Page 57

First Warning

Tundra

“It’s about damn time you came in here, Tundra,” Ricochet shouted from behind the bar.

Mickayla was putting plates of food in front of people at a table. She turned around and I could tell she had to bite back her smile. I forced myself to act oblivious to her presence.

I perched my ass on a stool at the corner of the bar. “Moving doesn’t leave you with a lot of fuckin’ free time, Ricochet.”

“That was two weeks ago or some shit,” he said, grabbing an empty pint glass. “You drinkin’ draft tonight?”

“No, hit me with a gin and tonic. If you’re takin’ food orders, I’ll have the grilled salmon with steamed broccoli.”

“Well, shit. Just when I think I’ve got your ass figured out,” Killian said.

“Where did you move to?” a man to my right asked. He had thinning brown hair and wore a Jaguars sweatshirt with faded jeans. I’d seen him around the bar before. It took a moment for me to recall he’d told Mickayla she could kiss him on New Year’s Eve.

“An apartment on the westside,” I said.

“That’s vague,” he said into his beer bottle.

I almost made a smart retort, but it wouldn’t be cool to cost the bar a customer.

“It’s a place near the White House neighborhood,” I lied.

“So, this neighborhood,” he pressed.

“Yep.”

“Here’s your G and T,” Ricochet said, putting my glass in front of me.

I felt something glide along my thigh, then Mickayla sauntered past me and through a cut out in the bar. She grabbed two plastic tumblers and filled them with ice.

“How goes it, Tundra?” she asked while squirting soda into a glass, her eyes not meeting mine.

“It’s goin’ all right. How goes it with you?”

She grinned and looked at me. “It’s goin’ better now that January’s almost over. Not that I don’t want people to reach their goals, but I’m glad people are coming back in rather than hitting the gym.”

Ryan came out of the office and went behind the bar. He smiled at me. “It’s been a while since we saw you.”

I shook my head. “Nickel, I’ve been unpacking boxes and before that I was housesitting for my mom, and you two were gone for the holidays. It’s not like I went into hibernation or some shit.”

“Yeah, I hear you. When are we startin’ up the pool tourney again? I swear January is the longest fuckin’ month,” Nickel said.

I twisted my lips and thought about it. “Tell me when you, Bluff, and Ricochet are free. Pretty sure next Monday will work.”

Across the room, Mickayla grabbed a plate from kitchen pass-through counter. She hustled straight to me. “Grilled salmon with little steamed trees.” She put the plate down, but managed to drag her hand along mine. “Oh, you need some silverware.”

I watched her lean over and grab a bundle from a bin. Something about her actions felt obvious to me, so I held my hand out for the utensils.

She put the bundle in my hand and closed hers around mine for a beat. “Here you go. Do you need a Sprite to chase your liquor?”

Ricochet shot us a dirty look. “Get out of here. He’s my customer. Go earn your own tips, Mick.”

She turned a saucy grin to her brother. “Take better care of your station and you won’t have to worry about me, Killian.”

I concentrated on eating my food. From the corner of my eye, I saw how intently the man next to me watched Mickayla.