Page 17 of Ball Buster

“No.” I turn back in line and move up to order. “Hi, if I tell you that Solo wants two footlongs do you know what he wants on them?”

“Oh yeah.” The woman scribbles down an order. “Anything for you?”

I scan the menu and order a burger. I pay and take my ticket number and move off to the side to wait near the pickup window.

The biker from moments ago, Chaser leans against the brick of the building near me. “How do you know Solo?”

He’ll find out sooner or later. “I’m his new partner at The Brew.”

“Damn. Where’s he been hiding you at?”

“Les was my father.”

“No shit?”

“Yup. Hadn’t saw him since I was three then I got a call last week that he’d passed away and that he left me his half of the business.”

“Sorry for your loss. Les was a cool dude.”

“I wouldn’t know,” I tell him, honestly.

“Musta’ sucked.”

“Is what it is. I’ve had a long time to make my peace with that.” I’m not going to spill my guts to the guy.

“So you planning to stick around and run the bar with Solo or is this a silent partner type thing?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Cause if you’ll be there then maybe I’ll stop by. Being you’re single, maybe I’d like to ask you out sometime.”

I’ve never thought much about dating a biker. I’m not opposed to it and this dude seems nice enough even if he comes on a bit strong. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”

My order number is called out. I collect the food and return to the bar.

Solo invites me to dine at a table with him while the bar is slow.

“Met a friend of yours.”

“Got a lot of friends.”

“Guy named Chaser. Said he’d like to take me out sometime.”

“Fuck no.”

“I wasn’t asking.”

“Motherfucker is my brother, but you don’t want caught up in his shit.”

“I think that’s for me to decide but thanks for the warning.”

“He’s married.”

“Oh.” My face falls. “Men suck.”

That earns me a chuckle. “Nah, babe.” His deep gritty voice does things to me I can’t explain. “Some men suck, but the right one…the right one will,” he pauses.

“The right man will what?”

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