Casey’s laughter skipped a beat.He didn’t have to glance at the clock.He knew what time it was because he’d practically lived at a bar for the last twenty years.
I was beginning to see the appeal.
He set the tumbler down and dropped the shot glass inside.“Careful now,” he warned.
I ignored his words and slammed the fruity combo of energy drink and cherry vodka.
He set a glass of seltzer down next to the empty glasses almost before I’d finished.His eyes lingered on my left hand.
Tall Bob, not big on details, peppered me with questions about Italy.Did you get to the Trevi Fountain?Did you see the Vatican?Where is the best pizza?
I could barely answer before he had four more questions lined up.Because of my sister’s little side trip, which included getting married, all the plans she’d helped me arrange were blown out of the water.
“I got to see Carnival in Venice.”Where I “dropped” my phone in the water.It truly had been knocked out of my hand when… damn that bastard… elbowed me to show me a landmark or some shit.It had been so smooth I’d thought it was an accident.But around he-who-must-not-be-named, nothing was an accident.
I’d never felt safer in my life.
A shiver worked up my spine and stabbed me between the shoulder blades.I shook it off, attributing it to the chilly March wind I fought all seven blocks of my sloppy trudge to get a drink.Or five drinks, if you didn’t count the seltzers Casey pushed at me between shots.
Everyone wanted a chance to welcome me home with a hug and a shot.I was swaying by eight o’clock.
“That’s all for her tonight.”Casey handed off the bar to Rosco, who unfortunately took one look at me and agreed with his old boss.When I bought the place, I took everyone with me.The first year sucked because I discovered not everyone enjoyed working here as much as I did.Rosco, Casey, and Kat stuck.And for that, they all were given raises and responsibilities.Then I found new employees who were young enough to deal with the bullshit, work hard, and build the dream.
“Walk with me, El.”Casey pulled me to the back booth, and I sobered, knowing he was going to ask the hard questions.
I poured myself into the wooden bench opposite him.“What’s up?”
He opened his mouth and tasted his words before speaking.“You ain’t wearing your ring.”
“Long-ass story.”My chest heaved, barely carrying the weight that dragged it right back down again.
“Yeah?I heard a rumor from an old friend.”
I braced myself for something awful.Casey’soldfriends wereallcops.If they weren’t, they were still friends.“What’s the scuttle?”
His eyebrow barely twitched.“Heard the FBI is sniffing around again.”
No.There wasn’t enough alcohol in the world to deal withthatagain.“We own the bar fair and square.You’re good.”
“I ain’t talking about the bar.I’m talking about you.”
Movement out of the corner of my eye had me checking the source.A man snagged my attention.I must be hallucinating because he moved just like… damn it.Whoever he was, he disappeared into the back hall where the bathrooms were.It couldn’t be that asshole.I left him in Sardinia.
The jukebox shifted to a sad song.
Since Casey only allowed Irish music on his nights, it had fife and pipes.The haunting whistles and screeches felt like heartbreak in a cold rain.My soul sang along as I tried to keep the warm wash of sorrow-soaked booze from taking over.
“I’m good, Casey.I haven’t done anything wrong, illegal, or immoral since…yesterday.”I laughed at my joke.
He didn’t.He shifted in his seat.“Apparently, you picked the wrong man.”
No shit.
“I pick a lot of wrong men.It’s a gift.”
His gaze didn’t leave my ring finger.“Is that why you’re here alone?”
“Casey.Don’t.”
