Bradley could have gone anywhere in the city, done anything along the coast of southern California. Instead, he found himself sitting alone at the Hard Deck, nursing a beer and catching up on the latest Football game.
He was enjoying his chat with Penny until a few minutes ago when she had gotten an urgent phone call and rushed into the back. The door swung from the force of her push, looking as if there were a ghost with him. It was just another reminder of his loneliness. Bradley could curse himself a thousand times over and never be satisfied. Here he was on a Saturday at eleven in the morning, drinking his twisted feelings away.
What was left of his heart screamed when he first caught sight of Brandi all those weeks ago. Then it cried when Hangman looked at her the way he once did. He was pretty confident they weren't a couple but it was shocking nonetheless. If they were to walk up to him one day and announce they had been sleeping together he wouldn't be surprised. But he knew Brandi better than most and understood that she would have to be in love with Bagman for that to occur.
Yesterday's outburst didn't help - either himself or Seresin - and he hated himself for the unjustified accusation he tossed at Brandi. The girl had a moral compass like a damn nun, never in a million years would she think to taunt him using his dad's death. No, Hangman had discovered the truth all on his own. Whatever anger he carried for Brandi was lost now; it was all his own doing - letting her slip through his fingers.
The bell at the front entrance rang and soft footsteps filled the space, mingling with the whispers of the TV. Bradley sighed and sipped his drink, preparing himself to deal with an old timer who talked people's ears off like no tomorrow.
"Penny?"
Rooster almost choked. He knew that voice, it haunted him in his sleep. Shit, did he manifest?
From around the large pillar obscuring his vision came Brandi. She glanced around the place, looking for the woman and. if he didn't know any better, he'd have thought she was lost. She clutched the tote bag strung on her shoulder in both hands, hiding the image of the black graphic tee she wore tucked into a pair of jeans. Bradley shut his eyes, of course, she was as beautiful as yesterday, he was a fool in hoping that his mind had reconfigured itself.
