An Endless Summer(35)

“Keys?” I held my hand out.

Matt glared daggers at me but I didn’t budge. I looked him directly in the eyes, challenging him.

He delved into his pocket, yanked out his set, and threw them on the bar.

“Here you go, you little bitch, you’re welcome to this fucking cesspool.”

He snatched up his jacket and stormed out of the bar, slamming the front door behind him.

Sean slouched in the alcove of the poolroom, cue in one hand, beer in the other.

“So that went well, then?”

I shook my head. “He didn’t punch me in the face, so yeah. Excellent.”

Sean placed his pool cue aside and flipped out his mobile.

“What are you doing?”

“Calling a locksmith. I wouldn’t take any chances.”

I shivered, looking out of the front window. The dust still hadn’t settled from where Matt had driven off, chucking an almighty burnout in the drive.

“Do you think someone could come out today?”

Sean smiled at his phone. “I think I know just the bloke who can hook us up.”

He lifted his phone and waited. “Ringer! What are you up to?”



***



Ringer downed his beer with impressive speed, smacking his lips together in appreciation. “Thirsty work, that is.”

“So I see.” I arched my brow at Sean who just smiled and winked as he drank from his own glass.

“So just send the bill directly here and I’ll take care of it,” I said.

“Uh …” Ringer paused mid-sip, looking from me to Sean with unease.

“What?” I looked at Sean who was staring at the ceiling in despair.

Oh, I see. “Sean, you are not paying for this.”

“It’s not like that. Ringer owes me a favour, don’t you, Ringer?”

Ringer put his beer on the bar with deep confusion. “Do I?”

“Jesus H. Christ!” Sean rolled his eyes at the ceiling.

Ringer slowly caught on and finally played his part. “Oh, yeah, yeah, that’s right, from that one time. Yeah, yeah ... I totally owe you big time.” Ringer nodded.

Sean shook his head. “Remind me never to do a bank job with you.”

“What?” Ringer asked incredulously.

“So, gentlemen, if you don’t mind; Ringer, can you please send the bill to me?”

Sean scratched his stubbly jaw and eyed Ringer, who turned to him, holding his hands up in a question.

“You know, I can’t remember you writing anything down,” Sean said, “when you were doing the locks, Ringer.”

Ringer shook his head in fierce agreement. “True, I really have to start getting better at that.”

“Terribly neglectful, our Ringer.”

“It’s true, I am.” Ringer saluted me with his beer.

“This is pathetic,” I said, trying not to smile.

“So I’m guessing,” Sean continued, as if I hadn’t even spoken, “there’s no paper trail then.”

“And without a paper trail…” Ringer added.

“There’s no bill.” Sean looked bitterly disappointed.

I folded my arms. “It doesn’t matter what I do or say, you two are going to conspire against me.”

“Why, whatever do you mean?” Sean asked innocently.

I just shook my head. I was ready to try somehow to convince Ringer to give me the bill, when a figure appeared in the doorway.

“Look out! Here’s trouble,” said an old familiar voice.

Toby Morrison stood in the doorway, taking off his shades and smiling at his two mates. Sean and Ringer spun around, astonished, as if what they saw before them was a mirage.

“Tobias Morrison! How the bloody hell are ya?” Sean leapt off his stool and shook Toby’s hand before pulling him into a bear hug. Ringer flanked his other side and ruffled his hair up.

“When did you get back, you old dog?”

Toby pulled his head away, laughing. “Just now. I saw your cars parked out the front and thought, nothing much changes in Onslow.”

“Yeah, you’re right about that.” Sean slapped him on the back, grinning.

I stood behind the bar, looking on with a broad, goofy smile. It was the first time I’d seen the Onslow Boys together in years – it seemed maybe it had been years since they had been together.

I let them have their boyish reunion   and was happy to do so until Toby’s coffee brown eyes passed Sean and rested on me.

“Well, not everything stays the same … little Amy Henderson?” Toby approached the bar with uncertainty.

I blushed. “Not so little anymore.”

Toby looked amazed. “I’ll say.”

Toby opened his mouth to talk but Sean interrupted him. “So where’s Tess at?”