I pick the lesser of two evils when it comes to my shooting options and line it up. The ball bounces off the rail, not anywhere close to what I was trying to do. Standing up, I rest my hands on my stick and ask, “A blind elephant?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know, but I made my point.”
“You really didn’t. What you said makes no sense.”
“I speak the truth. Now, I heard she spent the night in your tent.”
I roll my eyes. “Camden or Charli?”
“Does it matter?” he asks, lining up his shot and easily sinking the thirteen.
“Yes. Camden I can pummel the next time I see him,” I say, watching as he moves into position for his next shot.
He chuckles before settling in and moving the stick with a fluid forward motion. “Make sure I’m there when you do. I’ll bring the popcorn.”
I flip him off and get comfortable, since he seems to be on a roll. We finish out the game, and even though it would be Oaklee’s turn to play the winner—Collin—we both set our sticks down on the table and head to the bar. My twin leads the way, clearly heading straight to his girlfriend behind the bar. Since he also works here, no one teases him about being back there. What they do tease him about is the kiss he plants on her lips in front of her customers and God.
“Gross! Lizzie, you just let any ol’ slob go back there and kiss you?” I belt out.
Collin doesn’t break stride on his kiss. He just lifts a finger, flipping me off. “I can’t believe you’re doing this in front of your customers,” I state.
They finally pull apart, and Lizzie looks a little shocked. Her eyes are glazed over and her mouth is hanging open. Something tells me, if they have it their way, she’ll need “help” with something in the storage room for about ten minutes and come back out looking awfully satisfied. I mean, that’s what I’d do if the woman I loved was giving me the fuck me eyes right here in the middle of her business.
Patrons be damned.
“I got this, if you need a few minutes alone,” I state, indicating behind the bar and causing her to blush.
Lizzie quickly spins around and retrieves a fresh beer for Burt, even though he didn’t order one. “We’re good, Cade, thanks.” She opens the can and sets it in front of the customer.
“All right, the offer stands. You two need a minute in the back, I’m your guy.” And because I’m an asshole to my twin, I point at him and add, “I’m aware this guy only needs a minute, tops. We did used to share a room in high school.”
Again, he flips me off, making the regulars laugh.
I walk over to where Oaklee is sitting at the bar and take the empty seat to her left. “How’re you doing?”
“Good,” she replies, taking a few pieces of popcorn from the bowl in front of her and popping them into her mouth. “This place is pretty great,” she adds, speaking of the bar.
“It is. She’s made a lot of positive changes since she bought it earlier this year, and in turn has seen an increase in customers.” As if to punctuate my point, the door opens and a group of five guys comes in and heads for the bar. I recognize them all immediately.
They take a table in the middle, chairs facing one of the TVs to watch the game. Blake, a guy two years older than me in school, comes up to the front to order two buckets of beers. “Hey, Cade. How ya doing?”
“Not too bad, Blake. Work going well?” I ask, even though I don’t care. The guy’s a douche.
“Going great. You out at Wyatt’s last night?”
“Yep,” I say, my hand on the back of Oaklee’s chair and my eyes on the TV.
I see his eyes on us in my peripheral vision, and I know he’s zeroed in on Oaklee. I can practically feel the wheels in his head spinning, trying to figure out who she is. It usually doesn’t take too long before the gossip gets around and any new person is identified. He’s probably heard about her, but if he’s smart, he’ll keep his mouth shut and move about his business.
“Hey, I’m Blake.”
Obviously, that’s not going to happen.
Oaklee turns and gives him a polite smile. “Oaklee Daniels.”
“Ahhh, the new nurse in town. I heard they had a pretty one working at the clinic,” he replies, giving her a big smile. I feel the pressure on my teeth as my jaw tightens. The last thing I want is this asshole hitting on Oaklee right in front of me. He’s liable to lose those pearly whites of his.
I’d gladly knock them out for him.
