Page 39 of Tangling Hearts

Chapter Twenty-Six

Brendan

Sunday Night, Le Barré: packed. Everywhere: my co-workers, friends, even people from the neighborhood. Patio: under construction and lookin’ pretty cool.

“Here we are again,” I say, as Mark and I walk in together and look around.

“Look at this place! This is a lot more than eighteen people.” He sends an approving sideways glance my way. “You’re fucking good at what you do. I gotta hand it to you.”

“Let’s get a drink.”

We make our way through the crowd, which takes longer than it normally would since we know so many people, and we have to stop and say hello. Mark sent out an email at his software company and he’s shaking hands and hugging people left and right. People from my agency are here, too. Mark jerks his head to the bar. I look over and see Annie throw me a smile as she, Laura, and Taryn rush around to get everyone served. Her eyes stay on me an extra second before she leans in to hear a customer’s order. I can see her lips moving with the words, Sorry. What did you want? The crowd waiting for drinks is four deep, easy.

Manny hurries by us, a bounce in his step as he carries a box of Bass Ale to the girls.

“Hey Brendan!”

“Hey Manny!”

Mark squeezes between people to get to the bar, but I stay back, not wanting to bump my ribcage. Taryn smiles and Laura waves at us when she sees us, neither coming to serve us because they know Annie would smack the back of their heads. I laugh to myself at the thought, glancing around to see who else I know. Bobby’s head bobs through the crowd.

“Mark, look who’s here!”

Mark turns and sees. “Well, well. Who’s working at Knockout?”

“Good question. Hey Bobby!” He goes to hug me but I hold up my hands. “Still healing. Great excuse not to touch you.”

He laughs. “Shut it. Hey, Mark!”

Mark reaches around me and fist-bumps him. “Who’s workin’ your bar, Bobby?”

“Ah, I’ve got some newbie on it. It’s Sunday. I get a night off, don’t I? I wanted to see how we did. Not bad, huh?” He looks around, whistles and shakes his head. “I should pay someone to come in and shoot me.”

“Your drinks are on me tonight, Bobby. Thanks for all your help.”

“Hey handsome! And you other guys.” Annie smiles, looking sexy as fuck with her hands on the counter and a black halter accentuating her cleavage.

“Now don’t call me handsome in front of Brendan, or he’ll kick my ass,” Mark says.

She cocks her head. “You wish it was you I was talking about!”

I call over the noise, “Annie, looks like you’re the busiest bar in town!”

She spreads her arms out, looking up to the heavens, then looks back to me. “I know, right?! It’s all because of you and that amazing man right there.” She points at Bobby and winks at him. “Thank you, Bobby!!”

“Hey, I sent out an email to my entire company,” Mark exclaims, feigning hurt. He turns his body and points in various directions. “I know that guy, and that guy, and that guy, and… we need to hire more women.”

“I should say so. What’re you men having?”

We all order and she nods while pulling out something from behind the bar. “Oh, Brendan, look at what was under the door today?” She holds up the menus I had delivered from my agency, complete with the new drinks. “I wonder who did this?”

I shrug, looking around. “I wonder.”

She cups her hands around her mouth. “Thank you!!!”

“You’re welcome, baby.”

Bobby practically leaps into the air, running away from us, yelling, “There’s a table on the patio emptying out!”

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