Page 43 of When We Met

She downs the remainder of her drink. “I need another. You?”

I look to the girls sitting near the bar, who are about two ginger ales into their Friday night. They certainly don’t plan on leaving any time soon. “Sure. Somethin’ stronger though.”

She stands, a new flush to her cheeks, blinking slowly as her fingers wrap around the neck of my beer bottle. “Looks like I might get to see you naked after all.”

I register her comment. I do. But I don’t reply. Words are lost on me. All I can think about is I bet that hand would look good wrapped around my cock. It’d be nice to see someone else cradling him with love for a change.

I’m slouched in the chair to the right of the bar in between the pool tables and dartboards, admittedly staring at Kacy’s ass. I’m also keeping an eye on each one of my kids, but it’s nice to know that everyone in this bar has their eyes on my kids. Another perk of living in a small town.

Dad approaches the table with Camdyn on his back. “I hear someone hit the side of the shop.”

“Yep. That girl over there.”

Dad steals a glance at the bar and tips his cowboy hat up, revealing a light dusting of his graying black hair and even darker eyes. “How bad?”

“Not terrible. I can fix it.”

Camdyn peeks her head around and rests her chin on Dad’s shoulder. “She’s sleepin’ at our house.”

My dad stifles a laugh as if he knows what’s up and shakes his head. “Son…,” he drawls, his voice grating against the music. My dad has a deep rasp to his tone, kinda like a smoker, but he’s never smoked that I know of.

“Go away,” I grunt, trying to ignore him. I know I shouldn’t have told Kacy she could stay with me, but I did, and I don’t regret it. In fact, I’m looking forward to watching her sleep on my couch again. “Don’t you have something else to be doing?”

Every Friday night, my dad comes here. Without his wife. She spends her evening with her sisters at home doing book club, or whatever else a bunch of fifty-year-old women do on Friday nights. Dad comes here to hang out with his sons and granddaughters.

Before I can get him to leave, Kacy returns with a tray of shots, another beer, and what looks to be another Red Label for her. She sets them on the table and smiles at my dad. “Hi. I’m Kacy.”

His smile is sincere, like his personality. You’ll never meet a more hardworking, honest, loyal man than the one next to me. He taught me everything he knows about ranching, automotives, and how to treat a woman. “Nice to meet you, sweetheart. I’m Bishop Grady.”

“Ah, yes. Another Grady. Let me guess….” She pauses and eyes him carefully. “Dad?” Her eyes drift to mine for confirmation.

I nod.

“And Papa B,” Camdyn tells her, kissing my dad on his cheek.

Kacy wipes her hand on her jeans and then reaches her hand out to my dad. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Grady.”

“Oh, darlin’, call me Bishop, please.” Peeling Camdyn off his back, he holds her to his chest. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I promised this little lady a round of poker. Y’all have a nice evening.”

Dad smirks at me, shaking his head as if to say he knows exactly what I’m up to, but I ignore him. Across from me, Kacy slaps her hand down on the table as she sits. “Your kids play poker?”

“Camdyn does. Sev can’t read the cards yet and cheats like nobody’s business.”

Kacy motions to the drinks. “Tilly hooked me up. And wouldn’t take my damn credit card. What’s with this town and not wanting to accept my money.”

I shrug and eye the drinks. “Ya better watch yourself. She serves ’em strong.”

“We’ll see about that.” She takes a drink as I reach down and unbutton one cuff of my flannel, roll it up to my elbow, and do the same with the other arm. “Yep. Strong. Holy shit.” She wipes her hand across her lips. “My God.”

“Told ya. Take it easy, city girl.”

“I can handle it,” she hedges, motioning for me to drink. “Drink up.”

“You don’t have it in you to go toe-to-toe with me on drinking.”

She winks. “Try me, Texas.”

I take the beer and lift it to my lips, watching her eyes as she checks out the tattoos on my arms but doesn’t say anything about them. “You might regret this.”

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