Luke rubbed his face tiredly. Jake had a nickname for everyone under the sun and it was always followed a Mr. or Mrs.
“Hey, don’t look now, but here’s Mr. Suit and Tie now, sans suit and tie though.” Jake said and stood up. He looked half perplex and half happy to see their friend, confused by his attire. Nick Foti was a broad guy, over six feet tall and shoulders like a linebacker. The thermal he wore stretched across those shoulders, molding to the ridges of his chest. Son of a bitch worked out while it rained in Seattle, figured Jake. His brown hair a little longer, since the last time he saw him, brushed back, the ends curling slightly behind his ears. He looked very GQ, but in a rugged way.
“I thought he was Mr. Fancy Pants.” Luke said, rising to his feet as well, preparing to greet his friend.
“Fuck. By the time we get him settled, I’m sure I’ll have a dozen or so names for this jackass. Nick! My, man!” He grabbed him in a brotherly hug. “Looking good asshole, where’s your three piece button down?”
A large grin spread across Nick’s face. “I hung that shit up, brother.” And by the looks of it, he couldn’t have been happier. He looked at Luke, for a moment before grabbing him into a hug. “It’s so fucking good to see you guys.”
“Same here, man.” Luke said as he hugged his best friend. Jake smiled, watching the exchange. He couldn’t imagine not having Cara around for six years, he was happy his brother got his side kick back.
The friends pulled apart and Jake picked up one of Nick’s suitcases. “Well, why the fuck, are we still standing here? Let’s welcome this bastard home right.” Jake wiggled his eyebrows at them, a plan formulating in his head.
Nick and Luke exchanged a look, knowing that Jake was a little unconventional, and feared what he had in mind. Jake caught the knowing look between the two of them and rolled his eyes. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. I meant let’s go to Rudy’s!”
“Of course you did.” Luke nudged Nick, and whispered. “Cara’s probably working.”
Nick turned his attention to Jake, “You still sitting on that?” He shook his head. “By now I thought you’d be engaged for real.”
Jake started to walk away from them, ignoring Nick. Then he glanced over his shoulder and saw that they were just watching him. “Are you two assholes coming or not?”
Chapter Two
Rudy’s Bar and Grille was pretty packed, not that Cara minded, more money in her pocket. She had been working here for years, she had started off as a hostess, and then when she was able to get her bartenders license Rudy gave her full run of the bar. Riverdale was a small upstate town, with not many bars, and Rudy’s was a popular hangout. Cara knew most of the people that paraded in out of the bar, and for some reason they all loved to spill their hearts out to her. She could tell you anything and everything that went on in this town, just by her profession.
She placed two long neck beer bottles in front of two of her regulars and winked at them. She knew when to flirt and when to back off, she just wanted her customers to be happy, but not at her own expense. So she would tease the men and treat the women like they were her oldest girlfriends. She ran a rag down the other end of the bar, cleaning up after a few customers that left the bar to play pool. She shoved the tips into her back pocket and looked up when someone sat down in the empty chair.
Samantha Lanza, was Jake’s little sister, and one of Cara’s only girlfriends. She often came by with some of her co-workers on a Friday night. Single teachers were a good time at Rudy’s, they hustled pool probably just as well as they graded tests. She took Sam in; her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and with her hair drawn back from her face, her blue eyes popped. However, they looked wary and stressed.
“Hey girl, you look like you could use a drink.” Cara said as she grabbed a glass from underneath the bar. Cara knew that whatever was bothering Sam, most likely had to do with the fact that Nick Foti was coming home. There was something there years ago, and by the look on Sam’s face, it was still there.
Sam blew out a breath and leaned back against the stool. She swiped her hands down her face and tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ears. “You have no idea. Make it a double, please.”
Cara nodded, reaching for a bottle of Fireball whisky. Filling a tumbler glass with ice, she peered up at Sam, from the task her hands were busy with. “Want to talk about it?” Since Cara was Jake’s best friend, she knew, Sam was reluctant to divulge all her secrets with her, fearing she would go back and spill them to Jake.
Sam shrugged, thinking about it. She smiled slightly. “How many times a day do you ask people that?”
“It comes with the job. I can tell you EVERYTHING that goes on in Riverdale.” She winked at her.