SWNOVELS The Way We Touch: Chapter 4
“Put more fries on the plates.” I stop Salina Duck on her way out, heaping French fries around the burgers on her tray.
“I just grab ‘em the way they’re served!” She shakes her brown ponytail before heading into the packed dining area.
I step into the kitchen, going to where Thomas is working at the grill, flipping fresh burgers while he monitors the frier.
“Why are you skimping on the fries, Thomas? Are we running out?”
“Nope.” His full lips tighten with a frown as he shakes his head, flipping a line of Angus beef burgers on the grill. “Craig said we’re cutting back on the fries for heart health.”
His tone is disapproving, and my head snaps to Craig, who’s standing at the refrigerator drinking Red Bull.
“What?” He glances from me to our cook.
“You told Thomas to put less fries on the plates?”
“I read an article about saturated fats and how bad they are for us. I think it’s our responsibility to look out for the customers.”
“We’re not skimping on the fries. Anybody in the restaurant business will tell you, ‘Don’t mess with what works.’” I glance at the clock, and it’s after seven. “You’ll put us out of business.”
“Nobody’s going to stop coming to the Coot-n-Shoot,” he argues, and Thomas makes a noise like I don’t know…
“Back to normal rations, Thomas.” The old man nods in agreement, and I reach into the refrigerator, taking out a giant silver bowl of salsa. “Time for the Dare Dish of the Week!”
Salina returns with her empty tray. “Buddy Outlaw said it’s about time you stopped skimping on the fries.” She cuts her eyes at Craig. “He asked if you’re trying to put him on a diet or something.”
Craig puts a hand on his chest. “Who told him it was me?”
“I’m not losing tip money over your harebrained schemes.”
“It’s all fixed. Now let’s do this.” We head out to the bar where I placed the small plastic baskets earlier. “Fill these with the tortilla chips, and I’ll scoop the salsa. Hit the red light, Allie.”
“It’s time!” Allie does a happy jump, running to cue the lights and music.
The first strains of “Hot Stuff” beat through the bar, and people start to clap and yell. The side door leading out to the pool tables opens, and the players step through the doorway to watch as Allie, Salina, Craig and a few of the other waitresses hop onto the bar to shake their hips to the old Donna Summer disco hit.
Craig gets the biggest cheers when he pulls on a shoulder-length, blond wig with flowing curls. He also pulls the bottom of his T-shirt up and loops it through the neck, turning it into a crop top. Then he starts to move like Mick Jagger.
Two old ladies run up and tuck dollar bills into the waistband of his jeans.
I shake my head, standing in front of the giant bowl of salsa and holding a ladle. We have an empty pickle jar for people to drop tips for the weekly dare dishes. Some put in a dollar, but some put as much as twenty.
My ex Davis always said it was an ignorant way to run a business, but we’ve always covered the cost of the weekly, off-menu items. Sometimes we even clear a small profit.
“What do we have tonight?” Buddy Outlaw walks up, dropping a tenner in the jar.
Buddy’s the assistant coach with Jack at the high school.
“Hey, Bud!” I ladle the special salsa over his chips. “Ghost pepper salsa with onions, cilantro, and fresh lime.” I turn the vat of sour cream. “Add a heaping helping of sour cream to cool your tongue.”
“That’s more like it.” He cuts his eyes at Craig, who’s joining me as the song ends. “None of this cutting corners.”
Craig holds up both hands. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Buddy Outlaw. We’re all about customer service here at the Coot-n-Shoot.”
I continue ladling and passing out the baskets of chips and salsa to the line of eager guests.
Allie is on the mic reciting the warning about the heat level of ghost peppers and what to do if anyone has too much. I look up to see a man standing at the back of the room scowling, and my stomach drops. He’s in a pink Vineyard Vines golf shirt and khakis with a dark green visor on his head. As always, his arms are crossed.
“Take over,” I say to Craig, who looks up and lets out a little groan.
“I told you he was coming back.”
“I’ll take care of him.” Slipping off my gloves, I walk down the length of the dining hall to where my ex stands waiting.
“Shew, Dylan!” one of our regulars calls to me as I pass. “Hot stuff is right!”
“The sour cream will put out the burn, but if it’s not enough, one of the waiters can bring you some ice cream. We have little cups in the freezer. Don’t use beer!”
The man laughs, waving at me, and I stop when I’m standing in front of Davis. “Table for one?”
“Don’t patronize me, Dylan. You know why I’m here.” His entitled voice is like a hand rubbing a cat’s fur the wrong way.
“Actually, I don’t, unless it’s to have dinner.”
“I see you’re still doing this sideshow.”
“Customers love the weekly Dare dish.”
“I guess they do. You’re practically giving away free food. Who does that?”
“It’s not free food, and it’s not even something everyone will like.” Tilting my head to the side, I give him a saccharine smile. “Would you like a bowl of ghost pepper salsa?”
If only he’d say yes, I’d put the rest of the shavings into his serving myself. I can shred more to infuse the honey tomorrow.
“No, thank you.” He steps to the side, putting his hand on the screen door leading out to the children’s play area. “Can we talk outside?”
“There’s really nothing to say.”
“Please.” It’s more an order than a request, and as much as I want to fight with him, I decide I’ll get this over with and follow him out to the empty playground.
Anyone can see us if they’re interested, but most people are too busy watching the girls dancing or they’re lining up to try the weekly special.
The door closes, and he walks slowly to where the water laps at the little beach. I stop at the jungle gym, studying him in the glow of the restaurant.
Davis Kent is from an old-money family across the bay, and he went to the most expensive private schools. Even though it’s less than twenty miles away, it’s nothing like the small-town community we have here.
I met him the summer after I graduated from college when I worked at the golf club attached to the fancy resort hotel south of town.
He was the golf pro, and one day it was my job to run the beer cart around the course. I’d drive around, stopping to let the golfers purchase drinks or snacks. He caught my eye because he’s tall, fair, and handsome, with a lean physique and polished manners.
I liked that he was refined and smart. I liked that he wasn’t in danger of getting a concussion whenever he played in a tournament. I liked that I never had to worry about him dying a slow, painful death, slowly losing his mind because of all the concussions he’d suffered for his sport.
I didn’t realize I had to worry about him cheating on me.
“What’s it going to take Dylan?” He turns to face me, putting both hands on his waist. “What do you want? Diamonds? A Birkin bag?”
My brow furrows, and I realize how little we have in common. “Are you trying to buy my forgiveness after I caught you sticking your dick in Stephanie Wilcox?”
“It meant nothing to me.” He walks back to where I’m standing and my muscles tense the closer he gets.
“It meant something to me.”
“What? What did it mean? That I was bored? That you’d been out of town or on your period, and we hadn’t had sex in a week?”
“So any time you go more than five days without getting laid, I have to worry you’re going to cheat on me?”
“That’s not the point. The point is, it’s not about us. I was blowing off steam.”
My eyes squeeze shut, and I exhale slowly, centering myself so I’ll stay calm and not kick him in the nuts. Because the truth is, I really don’t care anymore.
Opening my eyes, I’m pleased with how level my voice is. “It was always about us, Davis. It was about us every time you’d scowl when I played with my brothers or when I ran an errand in my bare feet or when I rode my bike to meet you for dinner.”
“Because running around barefoot is dangerous, and I can pick you up for dinner. There’s no reason for you to ride a bike. It’s ridiculous, as is this entire dispute.” His voice actually rises. “Whenever my father took a gentleman’s intermission, my mother would buy a designer gown, and that would be the end of it.”
“I’m not your mother, and I have to get back to work.”
“I’m not finished talking to you.” He grips my upper arm painfully as his voice grows louder.
I jerk it away, and now I’m pissed. “Don’t touch me again. I’m not interested in an intermission. I’m not interested in the full show. It’s over, and you can stop coming here to talk about it. Nothing is going to change. We’re through.”
The muscle in his jaw moves, and he takes a step closer. Anger radiates off him, and for the first time in his presence, a sliver of fear pierces my chest.
I swallow, straightening my spine, not wanting him to think I’m afraid. I can’t imagine he’d be stupid enough to do something with Jack and Garrett around. Even injured, Zane would kick his ass if he dared to hurt me.
“You’re going to regret this, Dylan Bradford.” His chest heaves, and a fleck of spittle hits my cheek.
I wipe it away forcefully. “No, I’m not.”
“You’re going to call begging for me one of these days, and I’m going to laugh in your face.”
“Don’t hold your breath waiting.” Turning, I walk back to the restaurant.
“This is your last chance,” he shouts after me.
I hold a thumbs-up over my head as I pull open the screen door and go inside.
Craig reads my expression, and he hands the ladle over to Allie before coming to where I’m doing my best to shake off the unpleasantness of that encounter. I don’t want to admit to being scared, but it was intense.
“Just shows I was right,” I say to myself. “Asshole.”
“Are you okay?” Craig puts a hand on my shoulder, then quickly pulls it back. “What the fuck?”
He hooks a finger in my elbow, studying the red mark on my upper arm. I look down, and my eyebrows rise.
“Did he do that?” Rage is in my friend’s eyes, but I quickly tamp it down.
“It’s nothing. He tried to make me stay and talk to him, but I jerked my arm away. It must’ve been a little too forceful.”
“I’m going to show him a little too forceful. Where did he go?”
“Stop.” I squeeze his arm now. “If you get the guys all riled up, it’ll be a big scene, and I don’t want that. I just want him to go away.”
Craig’s eyes narrow, and he flinches, weighing my words. “He should never put a hand on you.”
“I agree, and if he ever does it again, I will help you kick his ass.” I loop my arm through my friend’s. “I don’t think he’ll be back. I made it crystal clear we’re over. He just doesn’t like being told no.”
“He’d better not run into me in a dark alley.”
I exhale a relieved chuckle, leading us further into the restaurant. Davis did scare me a little, but if any of them ever find out he did, I can’t imagine what might happen. I really don’t want my brothers going to jail for murder.
“What’s the reaction to this week’s dare?” I look around the room at the salsa bowls.
Some are empty. Some are full, while others are somewhere in the middle. Everyone’s back to talking and having a good time.
“All good. Oliver Duck wants to know when you’re going to give him a real challenge.”
“That kid.” I shake my head. Salina’s little brother is always complaining the specials aren’t hot enough. “I’m going to find a Carolina Reaper recipe just for him.”
“You should’ve given him the shreds Logan ate.” Craig helps me collect the empty bowls and the gallon of sour cream, carrying them back to the kitchen. “Speaking of hot, where is that fine piece of man meat?”
“Did you just say man meat?” I cry, leaning over the sink as I rinse the large bowl and transfer it to the dishwasher.
I might laugh a little too hard, releasing the nerves from my encounter with Davis. Craig puts the sour cream in the refrigerator and grabs two beers.
“Here. You earned it.”
I take the Corona out of his hand and take a long sip. “Logan and Garrett were still sleeping when I left. I should head back and take them some dinner.”
“Got you covered, Boss.” Thomas winks, handing me a box. “Two burgers, medium rare with our special sauce and extra fries.”
“They are going to love you. Garrett might walk over here and give you a hug.”
“Oh, no!” Thomas throws up his hands, laughing. “If I see him coming, I’m gonna run.”
Craig slides a hand across my upper back. “I’ll close tonight. Take care of your brothers.”
Leaning to the side, I give him a hug. He knows me so well. He knows how much I miss Garrett when he’s in New York, but most of all, he knows I need a minute after that interaction with Davis.