Page 18 of Hello, Summer
He ran a finger over the spot where his wedding band had been, then looked up at Conley. His lips were smiling, but she could see the pain in his dark eyes. “She’s getting remarried, Sarah. I was refilling Jodi Pilgreen’s acid reflux medicine, and Danielle just called me up at the store today and blurted it out. Said she didn’t want me to hear it from somebody else.”
“That was quick,” Conley said.
“They work together at the university.”
“Sucks,” Conley said.
“Majorly,” he agreed.
The bartender was standing in front of them, looking expectant.
“Check it out,” Trish said, turning her card faceup on the bar. It was the jack of spades. The preppie turned over the card Skelly had given him. The nine of diamonds. The blonde went next. She had the queenof clubs. Skelly had the nine of hearts. He looked over at Conley. She turned over her eight with a sigh.
“All mine,” Trish said, raking in the small stack of bills. She reached for the bourbon bottle and poured a hefty shot into Conley’s half-empty glass.
“Drink up,” Skelly ordered.
Conley tossed the drink back. It burned as it went down, but not in a good way.
Trish dealt another hand of cards.
“How long you home for?” Skelly asked.
“To be determined.” Conley hesitated. “I’m sorta kind of between jobs.”
“You?” He pretended to look shocked.
“I was supposed to start work at a digital investigative outlet next week, but things changed. I’d already quit my job at theAJCand given up my apartment, so now here I am.”
“You’ll find another job,” he said.
“That’s the plan. Until then, I’m gonna move G’mama out to the Dunes tomorrow and hang out at the beach.”
“When’s the last time you were home?” Skelly asked. “Been a while, right?”
“According to my dear sister, it’s been too long,” Conley said. She was struck with a sudden pang of guilt. She clutched his arm. “Oh God, Skelly. I just remembered about your dad. I really am a horrible person. I meant to send a card or flowers or something.”
He shrugged. “It’s okay. Grayson put a real nice write-up in theBeacon.” He laughed ruefully. “We had to let people into the funeral home in shifts.”
“I know Doc could be tough on you, but he was always so sweet to me. He delivered me, did you know that?”
“You and half the population of Griffin County,” Skelly said.
“Are you two playing or chatting?” Trish demanded, waving cards in front of their faces.
“Hit me,” Skelly said.
“I’m in,” Conley agreed.
They played six more rounds, and Conley lost two more times. The drinks got stronger, and she laughed harder and talked louder than she had in a long, long time.
“I’m done,” Conley said after she’d downed her third shot of whiskey. “Any more and they’ll have to send me home in an ambulance.”
Skelly pointed toward the handkerchief-size dance floor, where a lone couple shuffled back and forth to a mournful country song she didn’t recognize. “C’mon, kid. Let’s dance.”
“Skelly, no. I’m about drunk, and so are you.”
He pulled her from her barstool. “Best reason in the world.”
