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“When did you get here?” Elsie asks, looking up from her phone.
“Just arrived, and I’m only here for a minute.” She sighs. “Long day. The superintendent is talking about budget cuts for next year, which means our class size is probably going up again.”
“If we still had booze, I’d offer you a drink.” My nose scrunches.
“I’m fine. Just tired. I promised my parents I’d take a trip out to the ranch for dinner tonight. Unfortunately, that means I can’t drink my problems away ahead of time. I just stopped by to vent so I don’t blow up on them.”
“That’s what we’re here for,” Elsie assures her, squeezing her arm.
Nora’s family has been hit with one health event after another lately, and since her only brother moved away a few years ago, it’s fallen on Nora to take care of them.
She glances around. “This place changes every time I’m here. It’s moving along quickly.”
“Next thing you know, we’ll be planning opening night festivities.” I shimmy my shoulders, and Nora laughs.
Elsie raises her hand. “My vote is for luau night.”
I frown. “As fun as that sounds. I think we’ve officially been outvoted by my grumpy brothers on that one.”
“It’s a cowboy bar. Not a fucking luau,” Liam yells from somewhere in the back room.
“I thought you left,” I yell back, and his chuckle has me rolling my eyes. “Maybe we just buy the decorations without telling them.”
“I heard that!”
“I meant for you to,” I yell again.
Nora smiles, shaking her head. “On that note, I need to go get changed for dinner. If I’m a minute late, they’ll never let me live it down.”
She leaves, while Elsie and I linger, cleaning up before taking off for the day. We’re at a standstill until Will gives us the go-ahead to start painting, but Nora is right; it’s coming along.
When I’m done dusting off today’s workspace, I lean against a barstool and sigh. “I don’t miss working nights, but I’ll be glad when this is over.”
“I miss working nights.” Elsie shrugs, unsurprisingly since she’s a night owl.
“Speaking of nights, I’ve been meaning to tell you that you’re invited to a party at Ironside Ridge tonight. The president of Shane’s club in Vegas is coming to town to check on progress with the clubhouse, so they’re going to have a little celebration.”
“I don’t think you can use the words little and celebration in the same sentence when it comes to those guys.”
I laugh. “Probably not. But if you’re bored…”
“I’ll think about it.” She glances off.
I’ve never seen Elsie turn down an offer to party, but she’s been distant lately when we aren’t working, and she hasn’t wanted to talk about it.
A fit of giggles comes from outside the bar, and I frown when I spot who’s standing out front, talking to the ladies of the wine club.
“What is he doing here?” I mumble, more to myself, but Elsie answers.
“Reminding us the day can always get worse?”
“Clearly.”
I grumble, walking toward the front of the bar where Zander is grinning, as charming and fake as ever.
“There she is.” He smiles wider when he spots me.
“Harloe, honey, you didn’t tell us about the trouble the insurance company is giving you about the fire,” Etta says, eyes wide.
