Welcome to Racer's

Chapter 1

Bruno leaned back in his chair, feeling the satisfying cracks in his spine as he stretched. He needed a long soak in the bath. A massage. A holiday. Something .

Right now though, he'd just settle for a distraction.

"Oi, dickhead!"

He grinned, instantly recognising the voice.

"Office!"

Cora stuck her head around the corner, grinning widely. " Ayyyyy" she called excitedly.

Bruno smiled widely at her. "Ripper timin'. I just finished!"

"Yesss!" She hissed. "Come on then, let's goooo!"

He grabbed his phone and keys off the desk, stepping out of the office. He grabbed Cora in a hug, and they started back down the stairs.

"Is Cherry meeting us there?" He asked

"Yup!" She nodded, blushing a little.

Bruno smiled. "Two whole months dating. Must be a new record for you."

Cora laughed. "Fuck off! Just because it's true doesn't mean you're allowed to say shit about it"

Bruno rapped on the bar as he walked past it.

"I'm off, mate. S'all done"

Robbie popped his head up from under the bar. "Oh, you're a saint, mate. Did you get a chance to..."

"The guy for the ice machine? Yeah I fixed it. He had a double PO in his system. Don't worry about it"

Robbie sighed with relief. "Thanks, Bruno. I honestly don't know what I'd do without you."

"Probably be getting even less rest than you already are. Didn't you say Deb wanted you home by 11 tonight?"

Rob looked up at the wall. 12:15.

"Fuck"

Bruno laughed. "Don't worry. She said it would be my arse she kicked if you weren't. And I'm pretty sure I can take her."

Robbie laughed. "Yeah, well, the doctor said she had to stop kicking mine for a few months."

Bruno smiled warmly at him. "I'll take all your beatings for you, don't worry mate." He laughed, knocking twice on the bar. "We're off"

Robbie nodded at him, blowing an affectionate kiss to Cora. "Have fun, kids!"

"Thanks Rob!" Cora beamed.

Bruno smiled as he walked out. He loved this place. Two of his favourite people in the world were here. Cora had been his best mate almost as soon as he'd moved to London. He'd literally found her on a flatshare website, went to meet her, and instantly fell head over heels in best friendship with her. They were like peas in a pod. They did everything together. Six months of pure bullshit, fucking around in the performing arts world, having each others backs. Then... his stepdad died. It had been such a huge blow. So unexpected. He'd only been 54. His Mum wasn't coping. His biological dad had fucked off after his parents had divorced, so Mum only had him and his sisters. And their jobs had them so bloody busy that neither of them could take the time off. So when he told Cora he had to move back home to Liverpool to help his Mum, she'd decided to go with him. She hadn't been getting many gigs in London anyway, and thought a change of scenery might help her be inspired to finally finish her album. Plus, they'd have each other.

Bruno had known Rob for years. Rob had bought Racer's back in the early eighties, and it had been a popular spot ever since. Bruno had been sneaking into the open-mic comedy night with a fake ID since he was 16. But he'd won so many times that Rob just ended up rolling his eyes and telling security to just let him in. Fastlane Fridays was one of the most popular open mic comedy nights in Liverpool. Most places held their comedy nights midweek, but for some reason, Robbie insisted on doing Fridays. It worked though. There was a line out the door by 6:00pm every Friday . By the time he was 18, Bruno was so popular and well-known at Fastlane Fridays that Rob had asked him to host it. Then he'd started bartending. Then he started on the books. He left for London after a little while, but as soon as he was back, Rob took him straight back on to help. One day, when Bruno was about 20, the two of them had been there until 3am, cleaning up after a particularly rowdy night. Rob had been going over the paperwork, they'd got chatting, and it had ended up with Rob just throwing his hands in the air and asking Bruno if he wanted a full time job helping him at the club. Bruno had agreed, on one condition- Cora got to perform there every week. She already had a job teaching music classes, but it gave her a chance to try out new songs. Plus, it was a little bit of extra cash.