“Yeah, baby,” Connie chimes in, raising her margarita. She’s parked at the corner with her ever-present leopard print hoodie zipped halfway over a rhinestone-studded tank top. Her slippers are fluffy, pink, and criminally bold. JT lets her in regardless of what she’s wearing because she brings him cannabis-infused treats. “Give the people what they want! Some small-town PG content is all I’m asking for… or more if you’re willing.” She winks and tips her marg in my direction. It sloshes out, and I feel Will’s eyes home in on the mess.
I grab a rag and chuckle, trying to shake it off. “You all spend more time on my social page than I do.”
“You got the most exciting love life in this zip code,” someone calls out.
Will snorts. “That’s not saying much.”
“Hey, speak for yourself,” says a woman nursing a paloma. “I personally look forward to Sable appearances. She makes you tolerable.”
“Thanks, Jules,” I say dryly. “Glad she’s improving your experience.”
“She makes you smile. That’s worth tipping a little extra.”
Will raises a brow at me as he passes. “Sable coming in tonight? This place might riot.”
I dry my hands on a bar towel, still running hot under the surface. “I’m taking her out of town. Hill Country. Just for the weekend.”
Will glances up. “A getaway?”
“Something like that.” I flick my gaze toward the door. “She needs a break. From the bats.”
He nods, catching the meaning. “You too.”
“Yeah.” I pause, pressing my palms into the edge of the counter. “Even I’m getting tired of chasing them off.”
From down the bar, the same camo-hat regular pipes up again. “Bat problem? You know what you need for that? Shotgun. Buckshot spray. Ain’t gotta be a good shot if the spread’s wide enough. Those fuckers are fast.”
Will and I both stop and look at him.
He takes a sip of his whiskey, completely serious.
Will shakes his head. “You know… not the worst suggestion.”
I grunt. “We’ll call that Plan Z.”
Will chuckles and nods toward the register. “I’ve got the bar. Macy’s coming in at seven.”
“She ready for a Friday?”
“She’s got it. Cute, edgy, but sharp. Dreads, ink, piercings.” Will trails his eyes over our regulars. “She fits in. More importantly, she slings drinks clean, fast, and with zero drama. Doesn’t blink twice at a busy shift.”
I give him a look. “You trust her already?”
He shrugs. “I trained her myself. Girl knows her pour counts better than most of the guys we’ve had here for two years. Hustles harder too.”
I nod. “Good.”
Will slaps the towel on the counter. “Go. Relax. You look one bourbon away from making a mistake.”
“You’re not wrong.”
“Tell Sable the bar says hi.”
From a nearby table, one of the younger guys grins. “Yeah, when are we getting more posts of her anyway? She dropped off the grid or just hiding from us?”
Another voice chimes in. “She’s too hot for him, that’s why. He’s keeping her off the feed to maintain the illusion she still exists.”
The laughter rolls easy, and I shake my head, a reluctant smirk tugging at my mouth. “You all need hobbies.”
