by K. Aten
Hearing her girlfriend’s words, Annie sucked her bottom lip back in and made a face. “Are you nervous? This is your fault you know! If I totally suck I’m blaming you!”
Laughter was loud coming through the speaker of her phone. “If you totally suck, so will I and we can suck together! Wait, hold on a sec—” Annie snickered at her girlfriend’s choice of phrasing and waited patiently for her to come back on the line. The silence abruptly ended with laughter. “—sorry, apparently my phrasing was too much to let go by without Jason saying something not safe for work. So anyway, you’re going to do great up there tomorrow, and I will try not to bomb too badly. You wouldn’t have had to worry about it at all if you hadn’t volunteered me to play drums in Sarah’s song. And if you hadn’t volunteered me, I wouldn’t have mentioned that you’ve been practicing it a lot on the guitar Sarah loaned you.”
“So now we’re both roped into playing ‘Blood of My Blood’ with her tomorrow. On stage. In front of everyone.”
Jesse made a weird growling noise over the phone. “When you put it like that, it makes me kind of queasy. So not to change the subject, but I’m totally changing the subject. Did you only call to tell me you were bored?”
Annie whined. “I’m bored.”
The woman on the other end of the phone laughed. “Really? Nothing else?”
“I want a beer.”
Jesse laughed even harder. “Babe, you’re in a bar. Go get yourself a beer, jeez—” She cut off again, but only for a few seconds this time. “Whoops, gotta go, babe. Boss man wants this code re-written before I leave at five. I’ll see you soon, okay? Text Sarah, maybe she’s done with appointments and can hang with you for a bit.”
They said their goodbyes and hung up. Annie immediately texted her sister.
I want a beer.
She laughed when she read the reply a few seconds later.
Don’t you work in a bar?
The younger Colby laughed at how her sister’s response was so similar to Jesse’s. She sent another text.
yeah but Im done here and want 2 go home
Too bad I’ve got another client here after this one. Sorry A, but not done til 5. Text 2 see if Keller is free
Annie growled with frustration and looked at the time on her phone. It was only three twenty. Undaunted, she texted Keller next.
whatcha doin?
This time she didn’t get a reply for a few minutes. When it chimed, she laughed at Keller’s proper spelling and punctuation. There was a reason her old boss was the slowest texter she knew, even with her enhanced speed and dexterity.
I just finished giving Duke a bath and trimming his nails. Jill showed me how to do it a few weeks ago and I think I’ll leave it to the doctor next time. He was not a fan. I have no plans now. What’s up?
Annie sent her frustrated response back.
done w/work and want a beer. All my sitters are busy. Want 2 hang?
Two more minutes went by before her phone vibrated.
Actually, I do want to hang out. I’ve got some news for you. I’ll be there to pick you up in ten minutes and we can grab a drink somewhere.
Annie’s stomach knotted at what her old boss might have to say.
news?
Luckily, Keller texted back quickly to reassure her.
Good news. ;)
The younger woman immediately sent messages to her sister and girlfriend.
Keller is gonna pick me up. happy hour, ya suckers! enjoy wrking! :P
Happy once again, Annie skipped off to the office to grab her satchel. Lissa was sitting at her desk going over a spreadsheet on her laptop. She looked up when Annie knocked and came in. “What in the world was Keller doing to go through so many office chairs?”
Annie laughed. “I have no idea. You’ll have to ask next time you see her. I’m out of here, but I’ll be meeting Bruce at the park tomorrow at nine. He’s got the truck loaded and he’ll swing by here in the morning to pick it up. The volunteers will be there at ten and we can get the stage set up. Everything seems all set for the festival. Anything else you need before I’m gone for the day?”
The new manager of The Merge looked up at her and smiled. Lissa was continuously amazed at the stellar crew that Keller had managed to put together during her time at the bar. She only hoped she could do half as well. “No, I think you’ve got everything well in hand. And after six tomorrow evening, consider yourself off until Tuesday. You’ve done a lot of work lately and I want you to know how much I appreciate it.”
The younger woman smiled. “Thanks, boss!” She started to walk out the door but was stopped.
“Oh, and Annie?” When Annie glanced back a Lissa, her boss gave her a reassuring smile. “Good luck tomorrow!”
She mumbled a quick thanks and scooted out the door. She got to the front of the bar just in time to see Keller roll up in her midnight blue Audi. The top was down so Annie quickly pulled the ponytail holder from her wrist and secured her shoulder-length hair. She laughed as she got into the car. “People are going to gossip about attractive women in fancy cars picking me up when my girlfriend’s not around.”
Keller snorted. “Riiiggghhht. So what do you feel like?”
“Beer and wings.”
The driver raised a pale eyebrow as she navigated the streets. “Really?” Annie nodded and grinned. “Bawks & Barley it is then.” She aimed her car in the direction of the popular beer and wing place that had opened in downtown Columbus in the past year. “Just so you know, we’re never going to get parking.”
“Oh ye of little faith!” When they were within a block of their destination, Annie abruptly called out. “Turn in here!”
Keller did a quick right and stopped just shy of the parking lot gate. “This is the lot for the fitness place, and I know my car is small, but it’s not going to fit under the gate.”
Annie rifled through her bag for a few seconds then came up with a white card in her hand. “Aha! No worries, fangalicious, I’ve got a membership.” Keller scanned the card and the gate lifted like the arm of a great wooden sentinel. Annie murmured. “You shall pass.”
Keller snickered. “Have you even seen those movies?”
The younger woman sighed as they got out of the car and Keller locked it with its distinctive chirping sound. “Every single one. Jesse insisted.”
“And did you fall asleep for any of them?”
Annie giggled. “Every single one.” Once they were seated at a table outside with cold craft brews in front of them, Annie slipped the leash on her curiosity. “So, what news do you have? Did the guys find our asshole wolves?”
Keller took a drink of her beer and gave it a puzzled look before shaking her head slightly and setting it down. “Not yet. I have a question for you about Sarah.”
Annie looked at her in concern. “Is she still having nightmares?” She shook her head sadly. “When she suffered from them years ago, I begged her to talk to someone. I think that is part of the reason I got so rebellious after our parents died. I was selfish and angry that Mom and Dad were gone, and I knew that Sarah was suffering too. But she refused to share it with me. To this day it’s the one thing that we never shared, our grief. It made me angry at the time, which only made her life even harder. I’ve apologized but she always shrugs and says we made it through healthy and happy so everything is fine. Since the accident, she’s always bottled things up inside.”
Keller looked at the woman across from her and realized just how insightful the younger Colby really was. “She is still having the nightmares, but that’s not what I want to talk to you about right now. It’s about Sarah’s set tomorrow. Have you spoken with her about it lately?”
Annie made a face, relieved that their conversation was going to be lighthearted instead of dark. “I’m not talking to your girlfriend about her music right now.”
Keller laughed. “You mean your sister?”
“Not since she blackmailed me into performing a song with her at the festival tomorrow. Now
she’s merely your annoying girlfriend.
Keller choked on her beer at the other woman’s adamant words. “Well, how do you think Sarah would feel about a guest band playing with her tomorrow? And would you be able to extend her spot to a full hour?”
Annie cocked her head. “What do you mean? I thought she said her normal band was playing a gig over in Virginia tomorrow? Who would know her music well enough to play with her? And you’re treading on some thin ice by asking me to rearrange my well-planned schedule.”
“I know I am but I’ve got a band lined up that has been listening to all her CDs and memorizing her songs.”
Annie took a big gulp of her beer and raised her eyebrows in surprise. “What about her new stuff? She’s only had the CD’s a week, they’re not even for sale yet!”
“Well, one may have found its way to the band in question.”
“All right, Keller, spill it already. What’s the big deal about this band and why are you just coming to me now about it? Who is it?”
They paused their conversation when a server placed a jumbo platter of boneless wings on the table in front of them. Keller’s mouth dropped open. “Wow! I have no idea how we’re going to eat that.” She looked back at Annie to answer her previous question but was interrupted by the younger woman’s phone vibrating on the table.
Annie flipped it over and broke into a wide grin. “It’s Jesse! She said she’s off work a little early and wants to know where we are. Just a sec while I let her know. She can help us eat the wings.”
Keller nodded and snickered. “Your wolf will probably eat all the wings!”
“Okay, she should be here in about fifteen. Now, you were saying?” Keller started to answer and was once again interrupted when Annie’s cell started to vibrated persistently.
“Hold on, Jill’s calling.” She hit the send button and greeted the woman on the other end. “Hey, Red, are you done already?”
The veterinarian growled back at her. “Hey, Kid, what have I told you about calling me Red? And yes, I’m done and I’m starving! Are you still at work, do you need a ride?”
While Annie was talking to Jill, Keller wondered about the young woman’s seeming popularity. She shook her head at how Annie’s phone was always going off for one reason or another. Sometimes it seemed like things were more different in the past ten years than all the other decades she’d been alive. As she was contemplating the advancements of the world her own phone vibrated. She looked down at the screen and smiled. She typed a reply and by the time she hit send, Annie was finished with her call. Annie loaded her plate with wings and grabbed a dipper of blue cheese dressing. “Jill’s on her way. Who was that?”
“Your sister. Her last client of the day had an emergency and cancelled so she’s on her way here.”
Annie looked at the food on the table and then looked back at Keller. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Keller gave her a blank look. “Probably not.”
“I’m thinking we need to order more appetizers and a few pitchers of beer! Now, what were you going to tell me before we got so popular?”
Keller smirked. “Actually, I may as well wait until the rest get here. Just tell me if you can extend her spot.”
Annie gave her an aggrieved look. “Hold on.” She grabbed her satchel where it was hanging on the chair. She pulled out a printed sheet and started running down the list with her finger. Then she nodded at Keller. Setting the paper on the table between them, she pointed at the three fifteen minute buffer spots she had added in. “I added some time just in case bands went over. So we should be able to extend her set with no problem. But is it going to be worth it?”
Keller just gave her an enigmatic smile and swallowed a bite of chicken. “Oh, it will definitely be worth it.”
“Ooh, can I guess?”
Keller shrugged. “Sure.”
“Is it someone from Columbus? Is it someone famous? Is it—?”
The vampire burst out laughing. “I’m not going to tell you until everyone else gets here.”
Annie pouted. “But you just said I could guess!”
Mischievous grin met her words. “So I did.”
“But you were never going to tell me if I guessed right, were you?” Annie leaned across the table and swatted Keller’s arm. “You’re such an ass!”
Keller dropped her shields and let a little menace seep through to the woman across from her. “You better watch out, I am a power to be reckoned with. I could snap you in half or simply drain your life in an instant.” She held up her hands like menacing claws. “Blah, blah, blah, I vill suck all your blood! I am zee beeg, bad, wampire who only haahhnts at night!”
A voice cut through their laughter. “Don’t bother, I already tried that with the big bad werewolf line. She laughed at me too.”
Keller looked at Jesse and snickered. “Well, I mean—” She waved her hand vaguely toward the young werewolf’s shirt. “Do you blame her?”
The dark-haired androgynous woman looked down. “What’s the matter with my shirt? It’s casual Friday.”
Annie snorted. “Babe, it’s a tropical shirt. It doesn’t exactly scream ‘tough’ now does it?”
“What? It was a tropical theme today, I can’t help that. You should have seen last week’s theme, Keller. I got to wear a bow tie and carry a screwdriver around all day. Totally epic if I do say so myself!”
By the time her girlfriend was done speaking, Annie was laughing so hard she was nearly in tears. “Oh my God, and you think that instills fear in anyone?” She grabbed another wing and waved it in Jesse’s direction. “Think again my furry little nerd!”
Jesse ended the teasing by snatching the wing out of Annie’s hand so fast the young woman didn’t even see it. Annie blinked at her and proceeded to grab another wing off her plate. “Fair enough.”
It wasn’t long before the other two had arrived, along with another platter of appetizers and two more pitchers of beer. Their server set down the last pitcher and gazed at all the food on the table, and the five women. “Will there be more joining you?”
“Just me.” The waitress was startled when a petite woman with a French accent came from behind her to take a seat next to the redhead.
Jesse looked up from dumping a large pile of wings on her plate. “Hi, Louve! Hope you’re hungry.” Then she gave the poor server a toothy grin and plowed into her plate of barbecued poultry goodness.
Always impatient and insanely curious, Annie prompted her old boss. “Now will you tell us?”
Jill looked up from her uncomplicated admiration of her new lover. She had been missing Louve more than she would have ever thought possible, considering they hadn’t really known each other very long. Louve’s hand was on her leg under the table, distracting the taller woman slightly. “Tell us what?”
Annie huffed. “She has some sort of good news but she wouldn’t say until all of you got here.”
Sarah jerked her head around to stare at her lover. “Did the guys find our asshole wolves?”
Keller stared at her for a second then burst out laughing. “Annie said those exact same words to me about thirty minutes ago. Exact.”
“So?” Nearly twin-sounding voices answered her statement, prompting the rest of the table to laughter as well.
Jill chimed in. “You may as well give up, Keller. They have no idea just how alike they are. It’s like they were twins, but born ten years apart.”
The younger Colby stuck her tongue out at Jill. “You are so full of shit, Jilly!”
Jill pointed at Annie’s plate. “What’s on your plate right now?”
“Wings. Fucking duh, Red.” Louve raised an eyebrow at the interaction between her lover, and the Colby siblings. It was a side of Jill she had not seen before, though she knew the three women were like family to each other.
“And?”
Annie sighed. “Sauce, like everyone else.”
Jill kept pushing. “No, not like everyone else. You both have
blue cheese, barbecue, and mustard. And you are both swiping your wings through all three sauces before each bite. Literally no one else does that.” Keller had to concede that Jill had a point. Jesse made a face but continued plowing through her food.
Sarah took a swig of her beer. “What exactly is your point, Red?”
“My point is that you’re both disgusting!”
Jesse snorted with laughter and choked on a piece of chicken. Annie was busy slapping her on the back when the waitress made the mistake of coming by their table again. She looked up at the assembled group just as Sarah was flipping off her ex, and Keller was recording it all on her new smart phone. Even Louve was smiling at their antics, a far cry from the somber mood she had been in as of late. The poor server didn’t even speak, she simply circled off to another table. Keller eventually stopped the video and spoke to the rest of the table. “You’re all a bunch of mad rockets! Now who wants to hear my good news?”
“It’s about freakin’ time!”
The table settled almost immediately and Keller looked over at her girlfriend. “Annie has agreed to extend your set to a full hour.”
Sarah cocked her head in confusion, prompting another chuckle by Jill. “Why would she do that?”
Keller leaned back in her chair and locked her hands in front of her stomach. “Because I found a band that really wants to play with you for the festival.”
Sarah looked skeptical. “Um, Keller, there’s only one band that knows my stuff and right now they’re on the road to Virginia. I think I’m gonna pass on this one.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that.” Keller leaned forward and grabbed her phone from the table. She unlocked it and hit play on the music she had previously cued up. Everyone at the table could easily recognize the fact that it was one of Sarah’s songs from her new album but no one knew who was playing it.