“Fuck off, Josh.”
He sighed as he went back out to the bay. He was such an old man.
When he was done for the day, he went home and showered. He put on a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, his preferred clothing day in and day out, and headed down the stairs to his Harley. He was happy with the choice he’d made to trade his truck. He’d liked the damn thing, and he needed room when Reagan was at home, but when it was just him it made more sense to have something more cost efficient. His payments were lower, and he spent much less on gas. Not to mention, it was fun to ride.
His favorite thing about it was the neighbor that drove a lowrider with too many racing stripes and an aftermarket spoiler. His alarm was entirely too sensitive, and he parked next to the Harley more days than not. Grant drew inexplicable pleasure from setting off the car alarm each time he started up his bike. He rumbled slowly out of the parking lot, grinning at the cacophony he’d created.
The three friends found O’Riordan’s once upon a time because it sat in the middle of their different apartment complexes. None of them had to go too far to meet up, which Grant admitted was at the top of his list of excuses when he turned them down. Brent and Josh knew that the key to getting Grant to join them was to go close to his home. Grant saw that neither of them was there, judging by the lack of their vehicles in the lot. He parked and went in, scoring a booth near the pool tables.
He ordered a beer and nursed it when it came. He rarely had more than two, and never more than that when he drove himself. He sat back, propping his arm on the back of the booth, and scanned the room. There were some regulars that he recognized by face if not by name, a few women he’d not seen in there before, and a handful of men at the bar drowning their sorrows. He watched the door, waiting for his friends to appear. What he saw instead was Alex come in and look around. She went to the bar, which meant she hadn’t seen him, and sat at the end. She ordered something and a guy immediately went up to her, but she shook her head. Her hair was pulled up but still met the middle of her back. She was wearing painted on jeans and a bright red top, and he wanted nothing more than to go over and let her know he was there.
Draining the rest of his beer, he got up and sauntered over. Her back was to him, and he took great pleasure in being the one to surprise her for a change.
“Can I buy you a drink?”
“No, thanks.”
“Are you sure about that? You didn’t even turn around.”
Alex spun, saw Grant, and her red lips curved up in a satisfied smile. “Oh, I’ve definitely changed my mind.”
