“I sure do, I have just the thing for you. It’s called the Ink special. I’ll whip it up real quick. Bear, I know you want a beer.” He spun around, searching for his tools.
“You got it.” I chuckled at him and looked down at Delphia. “So far, so good right?”
“It’s pretty cool here.” She watched Ink shake up the ingredients in a silver canister and pour the turquoise beverage into a cocktail glass with a cherry on a stick.
He taste-tested it first, drawing his lips together on a separate straw then he took it out of her drink. He popped another straw in then handed it to her. “Ooo wee, my best one yet. Get your lips around that straw, girl.” Ink knew how to put on a show which is why a lot of the patrons came to Wheelz…for his entertainment, the camaraderie, and relaxation.
Delphia sipped the drink and her eyes grew wide. “Wow! That’s fruity, but it has some kick to it. I like this. The Ink special. Thanks!”
“He’s good with a drink huh?” There was this simmering attraction between us and holding it back was becoming more difficult every time I saw her. Watching her drink triggered the memory of the car accident with Murphy and I had to look away from her for a minute and tell myself it wasn’t her. I should have listened that night. I should have just listened to her. I wouldn’t make the same mistake I would listen to Delphia. Peer pressure got the best of me back then. I swallowed down the hard lump in my throat and smiled at her the best I could.
“He is. I don’t think I can have too many of these though. They would knock me around too much,” Delphia added.
“I agree, I don’t wanna have to scrape you up off the floor or anything,” I told her with a slight smile.
“No, I don’t want you doing that either, so embarrassing.” Her eyes flickered to the pool table. Ready for that pool game now?”
Luckily, her sparkle was enough to hotwire me back to life. “Sure am. You grab your weapon and I’ll grab mine,” I winked.
As we walked over to the pool racks, Harper greeted us. She looked nice with her lips glossed and a thin layer of makeup. Sometimes she MC’ed the pool games for Chalk, and I assumed she was here to do that. Jaz was beside her as well, which was unusual. Normally, she was at the casino or busy doing other things.
I opened my arms to both of them with kisses on their cheeks. “Hey ladies, it’s awesome you’re both here. I got a friend of mine I want you to meet.”
Harper and Jaz focused on Delphia, happily sipping her Ink special.
Jaz pointed to it. “Now those drinks are lethal right there. You gotta be careful with them.”
Delphia laughed with such sweetness and light it was hard not to be entranced by her energy. “I can feel it already. It’s affecting my legs. I’m hoping it helps me beat Bear in pool.”
Jaz grinned at her as she handed her the chalk.
Delphia took it.
I could see they were both going to be fast friends. “You two; don’t even think about ganging up on me. That’s not allowed, Jaz.” I pointed to her playfully. “Especially you.”
“Ah, come on. A little bit of spice never hurt anybody,” Jaz countered.
“No, you’re the whole spice cabinet Jaz. Please,” Harper interjected as she tested the microphone, tapping the top of it.
“Oh my god, the reputation I must have built here. I don’t have any idea where this is coming from?” Jaz pretended to be dumbfounded at the claims.
Delphia chuckled as she chalked up then passed the chalk to me.
Harper came clean with the goods, “Jaz is a former card shark and now, she’s one of the head dealers at the Red Stone Casino. She knows how to run a game or two,” Harper warned playfully.
Delphia looked even more enamored with Jaz than before. “Wow! That is cool. I just work at the gas station where people come in and pay for their gas.”
“Hey, that’s a necessity. Keep going,” Jaz said as she winked at us both. “I’m gonna go see my man at the bar. Nice to meet you, Delphia, maybe we can catch up the next time you’re down here. Bear, don’t tank too hard.” She smiled then moved away.
Harper giggled. “Same old Jaz. She’s a good one. Hey, I gotta keep Chalk outta trouble here.” She took Delphia’s free hand warmly. “Nice to meet you. Have fun with Bear. You’re in good hands.” She tapped me on the back as she walked away.
Delphia seemed to have completely lost all the tension she had when she first walked in the door. “Your crew is so nice,” she marveled.
“I told you they were good people. Ready?” I waved my pool stick at her.
“Yup.”
I set up the table and the balls and let her break.