Page 4 of Crewe (Nelson’s Honkytonk Saloon & Bar #3)

Chapter Four

C rewe rode his motorcycle back toward the bar. He’d hoped a ride might clear his head. Ryanne was gone this weekend. She was visiting some different sites in Kansas to photograph for her fall catalog of prints. Her parents had the kids, and Crewe didn’t realize how lonely he’d be.

It was strange to be lonely when his family was always around, but sometimes he could feel lonely even in a crowd.

He pulled his motorcycle under the covered parking area at Nelson’s that was reserved for family.

He wasn’t sure if he’d go out again, so he left it under the canopy.

Weather looked fine, so no reason to park it in the garage.

He walked into the bar area, filled with the sounds of a hopping Saturday night, and wondered what he should do. Nothing sounded like something fun, and he was in the mood to have fun.

Each day that he watched Ry, which is what he called her in his head, work the bar and not be his was excruciating.

He’d never understood those men who didn’t go after the women they wanted until now.

It was like she didn’t even see him that way.

Maybe he did know what he wanted to do. He wanted to forget all about his life and the woman who didn’t see him as anything more than a friend.

He walked behind the bar and grabbed a glass, a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, and a pitcher of cola. If he was going to forget, he was doing this right. He took his party to the booth in the corner and settled in .

Normally he’d fix it with one part Jack and two parts cola, but tonight was about forgetting.

He poured his glass half full with Jack, then filled it to the rim with cola.

Staring into his glass, he made a wish: If Ry wasn’t going to be his, help him move on.

He knew it was a futile wish. Ry was everything he wanted in a woman and then some.

If he could only taste her lips and convince her how good they’d be together, then they could move forward.

One glass turned into two and then into four. With each drink, he cared a little less. By the time he’d finished the pitcher, things were looking a lot rosier.

“Hey, Hennessy, another pitcher and bottle,” Crewe called across the bar. It would do Hennessy good to get some exercise walking across the bar. Hennessy nodded and brought his items over.

Hennessy slid into the booth across from Crewe.

“How’s it going?” Hennessy asked .

“Just fine,” Crewe said, pouring the Jack into the glass to three-quarters full and adding a little cola.

“Just fine, but you’re on your second bottle of Jack. I know we all have a tolerance for alcohol, but you’re going to hate yourself in the morning,” Hennessy said.

“Better than thinking. Now go away. You’re ruining my vibe,” Crewe said, motioning for Hennessy to leave.

Hennessy chuckled and shook his head. “Suit yourself.”

Crewe would suit himself. Hennessy was turning into a big baby now that he was married and had kids. He was no fun. Crewe finished the glass and wondered what he could do to win Ry.

His brothers, Gaines and McClure, walked into the bar fifteen minutes later and beelined to his table. Hennessy, the happiness ruiner, had called in reinforcements. His brothers sat down.

“How’s it going?” McClure asked, smirking.

“Henneshy’s a schmeddling monkey,” Crewe muttered .

Gaines chuckled. “How much have you drunk?”

“Snot enough,” Crewe muttered, scrunching his eyebrows. Did he say that right?

“How about I get some food to soak up all that alcohol?” McClure asked.

“Not hungry. Don’t need smothered,” Crewe said.

Both his brothers laughed, but Crewe couldn’t understand why.

“Okay, well how about we help you upstairs?” Gaines asked.

“No,” Crewe said, refilling his glass. He didn’t need his brothers killing his vibe. He hadn’t thought about Ry for at least—well, fuck, he thought of her again. He definitely wasn’t drunk enough.

“Need to forget,” he muttered.

“Forget what?” McClure asked.

“Ry not seeing me,” he whined.

His brothers nodded and stared at each other.

“Okay, do you want a refill?” Gaines asked .

Crewe nodded, but everything was fuzzy, and he was so very tired. Maybe he’d close his eyes for a second.

Gaines waited until Crewe’s eyes closed and his head fell back against the booth. Looks like Crewe had gotten his wish to forget about Ry and had passed out.

“Let’s get him upstairs to his bathroom because you and I both know that he’s going to be intimately acquainted with the porcelain throne before morning,” Gaines said.

McClure nodded. “Yep, looks like we’ll be taking turns making sure he’s okay. Let’s go.”

Gaines grabbed one arm and slid it over his shoulder while McClure grabbed the other.

They carried Crewe up the stairs into the apartment.

Gaines nodded at Vivi and Whiskey sitting on the couch in front of the TV before helping Crewe into the bathroom.

He tossed a rolled-up towel on the floor to cushion Crewe’s head.

“You got this for a little bit? I thought I’d update Whiskey and Vivi on what’s going on,” Gaines said.

“Yep, I’ll take first watch,” McClure replied.

Gaines walked out and sat down in the chair by the couch. Whiskey was holding his littlest one, Bailey. She wasn’t quite so little now, but she was snuggled up against his shoulder, her hand clutching his beard.

“So what are we going to do to help Crewe?” Gaines asked. He was positive Whiskey’s wife, Vivi, would have an idea.

“Well, about that. We’ve been talking, and Vivi has an idea. Go on and get Gaines’ take on it,” Whiskey said to Vivi.

“I think Ry likes Crewe but is avoiding him because she sees all of you as her bosses. I think we put them in a situation where they’re forced to see the other in a different light.

I want to take a family trip to Mistletoe Canyon in September.

We’ll close all the businesses and force Ry and the kids to go.

Then I’ll do a little meddling to make sure they see each other,” Vivi said with a smirk.

Gaines nodded. “You know, I love you a little more every time I see you become a little more ornery, Vivi. I like it, and it can’t be worse than watching them want each other and do nothing about it.

McClure and I are going to take turns watching him tonight to make sure he doesn’t choke.

He’s going to be hurting soon. Let me know when, and we’ll make it work,” Gaines said.

“Yay, Christmas in September and maybe a new Nelson woman! Then whose turn will it be?” Vivi said.

“Well, I’m good with finding someone to settle down with, but she’d have to be pretty incredible to match you and Ellie,” Gaines said, winking, then heading back to check on his brother.

He envied Whiskey and Hennessy their families.

Gaines had always wanted a large family.

He’d grown up with eight other siblings, even though they were cousins.

He figured a dozen would be perfect for him.

He adored kids and couldn’t wait to have them .

Maybe after they all helped Crewe and Ry get together, he could start looking for his own woman.