, let alone tried to swipe it.
“We expecting anyone tonight?”
Tom shrugged.
“No more than usual,” Tom said. “So maybe a couple people here and there. I spoke to Cole; he said he would send people over whenever. But I don’t think there’s a group or a big party tonight.”
“Good enough...”
My voice trailed off when our first customer for the night entered.
It was Phoenix.
“Hi, Phoenix,” I said with a smile that was a little controlled due to the presence of Tom.
“Phoenix, eh?” Tom said with an old man laugh that indicated he had no idea how out of place he looked in comparison to the young, muscular man. “My name is Tom. But my last name is not Billiards.”
He laughed at his own joke as Phoenix shook his hand.
“Tom, thanks,” Phoenix said.
“I was just heading out of here, but I’m always happy to make conversation with a local.”
I tried my best not to show how annoyed I would have been by that. Fortunately, I must have let something slip, because Phoenix looked at me in a way that suggested he knew how I felt.
“Much as I appreciate that offer, Tom, I am just looking for a quiet place to have a drink and relax,” he said. “I would love to get to know you at some other point, but for tonight, I would just like to be able to have my drink in peace.”
“Fully understood. I suppose that’s better than having a drink in war.”
I don’t think Tom understood why neither of us found that as funny as he did.
“In any case, you two kids enjoy your night. Jess, contact me if you need anything.”
We both silently waited for Tom to leave. We both waited until we heard the sound of his car revving to life. Only then did Phoenix’s expression change from detached silence to bemusement.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man with such blatant dad jokes.”
“He must not have had a lot of customers before I got here, he was pretty chatty,” I said.
“No kidding,” Phoenix said.
“What can I get ya?” I asked.
Phoenix recoiled in exaggerated fashion.
