Page 45 of In Spades

“Great to see you again, Will,” Bridget said from behind the bar, greeting me with a smile as I stepped through the front door into Jokers. She quickly unloaded a crate of glasses, preparing for the five o’clock drinking crowd. “You want your usual?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, sliding onto a barstool. After a few more hours of work in my room, I craved a cold beer and a burger.

Jokers was my kind of bar. They kept it lowkey. No airs about fanciness and what not. No pretentious drink list telling me that an IPA tasted like a damn sunset with hints of tree bark. None of that shit. Just great beer, solid food, and friendly people.

I fired off a text to Kristin while I waited for my order.

Will

How was the rest of your day?

Kristin

Same old, same old. Did you finish your project?

I chuckled and shook my head. This girl…

Kristin always looked ready to spill her guts, despite being as tight-lipped as a CIA operative. She had the art of the non-answer down to a science.

She would do well in politics. Her ability to skirt around questions bordered on impressive.

Will

Let me rephrase that: tell me about your day.

Kristin

Fine. Only if you tell me what your project is.

Will

You drive a hard bargain.

Kristin

I’ve been told I’m quite the negotiator.

“Alright, lover boy,” Bridget sing-songed as she slid a juicy burger and mountain of fries my way. “How’s our little Kristin doing?”

I choked on my saliva and reached for the beer that Bridget held just out of reach.

She didn’t even flinch. Instead, she just stood there smirking like a smart ass.

“You spooked her, didn’t you?” she asked.

“Spooked who?” Mile-long blonde hair sat on the seat beside me. Maddie gave Bridget a conspiratorial grin before turning to me. “Hey, Will.”

Bridget gestured toward me as she slid me the beer. “He spooked Kristin, and now she’s playing hard to get.”

“Yep,” Maddie said, nodding. “That sounds like her. What are we going to do about it?”

What was happening? Were these women mind readers?

Hannah Jane dropped her handbag on top of the bar beside Maddie. “Oh good, y’all are here.”

“Sister wife!” Maddie exclaimed, throwing her arms around Hannah. “Wanna stay over tonight? I’m lonely.”

Hannah Jane groaned and plopped down. “Yes. I swear—if the boys don’t stop with these damn business trips, I’m gonna lose my fucking mind.”

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