Page 14 of Sweet Whiskey

KINSEY

“I can’t believe we got this much in tips.

Who knew cowboys made so much?” Brielle says, counting her money for the second time since last night.

For it being our second shift waitressing, we were starting to get the hang of it.

After our first night waitressing that didn’t go as well as we hoped, she put us behind the bar to shadow others and learn the drinks and then into the kitchen to learn the menu for a few days.

Tracy said we can have today off, and it will give us the time to explore the town more and look around for another place to live.

I shake my head with a soft smile. “Maybe it’s more that they want us to redistribute that in the town. The tiny café on the corner has really good coffee and pastries.”

Her nose wrinkles. “You know I don’t like breakfast.”

Rolling my eyes, I pull on my sweatshirt and stare at her with my hands on my hips. “Okay, the diner then. I do need to leave the room to ask about my dad. And every time I leave without you, you scold me when I get back.”

She lets out a giant sigh, but rolls off the bed and slips on her shoes. My lips twitch at her antics, knowing she’s just being dramatic because she’s Brielle. My best friend is one of the most ride or die people I’ve ever met.

“Ugh, fine. Burgers on me then,” she says with an exaggerated whine.

I frown. “I made a decent amount of tips too.”

She waves her hand. “Please, don’t even try. You spent most of your time with one table before mysteriously disappearing for twenty minutes.”

“That was my first night. When Colt had to… you know in the alley.” My cheeks flush. It’s been a few days since that night, and I haven’t seen any of the cowboys since then.

Her nose crinkles before she laughs. “Oh yeah. Either way. It’s on me, bitch.”

Brielle grabs a handful of the bills before shoving the rest into the random bible we found in the nightstand. “No better protection than the word of god.”

I laugh. “I don’t think it works like that, but we shall pray.”

My best friend smirks and follows me out of the room, locking it behind her. We nod at the front clerk, who waves at us with a warm smile.

“Everyone is so friendly. A little creepy,” Brielle mutters under her breath.

I grab her hand, pulling her down the sidewalk and toward the diner I saw yesterday. “Or maybe everyone knows everyone. And you can’t get away with random animosity like you can with strangers in the city.”

She hums, her eyes taking in more of the small town square. “It’s cute, very cozy. ”

I don’t miss the slight hitch of her voice, and I stifle my grin. “Imagine how toned your legs and butt could be after walking everywhere.”

Brielle gives me an unimpressed glare before smiling with a sigh. “Fine, I will reel in my complaining and give it a fair shot.”

“Thank you,” I say, kissing her temple as we walk toward the diner. A heavy-set woman greets us with a broad grin. I try not to stare pointedly at the abundance of boobs trying to squeeze out of her shirt.

Unfortunately, my no-filter best friend gawks and blurts out, “Are they real?”

I snap my head to her. “Brielle!”

The woman laughs, coming around the counter and hugging her. Brielle’s face disappears between the large mounds, and my mouth falls open. Can you suffocate between tits? Before I can protest, the woman lets go and steps away with another laugh.

“They feel real enough for ya, honey? ”

Brielle glances at me, dazed. “I think I just got force motorboated at eight o’clock in the morning.”

“Well, you kind of started it?” I tell her with a slight grimace.

“It’s Susanne. I’ve heard about you two chickadees.

Causing such a stir in our town, and you two are cute as buttons.

” She moves back to the counter, gathering two menus, and gestures for us to sit at the counter.

I brave looking around the rest of the diner, only to find a couple of people watching us.

I’m not sure how to take that, considering Brielle and I were trying to do the opposite of stirring up trouble.

Susanne clicks her tongue. “You just missed the crowd. Had to head off early. Helping the ranch get ready for the rodeo.”

“There’s a rodeo here?” I ask. This would be a great opportunity to look for my father. We sit down on the stools, giving our backs to the rest of the patrons, and I focus on Susanne.

She shakes her head, and my hope plummets. “It’s down in Fort Worth. They’re just getting the boys ready to leave. Cooper is one of the best riders in the state,” she says, setting down the plastic menus for us.

“Real life cowboys,” Brielle whispers under her breath as Susanne walks away from us to grab the coffeepot on the far counter.

“Now you girls want coffee? Or I still got some orange juice left for the morning. Freshly squeezed.”

“Coffee, my goddess. Just bring me the whole pot,” Brielle pleads.

I shake my head with laughter. “Do not bring her the whole pot. Brielle on caffeine overload will have me carrying her back to bed to sleep the rest of the day away.”

Susanne laughs. “My brother was like that. Anytime he couldn’t sleep, just took some caffeine to knock his ass out.” She pours us a cup and reaches under the counter to hand us some small blue cups of creamer.

“Gonna go make my coffee round and I’ll come back to take y’all’s order. I recommend the steak and eggs, house special,” Susanne says with a smile before leaving us.

“Steak and eggs. I bet it’s like real steak and eggs. Farm fresh, ya know?” Brielle says, licking her lips.

My nose scrunches at her pleasant imagery as always. I’m not sure if she meant the eggs or the steak, and now my stomach is rolling. “What happened to not liking breakfast?”

“A girl is allowed to change her mind, Kins.”

Snickering, knowing she changes her mind all the time, I glance over the options myself, some of my appetite diminished.

Then there’s the lingering hopelessness at ever finding my dad.

Every time we enter an establishment, I have a small flicker of nerves that he’ll just be sitting there, as if waiting for me.

Brielle puts her hand over mine. “We won’t leave until we find him, okay? Even if I have to start stripping on the bar top.”

A snort escapes before I can stop it. I shake my head, forever grateful she’s able to read my emotions better than anyone I know. “Tracy said clothes stay on at all times, unless we’re doing the wet t-shirt thingy.”

“I’m just saying I’d do it.”

Sighing, I hug her from the side. “Thank you. It means a lot to me.”

She shrugs off my touch, tossing her hair over her shoulders. “Ew, affection. Enough of that, please.”

Susanne returns, watching us with warm eyes. “Ready?”

When we’re done ordering, she stuffs the menus away and puts the ticket in the window.

She leaves us to our own devices, only coming by every now and then to fill our coffees and then deliver the food.

As soon as most of our plates are clear, my stomach flutters with nerves, working up the courage to ask for what I need.

“All done, dears? I can get the bill ready,” Susanne says, wiping her hands on her jeans before grabbing our plates to toss them into a bin on the counter.

I clear my throat. “Please. Also, can I ask about someone? I’m kind of looking for them. ”

She looks at me curiously and shrugs. “Sure, honey. I’m not sure I’ll be the best help, but I’ll try.”

I pull out the photo and show it to her. “I don’t have much to go on.”

She looks it over, squinting at the photo. “It kind of looks like Levi. Hey, Sam! Come look at this. Say twenty years younger that could be Levi, yeah?”

A woman comes out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on the end of her apron as she saunters to our table. She squints at the photo too and then grunts a rough yes before leaving back to where she came from.

Susanne rolls her eyes. “My wife ain’t as much of a talker, but she’s a damn good cook.”

Brielle sighs, patting her belly. “You got that right. That was the best steak and eggs I think I’ve ever had.”

Susanne’s smile brightens with affection. “Thanks, sweetie.”

“She’s not wrong. It’s the best food we’ve had so far. Uhm, so about Levi. Is he still around?”

Her smile falters. “I reckon you should go up to Asha Haven Ranch and talk to his son.”

His son. My heart skips. Do I have a brother?

“His ranch?” Brielle asks, filling the silence I’ve left while stuck in my thoughts.

“Just up the road. You can’t miss it or probably the parade of trucks about to roll out for the rodeo.”