Page 11 of Forever Endeavor

CHAPTER 5

Billie

The Pelican was only a few minutes’ walk from Cal’s place, likely convenient for quick beer runs and the long stagger back home after last call. “Your uncle is quite an interesting fellow,” Billie said, trying to keep in step with Sonny’s stride. “He’s pretty wise.”

“Wise? I don’t know about that. He’s just a small-town fisherman.”

“That’s not fair. How would you feel if someone labeled you just a small-town mechanic?”

“Happens more than you think,” he groused.

The Pelican sported a kitschy, well-weathered waterfront motif of buoys and fishing net. It wasn’t a big place, probably wouldn’t take more than sixty, maybe seventy patrons to pack it. Sonny made a beeline for the bar in the center of the room. Billie hopped up on the stool next to him. “No one is the sum of their occupation. A job is only what you do, not who you are.”

“All right, I get it. Don’t make me regret bringing you here more than I already do.” Sonny motioned to the ginger-bearded bartender, whose shiny bald head and gold earrings reminded Billie of a friendly pirate. “Two drafts, Gary.”

She thrust out her hand to shake with the bartending buccaneer. “Nice to meet you Gary, I’m Billie. Please make that two whiskey shots and two beer chasers. And keep ‘em coming.”

Gary poured the shots and two heady drafts, sliding each across the counter. With a clink of their glasses, Billie and Sonny downed the whiskey and she waved Gary over for refills.

“Cal has a good heart. He’d never leave a stranger stranded in a stinky old fishing shack.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” he mumbled.

“You mean you don’t see him like that?”

“Even living under the same roof, we hardly see each other at all. Consider yourself lucky that you’ve got him completely figured out in a couple hours.”

She sipped her beer. “Wanna change the subject?”

“Good idea.” He stared at the TV screen above the bar. A ball game between who the hell knows and who the hell cares was in the bottom of the fourth.

“Have you lived in Janus Lake all your life?” she asked.

“Take a guess,” he sniped.

“That’s a definite yes. And how long have you lived with Cal?”

“Almost three years.”

“So, why do you live with him?” Sonny snubbed her question, choosing to guzzle his beer instead. “Wow, you really don’t like me much, do you?”

“You’re tolerable,” he muttered.

“Hmm. You always ask out women you find merely tolerable?”

“Hey, I told you this wasn’t a date, princess. It’s not like I’m into you or anything.”

She raised her shot glass in his direction. “Well, it’s not like I’m into you either, grease monkey. I’ve barely been able to stand you since we met.”

“You’re just damn lucky we met, or else you’d still be stranded on the side of the road.” Clink. Drink.

Billie belted it back and came up smiling. “Even if I didn’t have an auto club card, I still have these.” She dipped low, tugged her camisole down a few inches and jiggled her cleavage. And yeah, he looked. Oh boy, did he look.

“Sonny Hayes, are you blushing?” She snaked her hand into the crook of his arm. Her fingertip playfully traced over the black ink swirled across his forearm and up the bicep tucked under his sleeve. He was pretending to ignore it but didn’t pull away. “See? You do like me.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” His eyes remained glued to the screen even as she nestled in close, resting her head on his shoulder. This time, he shrugged her off. “Geez, I shoulda known you’d be a lightweight who can’t hold her liquor.”

“Can ya blame me for needing to get my buzz on after the shit day I’ve had? I mean, other than getting to see you naked. Definitely a highlight. You, sir, should be rightly proud.”

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