So I figured he hadn’t skipped town, but he wasn’t at my place either.I was about to panic when my phone chimed with the message from Lola.
The sky outside grows darker with each passing minute, and all I want is to curl up with my romance novel and a glass of wine and let the sound of the rain hitting the windows and the steady sway of the house rock me to sleep.
Instead, I have to head back out into this disaster and drag my dad out of a bar.
It feels like high school graduation all over again.
Poor Lola.I hate that Rick has put her into a position where she’s having to stick around longer than is safe.Maybe I should let her call the police.A night in a jail cell could be just what Rick needs to get his act together.
Ugh.I can’t let my dad sleep on a cot in a cold cell.Plus, the police will be on call tonight foractualemergencies.
With a curse, I throw on a hoodie and head back outside.
Lightning flashes on the darkening horizon, but the storm must still be some distance away because the rumble of thunder is only faint.I reverse out of the driveway and start for town.The sun hasn’t set yet, but the streetlights are already glowing orange, and a thick layer of black clouds looms above our tiny island.
Inner Shores before a storm always reminds me of those post-apocalyptic movies set in an abandoned town.Empty.Eerie.
I don’t believe in ghosts, but right now, I could imagine some pirate specter stumbling ashore to search for his buried treasure.
When I drive by Mugs, one of the shutters is flapping in the breeze.
Shit, I could’ve sworn I closed the damn thing.It’s going to be gone by morning if I don’t fasten it properly.
What is it with this day?
Not wanting to delay Lola any longer than necessary, I keep going until I reach the Sand Dollar.Sure enough, Rick’s truck is one of the only cars still in the lot.The clouds start to spit rain as soon as I duck inside.All the shutters are closed, and the neon lights have been switched off.
Lola is standing beside the bar, trying to talk some sense into dear old Dad.David, her on-again-off-again “boyfriend” (even though Lola would never call him that), glowers at Rick from behind the register, his massive arms folded across his broad chest.
The door swings shut with a loud clap, and everyone jumps, then turns toward me.
Rick smiles from his barstool like he doesn’t have a care in the world.“Hey, kiddooo.”
Kiddo?Really?“Come on, Rick.It’s time to go.”
“Sssign on the door saysss the place is… open till midnight.”He twists his arm and peers at the dull gold watch on his wrist.“That’s quite a few hours away.”
“There’s a storm, remember?”I grit through a tight smile, not wanting our audience to see exactly how close I am to snapping.If this storm hits like they’re predicting, it could mean a lot of damage.I should be able to afford to fix anything that goes wrong with the money I have stashed away, but those funds have been earmarked for my outdoor space, so I really hope it doesn’t come to that.
Rick slides off his stool, stumbling into the one beside it.
David shoves a black checkbook across the counter.“You need to settle up first, jackass.”
Lola casts an apologetic glance my way.I have no doubt that if David weren’t here, she’d be the one paying Rick’s bill.It’s not the first time this has happened.
Rick tugs his wallet out of the back pocket of his jeans, clumsily fishing through it.Even from here, I can see that he only has a twenty.I drag my wallet from my purse and hand Lola my card.
Wordlessly, she sticks the thing into the card reader.When it asks for a tip, she hits “No” and returns my card.
“Lola…” I say.She deserves double whatever his tab was for dealing with him.
“Chloe…”
I owe her big time.“Thank you.Text me when you get home, okay?”If anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive my dad.She nods, and I nudge Rick toward the door.“Let’s go.”
Outside, the rain is steadier, but not torrential.Yet.
Behind us, the door slams shut and the locks click into place.Thankfully, Lola lives close by.She’ll probably be home before me, since I have to swing by Mugs.
