Page 101 of Texas Hold Em'
I wondered if they would return, or if seeing us here on opening night had put a sour taste in their mouths so wretched, they would never set foot in the Well again.
In front of the fireplace, Jackson and the rest of the Devil’s Luck lounged comfortably on leather-bound chairs with arm rests and high backrests. They looked like the sort of thing that would have surrounded King Arthur’s round table, and for some reason they looked like they belonged right here in the middle of the Well. As we approached, Jackson lifted a beer to his lips and saw us coming over the rim of his glass.
He set it down hard, stood up, and greeted Brody by clasping his forearm, pulling him in, and clapping him hard on the back. He did the same to me seconds later.
“Not bad, huh?” Jackson asked, turning and holding his arms open, gesturing at the bar. “Everything came together better than I thought. Sam has a better eye for this decorating shit than I realized.”
Suzie, who sat under Mason’s arm at the table, rolled her eyes. “Told you so.”
He hushed her over his shoulder before inviting us to sit. Two pitchers of beer sat in the middle of the table beside a low-burning candle, which I realized as I sat down was battery operated. Sam was no doubt wary of having any open flames from here on out, and for good reason.
Knox poured Brody and me a beer and slid our glasses to us.
While I savored the delicious foam at the top of my glass, Brody gave me a cautionary stare.
“Live a little, Chips,” I said, using his club name. “One little beer won’t push me off the deep end.”
Mason made an uneasy sound in the back of his throat. Sitting across from me, he leaned against the high back of his chair and drummed his fingers on the table. “One is where it starts. Tonight is important to Sam. Let’s not forget that.”
Suzie, sitting on Mason’s right side, nodded resolutely. “Absolutely. She’s got a lot on the line tonight. Her regular customers are important to her and if one of you throttle-happy bruisers ruins this for her?” She smirked as she looked around the table at us. “Well, you’ll have me to answer to.”
Jackson rolled his eyes.
Luckily for him, Suzie didn’t notice.
I was about to defend my honor when Sam popped up at our table with a fresh pitcher of beer in one hand and a giddy grin on her face. She damn-near vibrated with enthusiasm as she set the pitcher down. “Good turn out, don’t you think? I can’t believe how many people came. I really wasn’t sure if they’d show. I mean, I know we handed out hundreds upon hundreds of flyers, and the half-priced drinks sure helped, but look around… they weren’t too scared to come here.”
Jackson stood up and kissed her cheek. “I told you it would go well.”
“They’re a bunch of fools,” I said. “They still think we’re the bad guys, Sam. No matter which way you spin it. You should’ve seen the looks Brody and I got when we came in the front door.”
Sam planted her fists on her hips. “I don’t think it’s foolish for people to be wary of you. Reno hasn’t been the same since, well, since you know who showed up.” Sam looked around nervously. I wondered why she didn’t want to use Bates’ name. Maybe she feared it would make people uneasy. “If we can prove with time and consistency that the Well is just as safe for people as it was before it burned down, all of their worries will eventually go away. We just have to be patient, that’s all.”
“And on our best behavior,” Jackson added.
Sam gave him a sweet smile. “Exactly. Anyway, I’d better get back behind the bar. Wave me or one of the girls down if you need anything.”
Sam slipped away, and the rest of us looked at each other across the table. I couldn’t be the only one feeling squashed under an invisible thumb with all these new expectations. We were the Devil’s Luck, for fuck’s sake.
Consistency, let alone easing worries, were not our strong suits.
They weren’t mine, at least.
I drained my beer, waited until conversation amongst the guys was ripe and engaging, and poured myself another. Brody didn’t notice, and neither did Jackson, and within the next two hours I’d managed to put just as many back as my fellow club members. The pleasant buzz of liquor in my head made it easy to ignore the curious glances from strangers at other tables. Let them be curious.
“Where’s Carrie tonight?” Suzie’s cheeks were rosy and her eyes glassy. She’d had a few drinks of her own, it seemed, and it was starting to show. “I thought she was going to join us.”
Tex shook his head. “She’s at the station reviewing files with the lawyer.”
“Still has her head buried in the books, trying to weed out the bad cops?” Mason asked.
Tex nodded, and he looked proud. “Yep. Stubborn woman. But if anyone can do it, she can.”
“Cheers to that.” Suzie lifted her half-empty beer glass. Her grip was tight but her balance off, and it swayed in her hand, some of it sloshing onto the table when her brother slammed his glass against hers. She laughed loudly and sipped foam from the back of her hand while more onlookers turned and watched her.
A group of five men at a nearby table watched Suzie and bowed their heads together, talking amongst themselves while shooting glances in her direction. I had half a mind to say something, but my head was buzzing and Brody’s warning was still ringing in my ears.
So I turned away and finished my beer.
