I gave her a fake smile and hoped it looked real. “Sure, tonight’s fine. I better get going so I can get some sleep.”
Well, crap. I guess it really didn’t matter when we went out. I just thought I would have more time to mentally prepare myself to step out into the general public of Devil Springs.
Chapter Three
Judge
I walked into Precious Metals behind Batta. Apparently, Layla joined a dating website on his behalf, unbeknownst to him, and had been searching for a woman for him. Last week, she found one and somehow managed to get him to agree to meet the woman. So, there I was, by his side, to play wingman or run interference if she turned out to be one of the crazies.
“Do you see her, man?” I asked.
He didn’t answer until we reached the bar. “How the hell should I know? Layla said she would be wearing a black shirt. Look around, brother. Almost everyone in here is wearing a black shirt.”
The bartender handed us each a beer without us having to order, and I took a sip while I glanced around the bar. I smiled with my lips still on the bottle when my eyes landed on a familiar face sitting a few stools down from where I was standing.
“Well, if it isn’t Nurse River. We meet again,” I said jovially.
She turned, and her eyes widened at the sight of me. “Mr. Jackson. How are you?”
I stepped closer to her, almost too close, and I heard her suck in a sharp breath. “Call me Judge.”
“Uh, okay, Judge. How are you?” she stammered.
I stepped back and gave her my panty-dropping smile. “I’m good. What brings you to Precious Metals tonight?”
“My friend is meeting someone here. I’m just keeping her company until he arrives.”
“Your friend meeting a guy named Trey by chance?” I asked.
Before River could answer, her friend leaned around her and looked me up and down. She grinned. “Yes, I am. Are you Trey?”
I shook my head. “I’m not, but he is,” I said and pointed behind me to Batta with my thumb.
The girl’s eyes widened and her mouth slightly parted. River reached over and pushed her mouth closed, bringing the girl out of her trance. “Oh, hell yes,” she breathed. “I’m giving that dating site a five-star review as soon as I get home.”
“Batta,” I called. “Found your girl.” Batta picked up his bottle and joined us.
“This is River,” I introduced her first since I didn’t know the other girl’s name.
“And I’m Kennedy,” the other girl said and held out her hand.
Batta reached for her hand and grinned, “Kitty?”
“No, Kennedy,” the girl said loudly as her cheeks flushed.
Batta smiled and took her hand. “Hi, Kennedy. I’m Trey, and this is my friend Judge. Would you ladies like to get a table?”
“Sounds good,” Kennedy beamed while River grimaced.
I moved to stand beside River, allowing Batta to move in closer to Kennedy. “Judging by the look on your face, I’m guessing you got roped into tagging along, too.”
She picked at the label on her beer bottle. “Yeah, this isn’t really my kind of place.”
“Mmm...and what is your kind of place?”
“Honestly? The couch or bed wherever I’m staying at the time.”
“You move around a lot?”