Chapter 11 #2
“I’m not babysitting,” Alex, one of Cade’s and my friends, announces, ordering a draft beer. “Wait, you have Crüe beer in stock?”
I nod, pointing to the sign over the bar that announces the very recent arrival of two of the Crüe’s most popular varieties. “Just bottles right now, but she’s on their list for draft soon.”
“Sweet!” Alex proclaims, choosing a bottle of All American Crüe, the lighter of the two options.
Camden and Robby come over and order beers before making their way to the pool table to rack the balls. I glance up at Cade. “You paying?”
“Nope. Just because I’m babysitting doesn’t mean I’m buying too. Just put it on their tab and the kids can pay at the end of the night,” he replies, taking a sip of his soft drink. His eyes glance over to where Lizzie and Charli are still talking. “They seem to be getting along well.”
I shrug and take money for his Coke. “Charli becomes fast friends with everyone.”
“That’s true. She’s a lot like me. Unlike you.”
Ignoring his comment, I set his change on the counter and take the five-dollar bill. “Tip.”
He points at me. “That’s all you get. Quit stealing my hard-earned money.”
I laugh and shake my head. “What do you think I’m doing here?” I ask, holding up the money.
“Thanks again, Cade, for letting me use your trailer. I got everything moved over from the rental to yours, and I promise to get it cleared out as soon as possible,” Lizzie says, coming up to stand beside me.
She smells like a mixture of flowers and the harsh cleaner she was using beneath the bar.
But I admit, it really looks good. She painted all the shelves and covered them with some sort of grippy stuff that’s removable and washable.
“No rush,” my brother replies. “I won’t be needing it until Memorial Day weekend.”
Her green eyes seem to sparkle just a little more. “What happens then?”
“I ride that weekend,” he says, referring to his four-wheeler.
“Tell me more,” Lizzie insists, leaning forward and hanging on his every word as he explains the large off-road park in Indiana he goes to every year with a group of friends. I’ve been a handful of times, but with my work schedule, I don’t get to go every year.
“It’s pretty awesome,” he says, after telling her all about the property. “We camp for two nights and then come home Monday morning.”
Lizzie nods. “Sounds like fun.”
“You should come!” Cade insists, catching Charli’s attention, and of course, I realize instantly what’s about to happen.
“Oh, I couldn’t. I’ll have to work.”
“No, you have to come! It’s such a great weekend.
Even if you can’t come both nights,” Charli insists, inviting Lizzie directly into our inner circle.
“Collin’s work schedule is always a little jacked up, so sometimes he only comes for one night.
You can come with him.” To me she adds, “Didn’t Chuck usually close down for Memorial Day? ”
I don’t reply, because I don’t want to insert myself into this conversation any more than I already have. Besides, how Chuck ran the business and how Lizzie will aren’t the same, and the last thing I’d want to do is step on her toes when it comes to making business decisions.
Lizzie shrugs her shoulders. “I haven’t thought that far ahead, but I know my dad’s place is always closed on major holidays like Memorial Day. Everyone’s at home, cooking out and drinking beer there. It does make sense.”
“Yes! Exactly! So, promise you’ll consider coming. I’m sure you can find coverage on Sunday.”
“I don’t have a four-wheeler,” Lizzie states, but like my sister always does, she has an answer for everything.
“You can ride with Collin.”
The blonde with big curls and the most alluring green eyes I’ve ever seen snaps her attention to me.
I shrug, not saying a word, because if Charli wants something bad enough, she’ll fight tooth and nail until she gets it.
And right now, she wants Lizzie to be her friend, wants her to go with our family and small group of friends to ride four-wheelers at the off-road park.
I smell a matchmaker at work…
“We don’t have to decide anything right now,” I state, grabbing one of the sanitizing cloths and starting to wipe down the section of bar we’re standing by.
“No, of course not, but I want my new friend to know she’s more than welcome to come for the weekend. It’s so much fun. We tent camp in this big circle and sing ‘Kumbaya.’”
Since I’m stealing glances at Lizzie, I don’t miss her reaction to that one. “What?” she asks, laughing.
“No, I’m kidding. We sing George Strait and Eminem.”
“Nice.”
“All right, I’ll let you get back to what you were doing, but the invitation is there.
We’ll talk more as it gets closer. Oh, and you can even stay with me and my friends in our tent.
” With that, my sister turns around and heads toward the pool table to join the rest of our group, leaving me, Cade, and Lizzie standing here.
“Notice how she completely monopolized the conversation?” I say to my twin.
He snorts and takes another drink of his soda. “As she usually does.”
Lizzie laughs and shakes her head. “Pot? Kettle?”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “She has your number, little brother.”
Cade narrows his eyes. “Five minutes. You’re five minutes older than me.”
“Older is older,” I state with a shrug and toss the cloth into the bucket.
“I’m gonna head over and make sure the kids behave,” Cade says, but turns his attention to the woman standing close enough I can smell her.
“But just to add on to what my sister said, you’re definitely welcome to come.
We get completely filthy and then sit around the fire, eat tons of food, and drink a few beers.
It’s a lot of fun and a great way to unwind. ”
With that, he heads to where the rest of the group is teasing Cam and Quinn for losing the first game, jumping right in to harass the youngest Miller as if he had been a part of it the whole time.
We never neglect an opportunity to dive headfirst into some sibling razzing, no matter who the recipient is.
“Your family’s pretty great,” Lizzie says softly beside me, her gaze locked on the antics on the opposite side of the room.
“They are,” I confirm. “They can be a lot, but it comes from a place of love.”
She snorts and shakes her head. “Oh, you don’t have to explain the fine line between obnoxious and love to me. My family straddles said line daily.”
I offer her a smile before noticing it’s time to refill some drinks down at the end of the bar.
Before I walk away, I say, “Charli can be kinda blunt and opinionated, but it all comes from a good heart. She’s also a good judge of character, and if she’s inviting you into her inner circle, it’s because she truly likes you and wants to get to know you.
She wouldn’t be wanting to hang out otherwise. ”
Lizzie regards me closely, considering my words and the meaning behind them.
My sister has a handful of very close friends, but she’s not afraid to invite outsiders in if she feels like it.
And for some reason, she seems to really like the woman in front of me.
I get it. They’re actually quite similar in many ways, including coming from a large, loud family who doesn’t know the definition of personal space.
I start to make my way to the other end, grabbing a couple of bottles of beer as I go. Just before I reach my destination, I hear, “Thanks, Collin.”
I nod, opening the bottles and setting them on the bar, tossing the empties in the recycle can.
Just as I return to wash the few dirty glasses gathered beneath the bar, I hear, “So, tell me about this pussy cat stuck in the tree.”