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“No. That dart board is going to be Theo’s face for the next two hours. I’m not sure what he did, but she growled about him when she first arrived.” We shared a look of mutual disrespect for Theo before she turned to Vienne. “Why don’t I go first, then you, then Tova can try it out. By then, Sutton will be back.”
Vienne nodded. Her jaw was on perma-clench tonight. She’d left all her bracelets on her left wrist, but her right was free for throwing. I watched her stance, the way she aimed, and her throw. Aggie threw similarly. It wasn’t a hard game, but there was skill.
A drop of adrenaline pumped through my veins. I liked the challenge. It was my turn. I put my sandaled toes on the line of grungy white tape on the floor and flung my dart.
“Nice,” Aggie said, gathering her hair back into a fluffy ponytail. She tied it off. “What were you aiming for?”
“Uh...the bullseye?” I’d hit a black triangle that lined up with the number twelve.
She nodded. “Yeah, not bad. You can try aiming at different places. Not all games are about the bullseye. I’ll bog you down with the rules after you get a feel for throwing.”
Sutton stopped at the table we were surrounding. “Sorry, Aggie. All they had was plain sparkling water, no flavored.”
“No problem.” Aggie cracked the tab and took a swig. “Mm. Tasteless. But at least I won’t need to call for a ride if I drink too much. Ansen’s out with his dad and brother tonight.”
“As long as it’s not Fireball,” Sutton said.
Aggie snorted, holding her fingers to her mouth to keep her drink in. She swallowed and looked at me. “The last time I had Fireball, I ended up with my ex as an employee. That was Ansen. Did Cody tell you the story?”
“Some of it,” I said, passing my darts back and forth between my hands. I’d never been this nervous on stage, but none of the crowd had been my friends.
These ladies weren’t my friends either. But...they could be?
As we made our way through the game, I heard about Aggie and Ansen’s story. Vienne grinned—she’d heard it all before—and Sutton interjected with details since she’d been a participant.
Vienne stepped to the line, her face a mask of concentration. She took aim. Her dart hit, and her score dropped to zero. “Yes!”
We clapped, earning a few glances from the other patrons. A guy close to our age at the video slots leered at us, but our group was gathering looks from most of the guys in the bar.
Sutton put down her cup of darts. “Should we play again in a few? Maybe 501?”
“As long as we don’t cut girls’ night short, I don’t care,” Aggie said.
Vienne nodded, and I found myself bobbing along with her. I was part of their group. Girls’ night. I hadn’t really gotten to experience this when the night wasn’t centered around work.
When I was younger, Mom and I moved around too much. When I lived with Grandma, I was too absorbed in learning to dance well enough to make a living and care for Mom. As an adult, I had friendly acquaintances, but I met everyone at dance tryouts or gigs. The undercurrent of competition never went away.
“So, how’s the job?” Aggie asked as she slid onto her stool and straightened the yellow summer dress that made her freckles stand out. The cowboy boots were the perfect choice to go with the dress. If she’d worn sandals, she wouldn’t have been able to launch herself out of her pickup like she did when she swung by Cody’s to get me.
“Good. The kids and I are working on a routine to perform before they go back to Buffalo Gully—before they go to their grandparents. A few neighborhood kids are participating too.” The more I thought about Grayson’s milk incident earlier this week, the more I wondered if Ivy wasn’t burying her emotions in the iPad and not only avoiding the drama.
Aggie wrinkled her nose. We were on the same wavelength about that. “I keep hoping he’ll change his mind. I know I’m being selfish, but I like having them in town. I’ve seen them more this year than I have the rest of their lives. Is this performance open to family?”
“I’d love to see it.” Sutton nodded, then stilled as if she wondered if she’d be included as family. “I guess it’s up to Cody how many people he wants at the house with all the other kids’ families.”
“Grayson and Ivy would be thrilled to have you both,” I reassured them. “Sima called yesterday. She talked to the theater owners, and they weren’t willing to rent the theater for practice, but they said we could at least have the performance there. I think Sima and Bill might’ve paid for the night.” Sima had never said, but Thelma swore the theater owners weren’t that generous.
I know Sima would’ve done it for Kali, but the number of people I owed continued to rack up. I didn’t know how I’d pay them back and get my assets from Frederick and take care of Mom, and the thing was...no one acted like I owed them. Thelma brushed me off when I mentioned a payment plan. Sima wouldn’t admit to renting the theater for a night. And Cody’s family had provided food for the cookout and never highlighted my lack of contribution.
“Can’t wait. The theater is going to make it so special for the kids,” Aggie said. “How was the trip to Buffalo Gully?”
“It was—I mean— You know...” I swallowed hard, wishing my hard seltzer was a straight shot of bourbon, something that would sear my throat and make me forget I’d had sex with this woman’s brother. What could I say?Buffalo Gully was great, but my favorite was the fuckfest I had with your brother in his pickup in one of your family’s pastures. Somehow, I didn’t think that’d go over well.
Sutton’s mouth pinched like she was biting her cheek. Aggie’s brows were raised.
Vienne squinted at me. “You and Cody, huh?”
“N-no...” I didn’t owe these women the truth, but my brain refused to acknowledge that fact. I wanted them to like me. I wanted to hang out with them in a way that had nothing to do with acts and performances or sharing resources for our shows.
