Bittersweet

~~ And just when you thought... ~~

Cocking a brow. "You honestly think I'm gonna stand here and give you details?

He looked offended. "Hey, I covered your ass last night."

"Yeah, and I'm covering for you now and tonight. I think that makes us quits."

His face cracked into a smile. "Okay, you got me there. But c'mon, throw a dog a bone. I only want to share in your successes." He dropped his keys onto the bar. "I also gave up a hot date with that redhead, Tammy... I think that's her name?  —So cut a guy some slack."

I turned and opened the chiller to restock it.

He leaned his arms on the bar, peering over at me. "You realize this is potentially huge? Do you know how many women I've had in the past week alone ask if you're available?" He pretended to count. "At least ten. I'm gonna need to put out a press release." He grabbed one of the bar stools and plonked it right in front of me. "Pass us a beer, whilst you're down there."

He sat his ass down, apparently getting himself comfortable. "And grab one yourself, a bit of lubrication will loosen those lips."

I reached to the back of the chiller and pulled out a cold one for him. Popping the cap, I slid it toward him. "Well, as much as I'd love to sit here, catch a cold one and braid each other's hair, I'm gonna pass."

"Seriously, you're not giving me anything?"

"Isn't happening."

"Man, you're harsh." He took a swig of his beer, gasping at its coolness. "Nice. But you realize this lends itself to one conclusion."

"What?"

"Either it was a complete disaster and reality didn't even come close to the fantasy." He stopped a second, hoping I'd jump in "... Or she blew you off."

"That's two conclusions, Sherlock, but... neither is accurate." The near disaster at the hospital played through my head.

"Now we're getting somewhere... continue."

"Still not going there."  I gave it a moment.  "—But go ahead, put out that press release. Definitely off the market."

"Atta' boy." He tipped his bottle before taking another long drink. "If you're not gonna entertain me. I have something weird to share."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I saw Al—The Ex... Al. Remember her?"

Like he needed to remind me who Al was. A sinking feeling settled across my gut whenever her name was mentioned. "What? She turned up here?" I hadn't seen her for four months.

"Nah, I was heading to the bike shop to open up and she was coming out of that motel, just off highway 57. You know the one Paradise something, or some shit like that. It's a real dump. Usually, only crack heads and gangbangers use it."

I didn't dare think what she'd gotten herself into now. Cringing. In the past, her getting high and doing something crazy had given me my fair share of sleepless nights.

"Did she see you?" I'd always thought Al had a thing for Jake, not that he would ever have taken her up. He was more of a brother to me than Tony had ever been.

"Nah, like I said I was driving past."

"It probably wasn't her." Although I had no feelings for Al, I didn't wish her any harm. I'd shared almost five years of my life with her and hoped she find her own happiness.

"Tell you this for free. You did yourself a favor by dumping her when you did. —She's packing some now."

"Packing, packing what?" Sometimes he spoke in goddamn riddles.