“Bingo.” Otis trotted over to me with his leash in his mouth. “Guess it’s walk time.”
Shaw started to walk back over to our storage area. “I’ll get this all fixed up. Is his cell number written down on your desk?”
“You’re the best, and of course it is. Once we’re done, let’s get the heck out of here. It’s been a long-ass day and I need a beer.”
“Now you’re talking!”
Chapter 4
Olive
Bellyingup to our usual barstools in Got the Shaft felt all too right. The best part about the pool hall—other than dollar PBR night—was that they let me bring Otis.
“Well, well, well, look what the cat brought in—a couple of grease monkeys.” Rhonda hurried out from behind the bar to wrap her arms around Shaw and me at the same time.
“Work’s been crazy.” Shaw huffed, taking off his coat.
“That’s no excuse to not come in and see me every once in a while.” Rhonda put my Jack and cream soda in front of me with a bowl of water for Otis.
“It feels good to be back in here.” I smiled at her before taking a sip of my sweet drink. Rhonda had worked at that bar since before I was old enough to even step foot in there. My father used to sneak me in after late nights of restoring old cars so I could watch him play pool. Some of my favorite memories were of sitting in the back corner, drinking cream soda floats while my father ran the tables all night.
“Liv! Sweetie! Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” Rhonda beamed down at me.
I ran up to hug her. She scooped me up and spun me around.
“Hey Rhonda.” My father took a seat at the bar. “How’s it going?”
Setting me down on the chair next to my father, Rhonda made her way back to her post behind the bar. “Same ol’ stuff, different day. The usual?”
“Jack on the rocks, love, and a Jack and cream soda for this little lady.”
“Dad! I’m only seven!” I exclaimed, giggling. I thought he was the funniest man on the planet.
He grabbed my hand. “Oh, that’s right. Little girls don’t drink that nasty stuff. Hold the Jack, add ice cream.”
My dessert was delivered promptly, topped with whipped cream and two cherries. I was on cloud nine.
“How’s the girlfriend?” Rhonda asked my dad as I attempted to tie a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue.
“Not a girlfriend anymore.” My dad tried his best to tame the smile that was struggling to spread like wildfire across his scruffy face.
“Oh yeah?” Rhonda perked up a bit.
“I popped the question a few nights ago.” The excitement that laced my father’s declaration snuffed Rhonda’s out in a second.
I jumped a little in my seat. “We’re going to be a real family!” I shouted. I was so elated to have a stepmom. Even though I loved my dad to death, having a woman around the house was nice, and she made my dad so happy.
Rhonda’s features softened as she glanced between my dad and me. “That is so wonderful. Hilary is a lucky woman.”
“Ready to showthese boys that a girl can hustle them?” Shaw asked, handing me a large shot of Fireball.
“You know it!” I slammed back the chilled liquid and walked over to an empty table.
We knew hustling pool wasn’t the most moral thing in the world, but whenever we found unsuspecting shmucks to work over, Shaw and I pulled in some extra cash.
“Rack ’em up, woman,” he called over to me while he eyed the racks for good sticks.
Shaw came back over to me, scoping out the twosome that was finishing a game next to us. He leaned back as the better looking of the two men bent over the table to line up a shot.
