They ordered drinks and food. Once they’d stuffed themselves, they danced. To some they may have seemed silly, but Jenny didn’t care. For once, she wasn’t worrying about her feelings or what lay ahead. Just for the night, she was putting it all aside and spending time with the ladies in her life who meant the world to her.
“Guys,” Sam said when they sat down to take a break, all slightly sweaty and parched. “You know who would’ve loved this? My friend, Denise.”
“Oh, Sam.” Ann reached over and put her arm around Sam’s shoulders.
Sam rarely spoke of her old life in Chicago. There were too many painful memories. They knew about Denise and how guilty Sam still felt about her murder. Jenny’s heart went out to her. She couldn’t imagine losing a friend in such a violent way. Memories of her own time with that psycho tried to surface, but she refused to give in. Not tonight. He could have her nightmares some other day.
“Well,” Jenny said, determined to keep them from a trip into Despairville, “what’s not to like? We’re awesome.” She raised a glass and waited for the other’s to follow suit. “To Denise. A lady I wish I’d known and who is with us here, tonight, in spirit.”
Sam wiped a single tear from her eye. “To Denise.”
They clanked glassed and sipped.
“I would like to propose one more toast.” Sam inhaled, sat up tall in her chair and raised her glass again. “You are the best friends I never knew I needed, and I thank God you came into my life. I love you guys. Cheers!”
“Cheers!” Jenny and Ann echoed.
“Now,” Sam said and stood, “let’s get back out there and shake it.”
While Adam waited for the car with the other members of Spencer’s bachelor party, a group of finely dressed women passed them. Adam nodded when a redhead with long legs caught his eye and smiled. In another lifetime maybe she would’ve been his type, but not anymore.
Jake’s black Tahoe pulled to a stop in front of the door. Adam slipped the valet kid a five dollar bill and, serving as the designated driver, climbed into the driver’s seat. “Where to, boys?”
“Pool hall,” Jake said from the passenger seat. “You know the one.”
“All right, then.” Adam turned out of the parking lot, leaving the steakhouse behind them and headed toward Rusty’s Pool Hall. “Thanks again for inviting me to crash your bachelor party.”
Spencer leaned forward to slap a hand on Adam’s shoulder. “Thanks for driving.”
“I second that,” Jake reached for the volume knob for the radio. “I never go out anymore except to birthday parties that involve super heroes and robots.”
“I’ve done nothing but work all month,” Nick added from the backseat. “It’s left zero time for going out. I even missed the game last week.”
“Damn, Jones’ no hitter?” Spencer hit the seat. “That sucks.”
Jake turned so that he could see his brother and Nick better. “That’s what happens when you’re trying to impress your boss and move up the chain of command.”
“It’s a slow climb.”
Adam glanced at Nick via the rearview. He was new to town since Adam’s departure, a police officer trying to make detective. He had dark eyes and darker hair, and according to Spencer, was a native of the Atlanta Metro area. He was a few years younger than the rest of them were, but seemed like an okay guy.
“Maybe you’ll get lucky tonight, Nick, and meet someone else to take you home,” Spencer wiggled his eyebrows.
“Those girls walking in the restaurant as we left weren’t too bad,” Nick drummed his knuckles on the window. “The redhead definitely had her sights set on Adam, though. Based on the way she was undressing him with her eyes, I’d say she probably would’ve passed out, if he’d spoken to her.”
Adam smiled, shook his head and kept his mouth shut.
“She was wasting her time.” Jake grinned at Adam as he sat sideways in his seat with his back almost against the door. “He’s only got eyes for one girl in town and she’s not redheaded.”
“Who’s that?” Nick smiled and met Adam’s eyes in the rearview mirror.
“Jenny Fillmore,” Spencer answered before Adam could say anything. Not that he was embarrassed about how he felt about Jenny. He’d shout it from the rooftops if it were only up to him.
Nick whistled. “Can’t say I blame you there. She’s a nice looking woman. Too bad about what happened to her last year.” He nodded toward Spencer. “Her and Sam.”
“But, thanks to you,” Spencer laid a hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Sam’s still around. Don’t know what we would’ve done without you.”
“I was just doing my job.”
Adam’s eyes darted to the rearview again and Spencer, noticing his unasked question, leaned forward again.
“Nick’s the one who shot the guy last year. When we were fighting outside Sam’s house, Nick was the first cop to arrive on the scene. I thought that asshole was going to kill me. He nearly did.”
“All right now,” Jake said as they arrived at the pool hall. “That’s enough of the downer talk. Show Nick you love him by buying him a beer.”
They laughed, the mood shifting back to what it had been at the restaurant, complete with trash talk over fantasy football and more beer. They chose one of the last few open tables in the back of the place and racked the balls. Adam tried a couple of practice stances with his pool stick to warm up. Like with everything else, it’d been awhile.
The air was thick with smoke and at a table to their right, a group of guys with several empty pitchers lining the nearby bar were laughing loud enough to be heard over the already loud music. Adam put them to his back and watched Spencer finish off his beer, his friend’s gaze already on the table.
Spencer leaned in a moment later and took aim. The man of the hour getting to break. He sank two balls, called stripes and slapped Jake on the back as his brother lined up for his turn. Nick, his partner for the game, played for their team first, and Adam had to admit the guy had some skill. He sank two balls of his own and thanks to Jake’s misses, they were tied.
Taking a deep breath and holding it, Adam leaned down and rested the pool stick between his fingers. As he pulled back, he exhaled and then watched as another one of the solids disappeared.
“Let’s not forget whose bachelor party this is, Hamilton.”
Adam grinned and made his next shot, barely missing the corner. “Are you going to use that excuse all night?”
“Yeah,” Spencer took a swig of his beer and replaced his bottle on the bar. “Loser buys the next round.”
“You’re on,” Nick smiled at Adam with a gleam in his eye.
Spencer tipped the edge of his ball cap up so he could get a better view. He’d pulled it out of his back pocket the second they’d left the restaurant. Sadly, Adam left his at the house.
Spencer banked a shot and sent a ball flying across the table where it hit another into the hole. He didn’t seem to need the practice like Adam did.
“Born lucky I guess,” Spencer ended his turn. Jake sank one on his next turn, Nick did the same, and then it was back around to Adam.
He had two possible shots. The one in the corner looked promising, but he’d have to be careful not to accidentally tap the other team’s ball into the hole in the process. The farther shot was wide open, but harder to sink by his estimation. He circled the table and rested his fingers on the green felt. With his eyes on the ball, he pulled back and then pushed sending the ball flying into the hole. Harder shot be damned.
Nick tapped the end of his stick on the ground. “Yeah buddy, that’s what I’m talking about.”
Adam bent over the table, pulled back and—
“Bullshit! A six year old girl coulda made that shot.”
Adam’s reflexes stopped his shot when h
e realized a comment was being directed at him. He cut his eyes upward slowly and stood. “Excuse me?”
“I said, is it hard to accept you couldn’t even cut it playing such a pussy sport like baseball?” It was one of the guys from the table beside theirs. He had three other guys with him dressed in wife beaters and flannel, joined by two ladies he’d just as soon never see in daylight.
Jake stepped between Adam and the other guy. “Why don’t you boys stick to your own table?”
“Your friend too big of a pussy to even answer for himself?” The redneck laughed like he was the funniest guy on the planet and his friends joined in.
Adam kept his tone even and tucked one of his hands into his pockets. “Let me guess, you boys are Alabama fans.”
“Roll Tide,” they all cheered in unison.
“And, none of you were actually smart enough to get in.”
Their smiles faded and the leader stepped forward. “What’d you say to me?”
“Oh, I think you heard me.” Adam smirked and glanced around at the other guys. Spencer set his beer down and moved next to his brother, ready to jump in at the smallest hint of a fight. Nick’s face was blank, but his shoulders were tense. Adam had no doubt they could take the drunken assholes, but Nick, being an officer of the law, probably didn’t need to get into trouble for a bar fight.
“Football is what real men play.”
“And, you played ball in high school?” Adam challenged.
“Damn right we did.” The guy switched his weight from his left foot to his right and pummeled one of his fists into his opposite palm. “Baseball ain’t a real sport.”
“Why?” Adam tapped his knuckle against the side of his own head. “Too little brain damage involved to suit you?”
The guy stepped forward and one of his cronies followed. Jake and Spencer met them, nose to nose. It’d been a long time since he’d seen a good Malloy brothers fight. Too long.
“Gentlemen,” Nick said stepping in. He hooked his thumbs through his belt and looked like the cop he was. “Why don’t we settle this like men? None of us want to get kicked out of this fine establishment. How about we play a game and the loser leaves with no trouble?”
The lead guy with the shaved head and the ugly skull tattoo looked over his shoulder at his friends. They smirked and skull guy did the same when he turned back to face them. “You got it.”
An hour later Spencer lounged on a stool, still boasting about their win. “I mean, it would’ve been fun to go a few rounds,” he shrugged, “but it was cleaner the way it went down.”
Adam eyed the college students who now surrounded the pool table where the rednecks had once stood. One of the corners of his mouth turned up. He was used to harassment. It’d been part of his job description. But, watching the redneck bastards get their asses handed to them sure had been fun.
“Great bachelor party, man.” Nick slurred his words a little as he held up his beer.
“Here, here,” Jake added. “To my brother.”
Chapter 14
The breeze stirred the table cloths and set the wind chimes on the porch to singing. Jenny placed her hands on her hips and carefully scrutinized Ann’s backyard. Several round tables sat in a cluster on the brick patio. Each one covered in a different earth-tone colored fabric and in the center, sat a low, wide metal bucket full of orange and yellow flowers. Strands of greenery lined the buffet tables sitting off to one side while small white lights hung from the large oak trees surrounding the area.
Muttering sounded from the porch. Jenny held up a hand to shield her eyes and saw Jake lying on his side still fiddling with the small amp being used to project sound for speeches and music.
“Do you need a hand?”
“Nah, I’m good,” Jake’s voice came back muffled behind the box.
“Men,” Ann stepped outside through the screen door. She shot a look at her husband and shook her head. “Always too proud for their own good.” She waited to say the last part until she was beside Jenny.
“I heard that,” Jake called.
The women giggled and went to work tying thick ribbons around all the chairs. The color scheme fit the time of year. The old wooden barn and flowing pasture which would serve as the backdrop for the rehearsal dinner, were a natural fit for the couple they’d be celebrating.
The screen door creaked as it opened again. Jenny paused in the middle of a bow and glanced up. Sam stood wiping tears from her eyes. Jenny set the ribbon on the table and rushed to her side, a crease forming between her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“My parents,” fresh tears fell from Sam’s eyes, “they can’t get here.”
Ann joined them on the porch. “What about their flight? Did they miss it? If they did, I’m sure there’s another one. It’s still early.”
Sam shook her head and sent curls flying. “It was cancelled due to weather. Now, they’re just hoping to make it by the wedding tomorrow.”
“Oh, Sam, I’m so sorry.” Jenny rubbed a hand up and down Sam’s bare arm. “I know how much you wanted them to be here tonight.”
After wiping under her eyes once more, Sam took in the backyard and gasped. “It’s wonderful.”
Ann turned sideways and looked around before returning her gaze to Sam. “You really like it? We can always add something or take it away—”
“Don’t you dare.” Sam descended the steps and crossed to one of the tables. “It’s like something straight out of Southern Living.”
“That’s a high compliment.” Jenny started for the chair she’d abandoned. “A few more bows and it’ll be perfect.” As she finished with the chair in front of her, she tried to see the set-up with fresh eyes, the way Sam had. It was beautiful and had a certain intimacy. She’d have to toast Ann later when they had a free moment.
“Why don’t you go get dressed while we finish up and we’ll join you in just a few?” Ann slid an arm around Sam’s waist to try to usher back toward the house.
“Are you sure I can’t help?”
Peter’s cries filled the monitor hanging off of Ann’s hip, as if on cue. “You could grab Peter for me. That would be the most helpful thing in the world.”
Sam beamed. “I’m on it.” She took off for the house, letting the door spring closed behind her.
“Do you think they’ll get pregnant on their honeymoon or the following week?” Ann shook her head and grinned at Jenny.
“The girl does seem to have baby fever.” She tugged and then fluffed the final bow. “She’ll be a wonderful mother.”
“Um-hmm,” Ann agreed. The high-pitched sound of feedback echoed around them forcing their hands to their ears. “Jake, what in the world?”
“Everything’s under control,” he shouted.
Jenny could barely hear him over her still ringing ears. “Where did you say he got that thing?”
Ann rolled her eyes toward the heavens.
“What’s going on out here?”
Jenny spun around to find Adam rounding the side of the house.
“I’ve got beverages.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, but Jenny had trouble understanding the rest of what he was saying. She was too distracted by his bare arms to make a coherent thought.
“Hey, man,” Jake said, “You know anything about amps?”
As Adam jogged up the steps to join Jake in his manly endeavor, Jenny met Ann’s wide eyes across the table where they were touching up the final chairs. So, it wasn’t just her over sensitivity to Adam, he really did look good enough to lust after. But, what was he doing there?
“Psst, Ann,” Jenny hissed. “What’s up? Is he coming tonight?”
Ann nodded. “Spencer added him to the list, last minute.” She gathered up the scissors and extra fabric and walked around to Jenny’s side of the table.
“He offered to get the drinks and bring them by early so they’d have time to chill. I meant to tell you.”
“It’s no problem.” Jenny glanced over her shoulder. Both men were now huddled together studying the back of the black box. “I was just surprised, but I guess I shouldn’t be. They’re friends.”
Feedback rang out for a second time, but was then replaced by quieter static. “Yeah, buddy. We got it.” Jake got to his feet and slapped his hands on his pants.
“Never doubted you for a minute, hon.” Ann smiled sweetly at both men.
Jenny did her best to hold in another giggle as Sam stepped onto the porch holding the grinning baby, Peter. “This little guy wanted to see what all the excitement was about. Oh, hey, Adam.”
“Hi-ya, Sam. Looks nice out here.” Adam nodded to the decorations, but didn’t offer Jenny so much as a glance.
“Oh, well, thanks, but I didn’t do anything. Ann and Jenny did all the work.”
Jake cleared his throat.
“And, Jake, too,” Sam amended.
“Only the world’s best brother-in-law-to-be over here.” Jake puffed up his chest.
“I know.” Sam offered a sad smile to Jake. “I really wanted my parents to get to spend time with everyone tonight. Tomorrow will be so crazy. Or, at least I’ll be so crazy.”
“Have you heard from them again? Any change?” Ann asked.
“Nope, still stuck in Illinois.” Sam huffed out a breath and turned her attention back to the baby on her hip to hold her emotions in check.
“What’s going on?” Adam looked from Sam’s sad face to Ann.
Running Home (Warm Springs Trilogy Book 2) Page 13