Chapter 6
Mortality and Drinking Buddies
Maverick
Collapsing on the couch, I tucked Cali into my side. Holding on to her for dear life was the only way I knew it wasn’t all just a bad dream. Somehow, she kept me grounded in reality, but in the best of ways.
“Thank you for everything today.” It didn’t seem like enough to express how I grateful I was to have her by my side.
“Of course. I’m just glad he got through it.” She nuzzled into me, pulling the blanket up a little higher onto her exposed shoulder.
“He’s not out of the woods yet.” Hearing myself say the words made it all too real. My stomach churned. My throat went dry.
Pulling me in tighter, Cali exhaled and said, “You have to have faith in him and his doctors. If you give up hope, how can you expect him to have the strength to fight?”
“You’re right.” I let out a forced sigh. “Fuck, the bar.” I had completely forgotten to deal with my father’s restaurant in the wake of the situation.
“Can I help?” she asked as I dug my cell out of my pocket.
“I just need to make a call.”
Shoving up from the couch, I started to pace around the small coffee table in my living room. I started to dial my mom’s number, hating to add more to her plate, but I didn’t know what else to do.
“Hi, honey,” she answered.
“Do I need to do anything for the bar?” I asked.
“Anne called the staff—we’re closing for a few days while all of this blows over. She’s a good manager. I think we’ll be fine.”
“How’s he doing?”
“He’s still asleep. I’ll call if there’s any news. I love you, son.”
“Love you, too.”
I hung up and resumed my position with Cali on the couch.
“You know, I was a bartender before selling my soul to a nine-to-five. I can lend a hand for a while.” Cali smiled up at me. “It would be nice to get back behind a bar for a bit, and since you convinced me to resign, it couldn’t hurt to have a job.”
I kissed the top of her head. “I was planning on showing you adventure, not putting you to work at my family’s bar.”
“Let me help. At least keep it in mind if they get in a pinch while Marty is recovering.”
“He looked so helpless,” I mumbled as I tried to swallow the growing lump in my throat.
Cali grabbed my hand. “You need to get some rest. Staying up all night worrying isn’t going to accomplish anything.”
As I started to get up to take Cali to my bedroom, a knock sounded on the front door. Opening it, I saw my head roadie standing in the foyer with a bottle of Jameson.
“Hey, Quinn.” I held the door open as he came inside.
“I heard what happened to Marty and I figured you could use a drinking buddy since Dane is indisposed playing the good father.”
“Quinn?” Cali came around the corner, wide eyed.
My roadie looked like he was seeing a ghost. “Holy shit, Cali? What in the world are you doing here?”
I grabbed Cali’s hand, pulling her to me. “How do you two know each other?”