Bad Choices (Hypernaturals 8)

Cooler, Hot Crew

Morgan and I are in the beer cooler that feeds the tap wall at 'Holly's'. Holly told us that one of the lines is foaming horribly, and we were cleaning and clearing all of them. Checking pressures to be sure we are not putting too much CO2 into the kegs, big and small. Tap walls can be finicky. Some beers also react differently to the same amount of pressure.

We have not put in Nitrogen taps yet until we have this system totally sorted out. Also, I am not sure this bar has a huge demand for such a thing. Not yet. We do well here, but we are still working on having people know we are here, and becoming a destination type of place. A hotel / foodie / bar complex for local day-trippers and weekenders.

We also do not want the original customers to feel chased off by all the changes, so we still have all the original beers here at the original prices. Want a Modelo or a Lone Star? Bottle or tap? Order a bottle, you get the show: opener spinning out of Holly's tight jeans, flipping off the caps in graceful and fluid motions, and sliding back into the back pocket. Holly does not have to dress that way or do that show, but it is important to her that her old customers know she is still the same girl she always has been. Holly will never 'put on airs' she said.

I respect that attitude even if at the same time I do not like her being objectified. Holly told me about that: "Guys in bars. Whatcha gonna do?"

"It's not just guys in this bar." I had pointed out.

"Yeah: Helen's the exception though, ya know?" Holly allowed.

Doing this repetitive work is a welcome distraction. Morgan and I both have this stress delayed reaction mental process, and I guess maybe everyone does. Solders get Post Traumatic Stress. The brain processes the actions, and later presents the bill.

We can dance and sing and deflect all we like when it is going on. We can hold it together when first past it so none of the kids have a clue anything was ever wrong. We can rationalize who it was that we killed. We can get mad at each other over little things. She can go to a gun range and be calm, cool, and collected as she teaches some guys a lesson. The mental bill comes due and we both must sooner or later pay. Maybe because of the scope of this one, it was more delayed than usual.

Sleep did not happen last night.

Helen and Jessica are less affected than we are. Skye is doing worse. Her first time to ever kill anyone, and it was a slaughter. Not an overly grisly one or anything. No guts ripped out and strewn about. Not a Hollywood horror show.

Marvin is deeply worried, and spends all his time holding Skye to him and saying nothing, knowing nothing will help.

Tired, but in a cooler working on repetitive tasks is helping Morgan and I. Somewhat.

The cooler door opened unexpectedly. Neither hypersensitive expected it. We were focused.

"They are in here. Thanks Holly."

"Told 'ja." Holly said from the bar. I could tell by the way her voice sounded where she is. When I pay attention, I know things.

Denise, Anne, and Carol stepped inside, then closed the heavy door behind them. None of their faces looked at all amused.

Denise came over to me and picked me up by my shirt, one-handed, crooked her arm, and held me at an angle to her face. "You. Asshole. You stupid man! Don't you EVER do anything like that ever again!"

"I had permission to take the Crew Goo!" I protested as I dangled, the seam at the arms of my shirt binding somewhat painfully.

"Not that and you know it! You asshole, stupid, dumber than dirt Vampire." Denise told me, her nose an inch from my face.