Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
“Your money!” Todd said from behind him.
“Keep it,” he said, rushing out of that house as quickly as he could manage. “This day is fucked.”
Chapter 8
“Mike! Hey. I heard you were in town.”
Steve Faus’s college-age son took a seat at the bar, looking downtrodden. “Hey, Seamus. What’s good?”
“You okay?”
“I’m out of beer and the will to live.” He dropped his forehead onto the bar. Mike was almost always upbeat and jovial so this was unusual.
“I can help with the beer and I’m guessing the other issue is about a woman?”
“Yeah,” he said despondently and then sighed.
“I have a red ale on tap that I think you’ll like.” Seamus set a coaster down. “Want to try it?”
“Yeah,” Mike said, using the same tone. “Give me two.”
“Two?” he asked in confusion.
“Can’t drunk dial your crush if you’ve got a beer in both hands.”
“So we’re going for high drama tonight, got it.” Seamus chuckled and poured the beer. “Want to tell me about her?”
“Five-six, long brown hair, more than a handful up top”— he cupped his own chest —“and out back.” He reached his arms behind his back, presumably doing the same thing to his ass.
“She sounds brilliant and kind.”
Mike raised his head, frowned, and then said, “Yeah, that too. Probably.”
Seamus laughed and put a single beer in front of him.
“Hi, Seamus. Sorry I’m late,” said his bartender, Laura.
He turned around and blinked in surprise to find her in his personal space. She tended to stand too close, which annoyed him, but he understood that they were in tight quarters so he had always ignored it. “Not a problem. Thanks for coming in on such short notice.”
“I never mind keeping you company back here.” She leaned into his chest.
“Cool.” He scooted to the side to get around her and over to his phone so he could check the time. It was almost ten, which meant DJ should be there soon. “I’ll get as much cleanup done as I can in the next little bit and then I’m going to take off.”
“Oh.” She frowned as she walked up to him again. “You’re not staying with me?” she asked as she curled her hand around his bicep.
He shook his head and then noticed a man at the end of the bar raising an empty glass. “Can you get his refill? Thanks.” He wriggled away and returned to Mike. “So what happened with the woman who has you so downtrodden?”
“You tapping that?” he asked.
“What?”
“The hot blonde bartender,” he clarified as he nudged his chin in Laura’s direction. “I’d totally do her.”
“She’s nearly old enough to be your mother!”
“Yeah,” he said as he stared in her direction. “That’s exactly my type.”
“You have issues, man.”
“So many issues,” Mike agreed. “But I’m a good lay so I could probably land her if she wasn’t with you.”
“She is not with me,” Seamus said emphatically. “Why do people keep saying that?”
“I’m going with the ability to see and hear.” Mike gulped down his beer.
“You aren’t making sense. Do I need to cut you off after only one beer?” he joked.
“Wow, you really are fast when it comes to outrunning the obvious.” He slammed the empty glass on the bar. “You’re right. That was good. I’m ready for another one.”
“Pace yourself, Mike,” Seamus said as he cleared the empty glass and went to pour a fresh one. “What if your lady calls and you’re wasted?”
“She’s back in Vegas and she says I’m too young for her. She’s not going to call.”
“Are you too young for her?”
“My tongue skills and my dick say no.”
“I can’t imagine why she doesn’t find you appealing,” Seamus said drolly as he set the new beer in front of him.
“Right? I even looked up intel online for how to land chicks her age and my execution was flawless, but still nope.”
“The sobering truth is that the internet doesn't have all the answers,” Seamus said.
“Truth.” Mike nodded. His phone rang so he picked it up with one hand while still holding his beer with the other. “I can’t talk right now, I’m busy.” He tipped the glass against his mouth. “Because you called. What do you mean why did I answer?” He tilted his head back and drained the glass. “Fine. Fine. I’m coming.” He put the empty glass down and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Be there in a few.”
“Taking off so soon?”
“One of my friend’s friends wants me to come hang out.” He handed Seamus his credit card. “He’s been bugging me to meet her.”
“That sounds promising,” Seamus said as he closed him out.
“Not as promising as his mom.” Mike stood and signed for his tab. “I’m going to go for it with her. Wish me luck.”
“I’m not sure I feel right doing that to innocent bystanders,” Seamus said.
“Fine, then I’ll wish you luck with the stacked bartender,” Mike said as he turned toward the door.