Tonight was the first night I had off from my rotating schedule in a while and I waited for Hunter and Damien to show up for moral support. If I was being truthful, Hunter would listen and give me a one liner of wisdom that I should, but wouldn’t follow. Damien would say something completely, off the cuff that made absolutely no sense sober, but later tonight when I was drunk it would be like the sun shining brightly during an eclipse. I hated how he was wise like Buddha until it punched me in the face later.
“You plan on having a long night Smokey Bear?” Remi Kennedy switched out my half-finished warm beer for a new ice cold one making me smile. I thanked Remi, who bounced away as her long ponytail of red curls followed. Andy looked up nodding at me as he continued to wipe down the opposite end of the bar. Obviously the new beer was his doing and I tipped the bottle in his direction.
It wasn’t my place to get into Andy and David’s business. Sometimes she’d practically sneak up on you with her stealthy rounds refilling your drinks before you even realized you’d finished it. I’m pretty sure her attention to customer service is what had Andy and David hiring her the moment she showed up for a job.
Remi was a pretty little college student who worked as a regular barmaid at Easton’s. Andy swore she was twenty-one but her timid demeanor and elfin green eyes made me question how much digging the brothers did into her pre-employment history and background. It didn’t help that her long bright red hair, freckles that stood out in the dark and twig thin frame attracted every guy in here. David growled and scared most of them off even though I was positive he hadn’t touched her either.
Remi just wasn’t the type of girl who drew my interest. Something about her screamed way to young checking off all the boxes. It didn’t help my current predicament that her age reminded me more of Lia who I was determined to push out of my mind.
“Sure I can’t scrounge up something from the kitchen for ya?” Her twang had me grinning and shaking my head.
“I’m just waiting for the guys.” I assured Remi by lifting the beer in her direction with thanks. She stood her ground and tsked at me.
“Really? Cause it looks like you’re drowning your sorrows there on an empty stomach.” On top of her smart mouth and keen observation, she boasted the softest southern accent I’d ever heard. Maybe the guys hired her for the novelty and I reminded myself their business wasn’t any of mine.
Let it go, Whit.
I laughed because she was right. “What are you doing working in a place like this, smarty pants.” She shrugged her shoulders letting her eyes half close over her mossy green orbs that saw way too much inside my head. Soft looks like that made her appear younger than her claim of twenty-one, and I wondered if she was even legal to serve alcohol. I figured Andy would know and if not then David could hack the information and I let it pass.
Remi wiped down the bar answering my question.
“Saving up to finish school. I can only take a few classes at a time.”
“You’ll get there, Remi.” And I knew she would. You could tell she was a smart and determined girl. I’d leave her nice a tip and hope it went toward book money for school and not the cheap wine girls usually drank at the campsites I would roll up on and write tickets for.
“Yeah, and in the meantime, I’ll be giving you free advice, hmm?” Her fingers tapped the bar making her point.
“Anytime Remington, besides I leave you good tips for anything you might say.” I winked drinking my beer.
“Quid pro quo.” Muttering she blushed walking away and I told myself if I was a good ten years younger I might have ignored the whole not my type argument and asked her out anyway.
“Of course,” I flashed her a naughty look and earned myself a grunt from Andy who continued to hang around watching the girl like a hawk.
He walked over to me as he spoke to her.
“Remi can you see if Agatha needs help in her section, sweetheart?” Andy waited until Remi left the bar area before leaning over the counter near me. “Don’t flirt with her Whit. We’ve been friends a long time and I’d hate to have to ask you to leave.”
“Aww come on, man.” I brushed him off like it was a big joke but my friend wasn’t kidding. Andy glared and I let that go too. Something was afoot in Easton’s and I was steering clear of that drama.
The door from the street opened up and together we observed the entire University football team roll in hooting and hollering like wild animals. So much for a beer in peace the old man trapped inside me groused. Remi rushed over to serve them and disappointment filled me hoping the girl knew what she was doing hanging out with that crowd. Particularly one douchey star quarterback who I noticed eye fucking her from across the room. I bet he’d leave crappy tips too.
Ryder West had his arm around a girl who didn’t look like Lia’s roommate Dinah. His eyes seemed to be sizing up Remi and I didn’t like it. I should have told her something like don’t let’em have the milk for free, but then I would actually sound like the old man taking up residence in my body. I scanned across the bar watching Andy toss his rag down watching the whole scene. He didn’t look particularly pleased either to see Remi scurry over there a tad too eager to take their orders.
“You planning to grow a man-gina over here?” Damien clapped me on the back hunkering down next to me at the bar.
“Only if you do first.” I said as he laughed good naturedly. Hunter followed in behind him, his ear plastered to his phone.
“What’s up with Hunt?” He gave us a gesture to say he needed a minute, but I had feeling he was about to disappear for much longer.
“Eh, ignore him. He’s got Taylor Jane on the brain. We mere mortals made of flesh and bone are no longer important compared to his lady love.” He flung his arms out dramatically and I pushed him back forcing him to sit down. Damien could wax poetic all night in his solo show, I had no desire to be a part of it as he waved at Remi. She nodded dropping off his favorite beer.
“Thanks Ginger.” He smiled at her and while we all knew how harmless Damien was, he was bound to get his ass kicked for flirting.
“Hey, that’s not her name fuck face.” Hunter the consummate protector gave Damien a less than brotherly thump on the back while Damien ignored him winking at our barmaid.
“See,” he took a swig of his beer motioning at me as if to say, ‘I told you so.’
I shrugged watching them.