Chapter Three
Travis
“S tay away from those two,” I tell Savvy as I apply a layer of crazy glue to the bottom of my Dr. Pepper can. “They’ll turn you into a teenaged alcoholic.”
She stares at the beer bros’ back patio which is littered with weird shit. “Is that an inflatable hot tub?”
“That hasn’t been cleaned since last summer. Probably why we have so many damn mosquitos around here.”
“What’s in the refrigerator?”
I snort out a laugh. “I’ll give you three guesses and the first two don’t count.”
She scrunches her nose and thinks for a moment while I place another can on my Dr. Pepper wall.
“Beer?” she finally says.
“Bingo, little S.”
“What’s up with the half-inflated T-Rex?”
“Kevin likes to put it to entertain people. It was only a few months ago that I learned it was possible for someone to receive a blowjob while wearing a T-Rex costume. Been disturbed ever since.”
“Gross.” She giggles and then shakes her head. “The sound wild.”
“They drive Cole up a wall. He’s gone over there a time or two in asshole police officer mode. I thought Kevin was going to piss his pants one day when he threatened to arrest him for public intoxication.”
Savvy points at the townhome next to the beer bros’ home. “Who lives there?”
“Troy,” I grunt. “He really is someone to avoid. The guy is a dick to everyone.”
She nods and then waits for me to continue around the complex. I point at unit seven next.
“Clara is tricky. She’s hot and sweet. But she’s also manipulative as fuck. If there’s drama around here, Clara is no doubt at the source of it. Don’t ever tell her your secrets unless you want everyone here to know what they are.”
I leave out the part where I’d had stupid, drunk one-night stand with Clara last year. I’ve been trying to shake that woman off my dick ever since.
“Next to Clara is Linda. Single mom. Two cute as hell kids, Topher and Eloise. She’ll try and buddy up to you, but don’t be dazzled by her charm or you’ll be stuck babysitting those two monsters for free. Ask me how I know.”
Savvy giggles again and I decide I like the sound. Cole’s laughter is a rarity. It’ll be nice to have someone who enjoys my humor around here.
“Unit nine is vacant at the moment. Old guy who lived there passed away recently. Reid’s been getting it fixed up so they can rent it out.” I point to the place next to it on the end. “Stay away from Tammy and Joel. Married couple who fights more than they get along. No kids. Joel has wandering eyes. I’m pretty sure he let Clara blow him in the laundry room once, but that could be a rumor.”
Her eyes widen. “Interesting group. So, the laundry room is next to their unit?”
“Party room too,” I say with a grin. “Later this month, Reid’s having a little get-together for Brayden’s eighteenth. You should go.”
“Hopefully I’ll have a job by then,” she says softly. “I really need money.”
“I can give you—”
She cuts me off with a dirty look that reminds me of her mom whenever I’d say something crude. “No. I need my own money. I’m an adult now.”
As much as I want to deny it, I can’t. With her sitting beside me, the wind tousling her glossy hair, and her glowering at me, she looks like a grown ass woman. She’s attractive, and clearly full of sass. I’ll have to fight off the beer bros who are going to be thrilled to have a pretty, young woman for their new neighbor.
Ignoring her grumpiness, especially since I don’t agree with her about us helping her out, I continue on around the U-shaped complex, pointing out the office and mailroom, Reid and Brayden’s place, Casey and Derek’s, and finally Maggie.
“What’s Casey and Derek’s story?” she asks, voice calmer than a few moments before. “Are they nice?”
“Yeah, Derek’s cool. Drives a big truck delivering packages all day. Casey…well, honestly, I don’t know what she does.” I frown, feeling like an idiot. “She’s obsessed with planning their wedding. The more she talks about it, the more Derek seems turned off by it. They fight nearly as much as Tammy and Joel lately.”
“Is Clara going to service him in the laundry room too?”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “Casey may make Derek crazy, but he’s loyal. He won’t cheat on Casey. I’m concerned about his lungs though. He’s been chain-smoking a fuck ton lately.”
When Derek’s had enough of his woman, he sometimes comes over to hang out. Cole thinks he’s hiding something which makes him suspicious, so they’re not exactly friends. I think the dude just needs to escape his overbearing lady. Derek’s cool. I like him.
“Speaking of smoke,” Savvy says with a slight grimace. “Do you think you can run me by Smoke & Sugar tonight so I can complete an application?”
“I could eat. Maybe we should have dinner and celebrate you finally getting here.” Before she can protest, I shake my head. “My treat. Stop worrying about money. Once you get a job, you can buy some groceries or whatever makes you happy. For now, let us take care of you.”
Tension bleeds out of her, and she relaxes in her chair. I know she feels awkward about the whole situation, but she doesn’t need to. As her father’s best friends, we have a duty to look after her.
We’ll make good on that duty whether she wants us to or not.
I’m highly amused that Cole has to ride bitch in the truck. He really does not like the idea of putting Savvy in any inappropriate positions. Because he can’t fathom the idea of her thigh touching mine, it’s his thigh that gets all the action. While I can barely contain my humor at the situation, he remains stiff and uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Savvy has all the room in the world on her side of the truck.
“You know where it is?” Savvy asks, nerves in her voice. “On Main Street?”
“Driven past it plenty of times,” I say with a nod. “Never tried it, though.”
“I heard they have steak,” Cole offers. “I could go for a steak right about now.”
I smirk at his statement. Steak is Cole’s favorite food. Neither one of us can work the grill on our back patio, so we often cook it on the stove inside. It’s nothing spectacular, but it’s food.
“If I had a phone, I could look up their menu,” Savvy says in exasperation. “I wish Leah would have let me get a new one first before cutting me off.”
Someone pulls out of a spot right in front of the building and I eagerly take their it. As soon as I turn the truck off and open the door, I’m hit with a pleasing, savory meat aroma. My stomach grumbles audibly.
“Are you always hungry?” Cole asks after climbing out on my side. “You ate like two hours ago. I’m running on adrenaline and Sady Gala.”
If I had to guess, Sady Gala is a craft beer.
The restored building bears a black sign with gold writing that says Smoke & Sugar. Beneath it, in smaller writing, it says, “steak, spirits, sweets.” Sounds like my kind of place.
Cole holds open the door for Savvy but thinks nothing of letting it close in front of me. Not exactly surprised. Cole gets hyper focused on shit and obsesses. Right now, his obsession is taking care of Savvy.
The inside smells even better than the outside. Now, the savory scents are bolder, but they’re laced with something sweeter like cinnamon. I’m fucking starved right now.
No one stands at the hostess area, hence they’re needing help. They’d be fools not to hire Savvy. She’s more than capable. Plus, she’d look great manning the post and seating people.
A woman with long red hair hurries out, clutching her heavily pregnant belly. “Hi, guys. Sorry about that. We’re a little shorthanded tonight. Just the three of you?”
We nod and then follow her to a semi-private booth. I can tell this puts Cole on edge, so when he slides into the booth on one side, I sit down beside him. No young lady thigh touching on my watch either, sir!
He shoots me a grateful look as Savvy sits across from us.
“Can I offer you all some of our house wine—” the redhead starts before being rudely interrupted by Cole.
“She’s underage,” Cole bites out. “She’ll not be partaking.”
The woman’s eyebrows hike up, but she forces a polite smile. “Sorry. I’m usually in the back. It’s more of my husband’s thing to run the floor.”
“Forget about him,” I say to the woman, hoping to put her at ease. “He got shot at today.”
Savvy smirks at me and Cole curses under his breath.
“Stop telling everyone that,” he mutters. “Seriously, no one cares.”
“I care,” me, Savvy, and the redhead all say at once.
“Sheriff McMahon is a frequent patron and friend,” the redhead says. “I’m Vale Young. Do you work with him?”
Cole nods and then darts his eyes around as if looking for a menu. Vale chuckles and hands him a square card. “You use your phone to access the menu. I’m still trying to get used to it, but my husband says all the trendy places are doing it these days.”
Savvy’s humor fades because she doesn’t have a phone. Cole curses, this time much louder, in frustration.
“Maybe bring some water. And give us an order of your best appetizer to start?” I say to Vale. “Cole here doesn’t get out much. I’ll have his manners in check by the time you get back.”
Vale smiles gratefully to me and then waddles her pregnant self out of view. Before Cole has a meltdown, I use my phone to access the QR code to bring up the menu. Now I’m the one feeling nervous.
Did I say I’d pay?
What the hell does “market” mean beside the steak and seafood? It must be expensive if they don’t even list a price.
“Is there something wrong?” Savvy asks, stiffening.
If she knows how pricy this place is, she might freak out. But dinner for three of us is going to set me back. Thank God for credit cards.
“No, I was trying to figure out what ‘charred bone marrow’ was. Sounds disgusting.” I zoom in to read the description. “It doesn’t say what it is, just that it comes with sourdough bread and chimichurri. Anyone know what the hell chimichurri is?”
Cole and Savvy both shake their heads. I hope Vale brings us the ‘smoke & sugar’ wings and not the ‘charred bone marrow.’
“Do they have burgers?” Savvy asks, wide, innocent eyes boring into me.
No, little S, they have filet mignon and salmon and other bougie-ass foods we have no business eating.
“Sorry to disappoint,” I say instead, “but their house favorite is the truffle and herb chicken. Looks like it’s a slow-roasted chicken breast with truffle honey drizzle and crispy garlic.”
“I’ll take that,” she rushes out, clearly happy to be done with that. “And fries if they have them.”
“I’ll have steak,” Cole says. “A big one. I need it after today. Mashed potatoes too.”
Luckily for them, they have those items. Unluckily for me, the steak prices are a mystery but based on Savvy’s twenty-nine-dollar entree choice, I’m about to put a shiny dent on my credit card with this meal.
A man comes up to our table. He wears a friendly grin and seems much less frazzled than the woman.
“Hello,” the man says. “My wife told me you guys are first timers. I’m Aiden Blakely-Young, owner of Smoke & Sugar.”
He must be loaded with what the prices are here.
“Owner?” Cole asks, an eagerness in his tone. “This girl right here is looking for a job.”
“Is that so?” Aiden says, grinning at her. “Can you serve alcohol?”
“I’m eighteen,” Savvy answers. “Do you have to be twenty-one?”
“Nope. Eighteen is good. Free to work nights and weekends?”
“Yes. Anything. I really need money.” Her cheeks burn bright red, and she fidgets in her seat. “I just moved to this side of town. I’m starting at Brown tomorrow.”
“Good school,” Aiden says. “Why don’t we get your order going and after you enjoy your meal, meet me afterwards? We can discuss it more.”
This guy seems cool, and the place is fancy. It could be a good job for Savvy. Then, maybe she’ll relax a little.
Putting a few hundred bucks on my credit card will be worth it.
Right now, I’d do anything to make that girl happy after all the hell she’s been through. Even if that means eating an overpriced steak and some charred bone marrow.