I leaned forward and kissed his cheek lightly. “We won’t tell her. Now I’m off to shit talk with my girlfriends.”
Murray threw his head back. “You have a good time. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I waved and headed across the street to the median. The air was oppressive, and the sun was still blasting since the days were getting longer. I crossed the second half of the four lanes and spotted Avery climbing out of her Subaru.
“Hey!”
“Mind if I crash?” She grinned as she met me at the door.
“Not at all.”
She looked me over. “Were we supposed to be dressing up?”
“No. Just was feeling frumpy.”
Not that Avery could look bad if she tried. She was wearing her work khaki shorts and a black Designing Women polo with her hair up in a high ponytail.
She gave me a knowing smile and flipped my hair over my shoulder. “Since when does frumpy come with beard burn?”
I opened the door. “Yeah, that’s a story that requires an adult beverage.”
“Oh, I like those stories.”
TJ waved from a booth at the back. I waved at Colder, the bartender, and he nodded. The nice part of a neighborhood bar was getting good service because they actually liked you.
Avery slid in beside TJ and I took the other side, my back to the room.
TJ was wearing a similar uniform to Avery. “How come I didn’t get the dress cute memo?”
I laughed. “I needed a shower after work.”
TJ leaned back, crossing her arms. “And why is that?”
Avery mirrored her. “Yeah, why?”
Cordelia, one of our usual waitresses, came over. “Hey, guys. What can I get you?”
I smiled up at her. “Saved.”
Cordie sat on the bench beside me. “Saved from what? Do we have goss?”
I groaned. “Not you, too.”
Cordie nudged my shoulder. “You look smokin’. You seeing that intense guy again?” She lowered her voice. “He’s a little...”
I shifted to turn to her. “A little what?”
“I mean, he’s hot. Just…I don’t know of another word except intense.”
TJ looked from me to Cordie to Avery and then back to me. “Hmm. Cordie, I think we need to start with tequila.”
I shook my head. “Oh, no, we don’t.”
Avery sat up and clapped. “Oh, tequila stories. Why haven’t I seen this guy? Who is it?”
Since Avery could drink a three-hundred-pound wrestler under the table, I had a feeling I was in serious trouble. Good thing it was Friday.
Cordelia popped up. “Now I really need to hear the stories. Don’t start without me.” She zipped away and threaded her way through the tables with a smile and a wave for the regulars.
“1800,” TJ called after Cordelia.
She spun around with a thumbs up.
I was in so much trouble. That was the serious tequila.
“Huge thing of fries,” Avery called.
At least we wouldn’t be drinking on an empty stomach.
“So, what’s going on?” Avery laced her fingers on the table and leaned in, her hazel eyes playful. “I feel like I’m missing stuff.”
I opened my mouth, but TJ jumped in. “Our girl is banging our new client.”
“What? No.” She extended the word with a wide grin. “Who?”
Again, TJ answered for me. “Macy’s brother. The new Richie Rich who wants us to redo the haunted mansion.”
“Oh, now you think it’s haunted?” I crossed my arms.
