Page 97 of Tempting the Player
“It’s not there anymore?”
“The building is, but the bar closed not long after she passed.”
“What was it called?”
“Rosie’s Place. Her dad named it after her. Her name was Rose, but everyone called her Rosie.”
“I love that. Let’s go see it.”
“Now?”
“Yeah. I mean if that isn’t too weird for you. I can tell it’s important to you, and I’d love to see it.”
It is important to me, but hearing her say it makes that tight spot in my chest twist a little more.
I drive out past The Hideout and turn down a gravel drive. It’s far enough away from the main road that it feels secluded out here, especially at night. It’s dark, but I can still picture it how it was then, all lit up with neon signs in the window.
This place was my mom’s pride and joy. My brothers and I spent a lot of time here, cleaning or helping her fix odds and ends. Dad wasn’t much help, that’s for sure, and a bar like this took a lot to maintain.
“I can totally picture it,” Jane says as we get out of the truck and walk up to the front windows. She puts her face up to the glass and peers inside. “It looks like it has a lot of space inside.”
“Yeah. It does. The bar ran along the left wall here.” I point. “Tables were spread all around the center, then pool tables and dartboards, and a few video games on the back right, and then there was a small stage for karaoke nights and live entertainment.”
“She ran this whole place herself?” She looks properly amazed.
“Yeah, basically. She had staff and forced us to help with some of the upkeep, but it was her vision and hard work that kept the doors open.”
“What about your dad? You said he was around on and off, but not a lot else. Was he ever in the picture?”
“He’s not my favorite topic.” I kick a rock with the toe of my shoe. “He and Mom were together until I was ten or eleven. After that he really only came around on birthdays and holidays. He drives a truck, so he was gone a lot even before they split. And later I think it was a convenient excuse to stay away. Or he did drive a truck, I have no idea what he’s doing now.”
She nods.
“The bar was a sore subject with him,” I continue. I really don’t like to talk about him, but for some reason I want Jane to know. “He thought it took too much time and money. He was always on her to sell it, but she loved it. A few months after she passed, he sold the place. They never officially got divorced so his name was on everything. He said it was to pay for bills and shit. She went through a few rounds of chemo and radiation, so I’m sure it was expensive, but I don’t know. I think it was an excuse to finally have his way.”
Jane takes my hand, making me realize how tense I am talking about it. My body relaxes a fraction.
“I was so pissed. Still am. The people who bought it ran into some money trouble and never did reopen it. It’s sat empty for years.”
“Oh, Hendrick. I’m so sorry.” She squeezes my fingers.
“I know it’s just a bar and that he never would have stayed around long enough to run it anyway, but I hate that something she worked so hard for and loved so much is just gone.”
“It’s not gone. Not all of it anyway.” She places a hand on my chest over my heart. “She sounds amazing. A total badass. I’m not surprised in the least because you and your brothers are all pretty awesome.”
“She was a badass.” I cover her hand with mine. “I think you would have liked her.”
“Duh, of course I would have.” Her fingers slide up and she drapes her hands on my shoulders. “Thanks for bringing me here.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Any other dark, abandoned buildings you want to take me to tonight?”
A laugh builds in my chest and slips free. “Yeah, I guess this isn’t the most romantic place to bring someone. Tales of death and deadbeat dads.”
“No. That’s not what I meant. I love getting to know you and hearing about your mom. Honest. It means a lot that you brought me here. The high school, this bar, even your house—they all tell me little things about you.”
I appreciate her words, but I don’t want to linger too long in the past. Especially when the present is so damn good. “Yeah? Did any of those places tell you that this dress is making me crazy?”
