I See The Light (Book #3 in LA Series)

Chapter Nine

Beth's POV
I'm in. I have entered the bar. "She's here," Jerry yells from behind the bar.

"Jerry man," Dan says. "That wasn't a part of the deal."

"I needed another beer," Jerry shrugs and grabs one from the fridge. He puts the cash on the till and then walks back across to this side of the bar.

I giggle as Dan shakes his head. "You alright?" He asks me as he stares at me in concern.

"I'm good," I murmur, squeezing his hand. He doesn't let go of it and leads me over to the seat beside Jerry. I hop up onto it and then Dan let's go of my hand, jumping over the bar to grab me a drink.

He slides me a bottle of Samuel Adams. "You still drink that right?" Dan questions.

"Yeah, I do," I answer. Jerry and I clink bottles and we both take a sip. "Not much has changed in here."

"Can't change stuff that works," Dan says. One of the other patrons walks up to the bar and Dan sends them his signature smile. "We after another one Andre?"

"Please," Andre hums. Dan pours him another whiskey on the rocks and Dante places it on his tab.

"You've started tabs again?" I question, raising an eyebrow.

"I did after firing Bonnie," Dan explains. "Turns out patrons were paying their bills, Bonnie was just keeping it for herself."

"Oh Bonnie," I sigh.

"I know," Dan says. "I hated firing her."

"But it had to be done," I say. "She was taking from the business Dan."

"Good riddance I say," Jerry mutters. "She used to be all over me."

I snort and cough, trying to hold back my laugh. Dan looks at me with amusement in his eyes.

The door to the bar opens and a gust of strong perfume lingers in the bar. We all turn and I hear Dan groan.

It was my sister Violet. She was now in a red dress that barely reached her thighs. It was strapless and by the way it looked, I could tell she always had to pull it up.

Her gaze catches mine and she scowls. "Beth, your here?"

"She finally made it inside," Jerry cheers.

"Hi Violet, my day was great thanks for asking," I deadpan.

Violet sits down at the end of the bar and smiles sexily at Dan. "A gin and tonic for me sexy."

I nearly gag. This is how she flirts? Why was she always the better sister to everyone then?

Violet leans forward and I answer my question. She's got bigger tits.

Dan hands it over and Violet's finger moves over his knuckle in a soft circle. Is that a tactic?

"Put it on my tab," Violet says.

"No can do," Dan says. "You have to pay up before starting a new one."

"I don't get paid till Monday," Violet pouts. "Can you make an exception? For me?"

"No," Dan says coldly. "Because then I would have to make exceptions for everyone."

"I'll pay it," I pipe up. Dan turns to me and Violet glares at me murderously.

"Beth," Violet hisses.

"Thanks," Dan says. He grabs the EFTPOS machine and types in the total.

My eyes widen. "$150?!"

"I like an expensive gin," Violet deadpans. I tap my card gritting my teeth.

"Since Beth paid your bill, you will no longer be allowed to have a tab," Dan says.

"That's not fair," Violet complains.

"Life's not fair," Jerry yells. "Ah, shit I'm drunk."

"I'll drive you home," I tell him. I get up out of my seat and help Jerry to his feet. Dan hands me the keys to his truck. "I guess I'll see you around?" I frame it like a question to Dan.

He smiles. "I Hope so."

I smile back and lead Jerry out the door to his truck. He tumbles into the passenger seat and I get into the driver's seat. "Fuck I forgot it's a stick shift," I mutter angrily.

I do know how to drive it, but not greatly.

I get Jerry back to his caravan and I put him to bed. "Thanks, Gina," he slurs.

I smile at him sadly. "Good night Jerry."

Gina was Jerry's daughter. She cut ties with him when she graduated high school due to being embarrassed by what her dad was.

A drunk.

I'm friends with her on Facebook and she's a lawyer in London now, with a family of her own.

Jerry misses her, but he doesn't reach out because he knows she doesn't want him to.

I shut the caravan door behind me and head back to Kev's. I stop on the street as I see Kev and Maxine Vance (famous reporter) making out on the front porch. Kev pulls away and she gets into the Uber and they drive past me. Kev sees me standing on the street and groans. "Dammit."

"We have a lot to talk about, brother of mine," I say.