Page 29 of Phantom
We went right to Hoppa’s Taphouse once we were back in the city because I knew that my dad would want to hear about how the trip had gone, and I honestly needed a drink to try to even out all of my excited energy. Colin parked his bike next to mine, and we powered them down and climbed off at the same time. He motioned toward the door, and I walked past him. As I did, his eyes quickly traveled down and up my form. When his eyes locked back on mine, he gave me a wink, and I thought I may pass out. If I thought he was handsome before, with him seemingly lowering his guard and opening up a little bit, he was downrightirresistible.
“Hey, Val!” my dad called over from the pool table when I passed through the front door. “Hey, CJ.”
“Hey, Nick,” I greeted.
“Hi,” Colin added on.
My dad waved us off. “Go ahead and take a seat and a drink. I’m gonna finish up this game, and then I’ll head over.”
Colin found a table about halfway between the bar and the pool table and sat down, and when I had to decide between the chair directly next to him or the one on the other side of the table, I decided to experiment. I picked the chair next to him. To my extreme delight, Colin’s smile grew a little larger, and my heart skipped.
What the hell had changed?
“Hey, Val.” One of the waitresses, Cara, had made her way over and was standing at our table. “Want a drink?”
“Just a beer.” My mind was already wandering toward trying to make a move on Colin again, given his new attitude, so something muted was probably best. That way, I could keep my wits about me and not do anything stupid.
Cara nodded, then looked to Colin. Her stance changed a little bit, and she kicked out one of her hips. “What about you, gorgeous?”
“A beer, please.” Colin only made what contact was necessary, then turned his attention to me. “Do you regularly leave Lockjaw at home?”
“Not often. He’s probably pissed,” I said with a chuckle. “He’ll survive.”
“You’re the new guy, right?” Colin and I looked over to one of the high-bar tables directly behind Colin, and a few of the women who frequented the bar were all sitting together with their eyes on Colin. One of them asked, “What’s your name?”
“CJ.” Immediately after he said it, he turned back around. It was borderline rude. Colin was a quiet person in general, and even more so in mixed company. He didn’t like to waste words, but even this was odd for him. “Is he bad when you leave him at home? Does he chew up your stuff?” he asked, resuming our conversation as if he hadn’t been distracted at all.
Cara came back and set our drinks down on the table, and I took a sip of my beer before continuing. “No. He’s really well trained. Although one time—”
“Hey.” It was the same table of women beckoning to him. Colin looked back, even if his gaze thinned a little bit. “I’m Maxine,” the one speaking, a blonde with a large bust in aBikers 4 Lyfeshirt, said.
Colin nodded, saying, “Cool,” then turned back to me. “Sorry, you were saying?”
“One time—”
“Okay.” My dad slammed himself down at the table, and I was beginning to think he was interfering with us on purpose. “Made short work of those idiots. Do we need to take this in back?”
Colin and I locked eyes, and then I shook my head. “I don’t think so. Wasn’t super eventful.” That wasn’t entirely true, but it wasn’t as if I could tell my dad, “I might get laid tonight,” so as far as he was concerned, nothing eventful. “We checked everything out, a thorough check, too. I think we’re good.”
“Excellent.” My dad lifted one of his large hands and slapped it on Colin’s back. “Thanks for going.”
“No problem. Actually.” Colin gave me a brief look, but I nodded, so he turned his attention back to my dad. “I told Val that if it would be helpful, I’d be willing to go out there every day. Just to make sure no one settles in between now and MiD.”
My dad’s eyes widened, and the grin that sewed across his face was one of the largest I’d seen in a while. “You sure? That’s a long drive back and forth.”
“I gotta start earning my keep sometime,” Colin replied.
My dad pounded on the table and smiled at me. “He’s good.”
I nodded, locking eyes with Colin. “Yeah, he is.”
“Well, I ain’t about to turn down a deal like that!” My dad suddenly swatted my arm. “You go, too.”
My smile dissipated. “What?”
“You should go with him. You’re the only one who has the keys. I like the guy, but I ain’t stupid.”
I tried and failed a few times to start a sentence. In truth, I didn’t know exactly how to frame my thoughts on the matter. Trips to the desert every day with Colin seemed lovely, but why all of a sudden? “Really? You don’t need me here?”
