Page 5 of Ball Buster

I leave the bathroom and that waitress is sitting in my seat. Ugh. She must be why he suggested we eat here.

I casually stroll toward them and try to pretend I’m not listening to their conversation.

“I’d love to go for another ride sometime.”

I bet she would.

“Some other time, babe.”

Hearing him call her babe sends fire shooting through my veins. It must be what he calls all women, and it shouldn’t bother me, but it does. I don’t know what this revelation says about me. I’m totally fucked in the head or something. Maybe my mother dropped me one too many times on it.

I stop a few feet short of the booth. An awkward pause passes between the three of us. The heat of embarrassment flames across the back of my neck.

“I’ll go check on your order.” She slides out of my seat taking great pains to be slow about it. “Excuse me.” The bitch bumps her shoulder into mine, staking her claim. The situation ought to be comical, but it rubs me wrong.

I reclaim my seat and hope she didn’t fuck with my drink by performing a childish stunt like spitting in it or dumping salt in it. “Do you eat here often?” I fiddle with my straw giving my Coke a stir looking for evidence of tampering.

“On occasion. Why?”

He knows why I’m asking even though I should have no interest doing so. “Just curious. What kind of food do we serve at The Brew?”

“There’s no we.”

“I own half.”

“Les was more the silent type of partner. Preferred to be out fishing or going to the drag races.”

“I’m not Les.”

“So you don’t intend to sell?”

I shrug and Jeannie repeats her actions from earlier. My plate hits the table with a clang whereas she easily glides Solo’s in front of him. “Enjoy.” She smiles at him then her eyes hit me with a death glare.

“Thanks. I will.” I shoot her the fakest but sweetest smile I can muster in return, even though I know the sentiment wasn’t meant for me.

“If there’s anything and I do mean anything I can do for you to make your service more enjoyable just call my name.”

“Jeannie, is it?” I don’t wait for her reply. “Hi. I get that you’re into my friend here but we’re trying to have a conversation that doesn’t relate to you shamelessly trying to let him in there. Honey, I think we all know you’re a sure thing and once I’m done with him, he’s all yours if that’s what he wants, but right now his time is mine.”

Her mouth hangs open. “You’re fuckin’ rude. Are you going to let her talk to me like that? Who is this bitch anyway?”

Solo licks his lips keeping his gaze pinned on me.

“Well?” This cunt prompts.

“Who I am is his business partner now if you’re done wasting my time and embarrassing yourself, I’d like to get on with my evening.”

Jeannie stomps off in a huff and I squirt some ketchup over my fries.

“Fuck me. Remind me not to piss you off.”

“I’m not pissed off.”

“Babe,” he says the stupid pet name on a grin knowing it’s grating on my nerves. “You’re a total ball buster.”

I scrunch my nose. “Am not.”

“Fuckin’ cute as can be when that temper flares.”

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