Delphine's Family

Chapter 9-Shirley Temples

Delphine's POV

"Really no way" Can you hear the sarcasm? "I would have never had guessed from the tattoos the garage, the bar, the actual motorcycle."

"You're okay with this?"

"As long as you don't kill me personally yeah."

"I will never hurt you." His voice turned hard.

"Ok, then we're good." I got out of the truck waiting for him to lead me inside the bar. He walked with me over before opening the door. The sound intensified as we walked in. When someone saw my dad they all stopped talking and stared at us. 

"Alright, boys I told you I had a surprise." All the guys put down their drinks and put all of their attention on us. "This is my daughter, Delphine. I want you to treat her with the same amount of respect as you do me." His tone left no room for argument as he made himself unspokenly clear. 

My dad leads me over to the bar and has me sit down next to him. The bartender is a younger guy with blonde hair and a few tattoos. He sets down a bottle of beer in front of us. I reach for it before my dad swipes me and holds it on the side of him farthest from me.

"What? Children and fathers drinking together have been a tradition for years." I hold out my hand for the beer. He gives me a look conveying 'really?'

"That may be but I am not giving my 17-year-old daughter a beer"

"Fine look away so I can take 'secret' sips." I use air quotes around the word secret since I'm telling him the plan. He gives me another deadpan look. I huff out air as I look around the bar as everyone went back to their conversations. 

I notice most of the guys from the garage are here.  I spot Honey and Cyrus in a booth, Cyrus has a beer but Honey has a cup of water. I continue to scan the bar and find Nico, Mina, Faye, Leon, and Nolan all sitting on the opposite side of the room Honey and Cyrus.

They all are laughing and chatting but my gaze continues to move. I turn back around to the bartender. I give him a sickly sweet smile. 

"Yes?"

"Can I have a-"

"I was already warned by your dad. No alcohol." The blonde bartender interrupted me. 

"I know I was gonna ask for a Shirley Temple." He raises his eyebrows at me. "What? I was."

"Here I have to tend to this whole bar. Now if you promise to not touch a single drop of liquor I will let you make your while I tend the rest of the bar." 

"Deal." I shake his hand and hop over the bar. My dad abandoned me at the bar long ago. I look around finding everything I need. I grab a cup and fill it with ice, pouring some of the cherry grendiade. I grab a can of 7-Up and slowly pour that. I notice the cherries on the counter in front of me but I'm not a fan of real cherries. 

I grab a straw and place it in my cup. I set it down where I was sitting and hop back over the counter trying my hardest to not knock off any bottles. I make it over and take a seat and take a sip of my drink. 

"What did I say?" I turn around to see my dad and Cyrus both with empty bottles. 

"No alcohol."

"Exactly so what are you drinking."

"A Shirley Temple. Made it myself." I give him a sweet smile proud of my creation. 

"Who let you behind the counter?" Cyrus asks me.

"Never got his name. But we had a deal I use no alcohol and he can tend to the actual drinks."

"You think since your dad owns this joint you can have free drinks."

"No, I put it on his tab though."

"Seriously."

"Deadly dear old dad."

"I am not old."

"Sure." I suck in my lips and lightly nod my head.

My drink is now gone so I hop back over to get another one. When I put my ass on the counter I see my dad and Cyrus glaring at me. I hop over and made my drink again while they sat down leaving a spot in between them.

"What can get cha boys?" I give them my best southern accent. 

"An adult," Cyrus answers me giving me an immense amount of sass. 

"I don't like your attitude, young man." 

"I don't like how comfortable she is around us." Cyrus turns to my dad and talks like I'm not there.

"Sorry boss what can I get- why are you back here?" Blondie came back over.

"I was getting myself another drink and I was going to help them but then Crybaby over here was being a crybaby," I explained to Blondie as I pointed at Cyrus. He laughed but Cyrus gave me a glare that I returned. 

"Delphine get over here." My dad finally spoke forcing me to climb back over.

"There is a space to leave right here." Blondie pointed to a swinging door on the counter. He grabs out two beers and puts them on the counter in front of them. I take my seat in between them. 

"Delphine this is one of our prospects, Jameson." My dad introduces us. 

"I like Blondie better." 

They all chuckle and the rest of the night goes like this. Me hopping over the counter to grab make more Shirley Temples, Cyrus telling me to stop putting my ass on the counter. Other guys coming to introduce themselves.