Page 56 of Healed
“Yeah, you’re right. Make sure you make a good impression,” Lucien said. He placed the order with the girl helping Vince that night, and turned around just in time to catch Hellen with her arms up swaying. He pulled her in and held her against his body as they swayed back and forth together.
“Oh, my gosh! Look who else is here!” Hellen exclaimed as Bailey and Shaun came toward them through all the people.
Daisy turned to see who it was and smiled when she saw Bailey. “Hey! How are you?”
“I’m good. Really good. How are you?” Bailey said.
“Hey, everybody,” Shaun said, slipping his arm around Bailey’s waist.
“How’s it going?” Lucien asked, performing a complex handshake move with Shaun straight out of the 80’s.
“What do you want to drink, baby?” Shaun asked.
“Something light, fruity,” Bailey said.
“Amaretto and Pineapple?” he asked.
“Sounds wonderful,” Bailey said.
Shaun let go of Bailey and stepped toward the bar to order their drinks.
“Y’all been here long?” Bailey asked.
“Yeah, a while,” Hellen said.
“We were at the steakhouse in town,” Daisy said.
“Oh, and that’s where Charlie met Havoc,” Hellen said.
“Oh, yeah. That’d be what happened,” Daisy said.
Hellen shook her head. “God love him, he’s a handful. But he’s a good guy. Most of that is just bluff. He rarely lets anybody see what’s underneath, but don’t let all that subterfuge fool you, Charlie. He’s not stupid by any means, and he’s as loyal as the day is long.”
“As much as I’d love to disagree, she’s right. He’s a pain in the ass, but nobody else I’d trust as much I do him, in the worst situations,” Lucien said.
“Who are we talking about?” Shaun said, turning back to the group with his and Bailey’s drinks in his hands.
“Havoc,” Lucien said.
“Call me crazy, but I like him. He’s a character,” Charlie said.
“Me, too,” Shaun said.
“That he is,” Lucien agreed. “Stubborn Sonofabitch!” he finished on a laugh.
“Here you go!” Vince’s bar back said. “All virgin shakes, right?”
“That’s it! Going home to the family,” Lucien said, accepting the shakes two at a time and handing them off to Charlie and Daisy. With the last one, he handed Charlie his twenty back.
“No, man, let me pay,” Charlie said.
“Not a chance,” Lucien said.
“Well, then give it to her as a tip.”
“Already took care of that, too,” Lucien said.
“Then give her an extra tip.”
