Chapter 33
“Do you want another beer?” is the most ridiculous question I’ve ever been asked.
Iwalk into McGraw’s Pub with my hand in Grayson’s the following weekend but come to a complete and total stop when I see Wally’s hair. Or what’s left of Wally’s hair I guess I should say. Although he usually has a short military-type haircut, his hair is nearly shaven now and there’s a blue tint to it.
Wally points at me. “Not a word, kid. Not a word.”
I cough to hide my giggle. “I can’t wait to hear the story,” I murmur to Grayson who shakes his head at me.
“You are a menace.”
“Me? I didn’t dye his hair blue.”
“That was me,” Pops announces to the entire bar. His attention focuses on Wally. “You deserved it and you damn well know it.”
My eyes widen. What did Wally do? And why isn’t Pops telling everyone? Oh, is it a secret? I rub my hands together as the excitement to find out what happened builds.
“No.”
I blink up at Grayson. I kind of forgot he was there for a second. “What? No?”
He places his hands on my cheeks and leans in close. “No snooping around to find out what Wally did.”
I flutter my lashes. “Me? Snoop?”
He smirks. “Try your little miss innocent act with someone else. I ain’t buying.”
“Hey, Suzie,” Barney shouts. “What do you call a blonde who dyed her hair?”
“I don’t know, what?” Watch out! Lame joke approaching.
“Artificial intelligence.”
I giggle as I watch Sid’s face darken. He smacks Barney across the head. “Hey, fucker, I have blond hair.”
Barney bobs his head. “Exactly.” Sid smacks him upside the head again. He kind of deserved it.
The door behind us opens. “Hey! What’s the holdup?” Hailey says as she stands in the doorway right behind us. Her skin sports a dark tan, which stands out all the more since everyone else in Wisconsin is pasty white at this time of year.
I tackle her. “Welcome back!”
She cringes. “Can you not shout in my ear?”
I release her and step back. “Probably, but it doesn’t sound like much fun.”
I snatch her hand and skip to a booth while dragging her behind me. “Tell me all about your honeymoon. I want all the deets.” I wiggle my eyebrows. “All the dirty, sexy deets.”
Behind her, Grayson grumbles, “If this is going to be a girl talk evening, Aiden and I will be at a pool table.”
Aiden chuckles and slides into the booth next to his wife. “Don’t worry. Hailey knows better than to share our sex life with Suzie. Otherwise, I’ll tan her ass.”
“Maybe I like it when you tan my ass,” she sasses.
Pops grunts as he arrives at our table. “I don’t need to hear that shit.”
Hailey pushes Aiden until he’s forced to stand, and she rushes to her dad. “Pops!” He lifts her in his arms and twirls her around.
“Hey, Babycakes, how was your honeymoon?” He sets Hailey down and narrows his eyes on Aiden. “Did the kid treat you right?”