Page 117 of Corkscrew You
Izzy votes to ride with Shelby and me in the Dodge. Says Ava’s driving makes her want to hurl.
Five minutes out of Verity, we happen upon evidence that Ava’s tactics did not only include pushing Mom’s Landcruiser to its limits. Danny’s Porsche is on the side of the road, and a few feet away, my brother is having what looks like averyuncomfortable chat with a highway patrol officer.
“Oops,” says Shelby. “Bad luck.”
“Doubt luck had anything to do with it,” I tell her. “I see the evil hand of my sister written alloverthat.”
“You mean she ratted him out to thecops?”
When Shelby gets better acquainted with Ava, she won’t ask such questions.
“Ava hates losing,” says Izzy, unnecessarily. “Plus, she’ll be punishing him for being a sexist dick who’s only interested in showing off to women. Ditto Max.”
“What will she do to poor Max?” Shelby asks.
“No ‘poor Max’ about it,” I remark. “That boy is as cunning as a sewer rat. And I say that with no small amount of admiration.”
“I think Ava and Chiara will get on like a house on fire,” says Shelby. “Or a nuclear explosion, whatever.”
The Landcruiser is outside the Silver Saddle. I can almost see it sweating and puffing, like a Pony Express horse after a cross-country gallop.
It’s the first time I’ve been in here. It’s a typical Western-style bar, with a jukebox, pool tables, and a bunch of general redneck-themed memorabilia. Not that I’ll say that out loud because the guy behind the bar is a beefy biker-looking dude, with tattoos and bulging biceps. Probably does double duty as bouncer as well as barman.
He’s serving drinks to Ava, and laughing at something she’s said.
“Wow,” says Shelby beside me. “Brendan hardly eversmiles, let alone laughs.”
My jealous side rabbit punches me in the kidney.
“You’re on first name terms with Hulk Hogan there?”
Shelby wraps her arms around my waist and hugs me, when, in fact, what I deserve is a punch in myotherkidney.
“I’ve known Brendan since I was a kid,” she says. “He used to be a truck driver and bought the bar about twelve years ago.”
She lowers her voice. “Jordan has had a crush on Brendan for atleastthat long. But, unhappily, she’s just found out he has a secret girlfriend.”
“In his basement?”
“Ha, ha. No, in LA. She’s an actress.”
We walk over to a big table, where Max, the little bastard, has installed himself opposite Chiara, who seems only marginally interested, and right next to Jordan, who’s all over him.
Thing is,Inow know that’s probably because she’s trying to make Biker Barman jealous. But I’ll store that piece of info for later, when I need to take Max down a peg.
“What happened to your hand?” Chiara’s eyes miss nothing.
“Iron infusion,” I reply.
“Ugh, please.” Shelby shudders. “No more medical talk.”
“Andyoumust be Max’s twin,” Chiara says to Izzy. “I’m Chiara, Shelby’s best friend of all time forever and ever. And this is Jordan, hersecond-best friend, after me.”
“Huh?” Jordan pulls her attention away from Max. Her face lights up as she spots Izzy. “Oh, wow,twoof you! God, you guys are socute.”
Ava arrives, and hands out drinks. Bourbons all round, which is very Ava; too impatient to take individual orders. She shoves the tray on the neighbouring table, sits down, and lifts her shot of Jack.
“Here’s to at leastoneday without any more major dramas,” she says, and we all clink glasses.
