“This is a dump. Is this thing on wheels still?” He laughed and then continued, always wanting to insult me. “Why in the hell would you not use a little of the… never mind… I know what you are going to say.”
“I have no interest in touching anything I didn't earn, Cash. Hell, do we have to go through this all the damn time? I love my job, I love my life, and I love my home.”
“I wouldn't bring a woman back here if my life depended on it. In fact, I’m willing to bet my car is worth more than this crap hole.”
“I don’t bring random women back to my house. I have never met anyone I would trust with it anyway. Plus, do you really think I have time to date? I work and sleep.”
“They would go running for the hills if you did. This is beneath even you.” He paused. “Well, I guess we are both working our asses off.”
I blurted out a “Right” and then smirked. Yeah, he was probably right, but believe it or not my life didn't revolve around women. It revolved around my work. That is what I lived to do.
Cash strolled in, acting as if he was God’s gift to women. Luckily, I only had to put up with him a couple times a year. Sad, right? We had that kind of relationship and it was fairly mutual.
“Hey, Cash.” He gave me a half hug then a pat on the back while eyeing the dance floor, more than likely looking for his next victim. “Good to see you.”
“Do you see me, though?” I smirked back, knowing I was just a bystander in his hunt through the jungle.
My brother snapped his order of a Crown and Coke and threw down a twenty-dollar bill. He didn’t take notice of the man behind the bar since, in Cash’s eyes, he was beneath him.
He turned around and leaned on the bar, beginning his conversation with me. He liked to own the room, and act as if he was the only man there.
“Did you come here to find you a girl or did you really need to talk to me?” I asked. Watching my brother look for a woman always annoyed me. I felt like I needed to warn the women a lion had entered and they were going to quickly become prey.
Run for your life if you know what’s good for you!
“Who is that brunette dancing in the black silk short thingy, with those sexy legs?” He pointed nonchalantly.
“How would I know?”
“You live here. This is your town, right?”
“Are you implying I know every woman in the town?” I raised an eyebrow, questioning his stupidity.
“Of course you don’t. But you’re a deputy… I’m sure you have been surveying the entire dance floor and bar area, hoping to catch someone breaking the law… what an underage drinker?”
He laughed to himself while I rolled my eyes. My job was a joke to him, like his was a joke to me.
“Whiskey,” the bartender said, and Cash turned around to get his drink.
My brother and I couldn't look more different. We were the perfect contrast with the exception of our eyes, both green. My dark blond hair had gotten lighter through my years but nevertheless dark. I always had a stubble of facial hair, preferring a slight gruff look. Our smiles were similar, but my bottom teeth had a slight crookedness.
Cash, on the other hand, was always clean-shaven, wore his sideburns a little lower than mine, had blond hair, and his teeth were so perfect they looked fake. Coincidence? I think not.
He sucked down the drink he had just purchased, and moved his way over to the two women he had eyed. So much for getting to talk to my brother…
As in most of my life, I took a seat and kicked back… watching him do what he did best. In actuality, this usually worked to my advantage since he was known to self-destruct.
BREIGH
“For the love of God, Emma, just sit down and go along for the ride. Just for once stop griping.” I rolled my blue eyes, frustrated with her constant complaining.
“I just don't want to get wet. Or dirty. Then I get sick…” she responded, and I gestured to her as if I was going to choke her. And I just might. Emma, along with my Grammy, had been pushing me to get out and back in the dating pool after my bad breakup. Yes, it was bad, but it was over, so I was thankful for that.
The rain was pouring down in buckets. I fought the urge to leave, but I had spent more time than I cared to admit on getting ready. I guessed I was out of practice on that as well.
Screw it.
“Live a little.” I made eye contact with her, showing my determination. “On the count of three…One… two… three…” I left little time for Emma to argue and instead opened the car door. I took off full speed and went running to the front door of Kellye Joe’s, letting the rain pelt my skin. The worn wooden door was soaked from the rain that had been falling sideways from the storm.
Okay… it was raining a little harder than I had realized, but I couldn't admit that to Emma. My skin felt like it had been pelted with paintballs.
I reminded myself of the pep talk earlier this evening, convincing myself that I could do it. I could get back out in the fishpond, or the shark pond. We shall see.
Emma’s favorite band was playing and a smile lit up her wet face through it all.
I was glad she had agreed to getting out of the vehicle, because I would have hated to pull her out of my truck kicking and screaming.
I threw my arm around her. “Now that wasn't so bad, was it?”
“Give me a break, Breigh… you know I love going out…just…”
“It will be worth it.”
