Page 68 of Chasing Fireflies

“About fifty minutes. You guys are late for the party.”

“You know girls, man. They take forever,” he says, chucking his beer down. “You can go ahead and start me a tab, Banner.”

“Will do,” the bar owner says, placing Ben another bottle down. His girl walks out of the restroom and over to us.

“Boys, this is Shelby.”

“Shelby, this is Mark, You’ve met Cash and the chief and his wife Anne.”

“Hey,” she says quietly with a small smile.

I nod, and Mark speaks, “What are you doing hanging out with this kid?” He grins.

“You aren’t that much older than me,” Ben says.

“Boy, I’m a good ten years older than you.”

“No way. I didn’t think you were that old.”

“Hey, don’t be calling me old now,” Mark says, taking a sip of his beer. I grin, and Ben smiles down at Shelby. Maci walks out of the restroom, casting her eyes at me. I give a small wave, but then realize she isn’t looking at me. I turn around and see she is looking at Banner. I look back at her as she heads over to the girls. Wonder what’s up with that? I take a sip of my beer and look over at the chief. He’s been nursing his for almost a whole hour, and that’s not like him.

“You feeling okay, boss?” I ask.

“Yeah, just a little indigestion, is all,” he answers, rubbing his chest.

“He’s got bad acid reflux,” Anne says. “He ran out of his prescription this morning, and the doctor is closed. His arthritis is also acting up.”

“Now don’t be telling them all my problems, Anne.”

“I will because he asked,” she says, taking a sip of her drink.

I chuckle. “You getting too old for the party scene, chief?”

“Son, I’ve been too old for it. I wish that damn clock would hurry up so I can get my ass to bed.”

“Don’t rush time, Drew. It already goes by too quickly,” Anne says.

*

“You line it up with the ball, baby. Just like this,” I say. Holding my wife from behind, I guide her pool stick, aiming it right where she needs to hit. “If you hit that spot right there, it’ll go in that pocket,” I say, pointing to the left corner.

“Okay,” she says, smiling back at me. She pulls the stick back slightly and nails the cue ball, hitting the solid right where I told her. The ball spins and goes into the left corner pocket. She squeals and wraps her arms around my neck. “I did it, Cash.”

“Yep,” I say as she pulls back. “I’m grabbing a beer. Want one?”

“Please. I’m going to go sit with the girls for a bit.”

I nod as I walk off to the bar.

*

Sara

Grabbing the party hat off the table, I place it onto my head and slide the thin band under my chin as I scoot in beside Maci. “So, what’s up with those googly eyes at Banner lately?” I finally call my friend out as I wiggle my brows.

She laughs.

“Yeah, I noticed that, too,” Leigh says, grabbing an olive from her fancy martini she had Banner make for her.

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