Page 10 of About That Night

He can help me navigate the ropes of meeting men.

Josiah accidentally pokes me in the face with his plastic shark.

“Careful,” I tell him softly.

He giggles.

That’s how the thought of dating makes me feel—like I might get attacked by a shark.

But it’s time to jump into the water.

Chapter Three

Hank

The Swamp is as classy as it sounds. It’s a shack off of a rural road that’s off of another rural road, with the bayou in the backyard. If you don’t know it’s there, you don’t know, and that’s the way locals want it. There are no tourist dollars coming into The Swamp. It’s known as a service bar, staying open until six in the morning so restaurant workers, second shift workers, and night janitors can all come in and drink. Then it’s closed from six to seven, ostensibly to clean, but I think it’s more for the staff to nap or eat or do a shot.

I’ve come in here a few times recently because I’m looking for staff for my new restaurant. I’ve met a few prospects, but mostly it’s just been cool to reconnect with people. I’ve run into guys I went to high school with and old friends of my various siblings. Having six brothers and sisters means you know a lot of people by association, especially since our house was the hangout house.

There is always something of a crowd at The Swamp because there aren’t a lot of bars in town. It has a humid, sticky atmosphere, dark corners that I wouldn’t suggest taking a blacklight to, and graffiti on most of the thick timber walls. Tonight there are a dozen or more people milling around, mostly men. Some are clearly guys who go offshore then come back to town for a week at a time. During which they drink at this fine establishment.

My brother Conway bartends at The Swamp.

“Hey, what’s up?” he asks when I come in and take a seat on a rickety stool. “Didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”

“I ran into someone, and I invited her to meet me for a drink.” I pull my hooded sweatshirt off. It’s warmer than I was expecting, and the bar feels stuffy. “You remember Chastity DuBois?”

Chastity is actually closer in age to Conway than me. He’s only a year older than Faith and Chastity.

He pauses in the middle of washing a glass and eyes me. “Yeah. I remember her. Where’d you see her?”

I can’t tell from his tone if he has an opinion on Chastity or not. “She’s Pops’ nurse.”

Conway looks surprised. “She is? I didn’t even know she was back living in town. Last I heard, she went to live with her grandmother or something.”

That’s interesting. Normally, gossip runs faster than that. “Guess not. She has a son. Pops says he’s four.”

Conway finishes washing the glass and places it under the beer tap. “Didn’t know that either. Come to think of it, last I saw Chastity, she was coming out of your bedroom at first light in your high school football T-shirt. No bra. No pants.”

“You saw her?” I’m a little surprised. He’s never mentioned it. But then again, why would he? We never get in each other’s business when it comes to girls.

“Yep.” He sets the beer on a napkin in front of me. “Mom saw her too.”

That makes me grimace. “Of course she did. Mom sees everything. Good thing I’m an adult now and don’t have to answer to Jenny Young.”

Unlike my brothers, my mother has a lot of opinions about my dating and sex life. None of them good.

Conway laughs. “That’s what you think. You bring a woman around, and I can guarantee you’re going to get the third degree.”

“Who said anything about bringing a woman around? I’m not bringing someone home to meet the parents. I’m just having a drink with Chastity.” I shake my head. “You should know me better than that. I am not stupid enough to take a woman over there. Mama will be planning our wedding after ten minutes.”

“She’s probably already planning it. Bet you she knows you’re meeting Chastity.” He gives me a grin.

For a split second, I wonder if he could be right. Pops could have called or texted my mother. But then I realize I didn’t tell him I was meeting Chastity. “For a second there, I thought you might be right.” I laugh and shake my head. “That was a terrifying thought. I don’t need people knowing all my business.”

Conway snorts. “Then why’d you move back here? Everyone knows everything. You’re not in New Orleans anymore.”

It’s true. Hell, that’s half the reason I did move back here. To be around people who care about me. Sometimes caring comes with an opinion. Though maybe that’s not a bad thing.

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