Must Be Wright (The Wrights 3)
Page 12
“It’s only fair. That little thing has been buttering me up all day.” He ran all ten fingers through his hair. “I’m ready to buy her a pony. A fuckin’ real one.”
Gypsy crossed her arms. She’d spent years cleaning up other people’s messes. When she’d been faced with raising Cooper on her own, she’d vowed to let others take care of themselves. Now, Cooper always came first. No question. Which was why she was interviewing for a manager, so she’d have more time with her boy.
But this didn’t involve Cooper. At least not directly. And it was the first time since she’d made those vows that she was tempted to let them slide. Not for Wyatt, but for Belle.
“If you could just watch her while I play,” Wyatt said, “the customers will be happy, Belle will be happy. It’ll all be good.”
“Good for you. I can’t keep Belle in the main bar, and if I go to the back room with her, there is no way the current bartenders can handle the crush.” Gypsy exhaled hard. “Does Belle know her mom bailed?”
“No. I just told her we’re doing a sleepover at my house tonight.”
“I so hate you right now, Jackson.”
Gypsy walked away, moved behind the bar, and climbed on top, much the way Wyatt had days before. But she didn’t have his whistling skills, so she reached for a cow bell hanging in one corner and rang it until everyone in the bar went quiet.
“If it doesn’t come from a bottle or a tap,” she yelled, “we’re out.”
A collective groan of disappointment rippled through the bar.
“In good news,” she added, “Wyatt Jackson finally got his lazy ass in here.”
The disappointment turned into cheers, then the chant of his name. “Wy-att, Wy-att, Wy-att.”
She climbed off the bar and worked up a smile for Belle. “I’m betting you’re Princess Belle.”
Her eyes brightened. “You’re right.”
“Then you must like Beauty and the Beast.”
“I do.”
“I’m Gypsy. I have the video in my office. Wanna come back and watch it with me?”
She pulled in a sharp breath. “Is it the real movie?”
“You mean with real people?”
“Yeah.”
No, it was the cartoon version, one Cooper hadn’t quite gained interest in yet. But Gypsy could easily enough download the real-people version. “Bet I can find that one.”
Belle jumped off her stool and met Gypsy at the swinging door, where she slid her hand into Gypsy’s.
Wyatt crouched and took Belle’s free hand. “I’m just going to sing for a bit, then we’ll go home. Maybe stop and get ice cream on the way.”
Belle grinned and patted Wyatt’s face. Gypsy didn’t want to notice or care, but the love between the two was palpable. “Yes. My tummy feels better. Can we go to Baskin Robbins and get bubblegum flavor?”
“It’s your birthday, baby. Anything goes.”
He stood and met Gypsy’s eyes. “I’ll make it up to you.”
Like she hadn’t heard that before. “Yes, you will.”
“Cover your ears,” he said, then turned toward the crowd and whistled. “First round of Bud is on me!”
The crowd went wild.
Gypsy smirked. “That’s a good start. Get your ass up on stage.”