Luckily, it was just my brothers.
Tech, Rico, and Slider came through the door, helmets in hand. Well, at least Tech and Rico did. Slider hardly ever wore his helmet unless we were going on a long ride.
The three of them strolled toward the bar but stopped in their tracks when they saw me.
“The fuck is this nigga doing?” Slider asked as he pointed at me.
Tech shook his head, and Rico just laughed. When they got close enough, we all did our signature handshake, and the three of them sat down.
A second later, Munch came from the back. The guys shared a look when they spotted her, before they all turned toward me, each one wearing a smirk.
“Um, hi,” Munch spoke to the guys.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“What’s going on, beautiful?”
“Hey, pretty lady.”
I wanted to punch all three of them in the face with their bullshit ass greetings. They thought they were being slick and trying to gauge my reaction.
Munch blushed, and I cut my eyes at her, but of course, she didn’t notice. Tech did, though. He was the closest one to me out of the three.
“Are you going to introduce us?” Slider said with an eyebrow raised.
“This is Tech, Rico, and Slider,” I told Raina as I pointed at each one.
“This is Raina. She’s going to be our permanent, full-time bartender.”
Raina looked at me when I said her real name instead of Munch, like she didn’t like me calling her that. I just winked at her and turned back to my boys.
I didn’t want to tell them who she was related to just yet, because I didn’t want to raise any suspicions, even though I still had them. They didn’t seem to remember her from the funeral.
“Welcome,” came from Tech.
Rico and Slider just nodded their heads in her direction.
She took their orders, then went to get their drinks. I grabbed a fresh straw, then walked around the bar.
“Don’t ask any questions. When there is something y’all need to know, you will,” I told them before Munch could return with their drinks.
They knew me well and knew I would tell them things when I was ready. The three of them hung out for a bit and helped to make sure everyone got out when it was closing time.
“You did good tonight,” I told Munch when it was just the two of us.
“Thanks. Can I ask you a question?” She tossed the dirty rag in the basket for laundry the next day, then leaned on the bar.
“Go for it.”
“Were you close with my brother?” A look of sadness crossed her face, and I felt bad for her.
I had a feeling she would ask questions about him at some point.
“Yeah. He was a good dude.” That was all I said and left it like that. I knew she had more questions, but she chose not to ask them.
“Yeah. I guess it’s time to go.” She pulled at the bottom of her shirt.
“It is. Let’s go get your bag, and I’ll see you out.”
