Page 32 of Pictures in Blue
“He’s such a suck up,” Sky’s voice comes from beside me. I look at her and she is staring at Jacob and the older couple.
He flashes them a bright smile as he continues talking, only stopping briefly when the bartender comes by to take his order. Once the drinks are set on the bar in front of him, he hugs the woman again before gathering the glasses and heading back toward our table.
“Suck up,” Sky repeats to Jacob as he sets the beers down in front of us.
Jacob gives her a sly smile. “You’re only mad because they like me more than you.”
She rolls her eyes and punches him lightly on the bicep and he dramatically puts a hand to his chest. “You’ve wounded me,” he proclaims.
“Oh, please. Go back over to Isabelle if you want positive energy.”
“Hey, your mother would love to hang out with me all night. It’ll keep her entertained while George tries and fails to finish his crossword.”
Shaking her head, Sky takes a gulp of beer before leveling her eyes with his and I am pretty sure she forgets I am standing next to her. The air charges as they continue their staredown and I am officially uncomfortable.
“Ignore them,” says the woman I’m assuming is Sophie. “They’re desperately in love and neither of them are willing to admit it.” She ignores the penetrating stare from Sky and reaches out her hand to me. “I’m Sophie by the way.”
My hand mirrors her, and we grasp hands. I am starting to turn around to leave them to whatever the hell this is when a figure starts walking toward the table. His sandy hair combed neatly to the side, some strands coming loose from whatever product he used to hold it in place. He runs a hand through it and the short strands stay up after he lets go. He’s wearing blue jeans, dark brown work boots and a bright blue sweater Charlotte would die for.
“I was wondering if you were going to show up, brother,” Sky says as he approaches the table.
He nudges her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders in a brotherly fashion. “You think I’d miss the town newbie being bombarded by everyone? I came to help fend off the beasts.”
He tilts his head my way and reaches out a muscular arm. “I’m Elias. The honorary brother,” he says with no other explanation.
I take his hand and give him a warm smile. “Avery.”
“Yeah, I know. Hudson won’t shut up about you—oof.” Sky’s elbow is so quick, I almost miss it and would have if Elias hadn’t reacted. She jabbed him in the ribs hard from the look of his wince and the way he is now rubbing his side. “What?” He asks, innocently. “It’s the truth.”
Sky just shrugs and jumps back into our conversation. “We were just talking about my lovely, sickeningly sweet parents.”
“Hah, yeah, can’t relate to that,” he scoffs.
“Me either,” I say, my mouth moving faster than my brain.
He nods in response before leaving the table to go to the bar. So much for polite conversation, I guess.
Jacob and Sky are now talking about a few new animals that have come into the shelter in the past week, so I take the moment to look around the bar.
“Alright,” I hear from behind me and Elias is back with two tall glasses of beer with an inch or so of foam on top. I raise my eyebrows in question, glancing at my half empty glass in front of me. “I figured we needed another round of drinks for this conversation,” he explains.
I laugh and take the glass from his left hand. I raise it and clink it against his in cheers before bringing it to my lips and taking two big gulps. If we were going to talk about shitty parents, I’d need more than just a few casual sips. The taste of the beer lingers on my tongue and I can see Elias watching me. The beer has a fruity element to it that is nothing like I’ve tasted before.
The surprise must show on my face because Elias starts explaining. “It’s Frank’s own concoction. He doesn’t tell anyone what’s actually in it, but we all know it’s some kind of fruit. No one has figured it out yet though.”
“He makes his own beer?”
“Oh yeah, it became a big hobby of his about two years ago and this is the beer he’s adjusted the most until he perfected it a few months ago.”
I take another swig and savor the fruity taste, trying to figure out what it is. “Damn.”
Elias laughs and raises his own glass to his lips. “Told you. We can’t figure it out either.”
He sets his glass down with aclunkand places his forearms on the table, leaning forward. His watch glints in the lights as he adjusts the black watch band. “So, shitty parents?” He asks.
Okay, jumping right in. “Shitty mom, really.” I sigh and debate on telling him more. Before I make a choice though, he continues, making it for me.
“I’ve had my fair share of that.”
