Highways & Hostages by Jax Abbey

putting a hand on Stella’s shoulder.
    “I thought you were an only child.”
    “Oh, I am. But your sister is amusing.”
    “Glad you think so,” Stella said. “You want her?”
    “Absolutely not,” Valerie replied. She glanced over Stella’s shoulder and her eyes widened. “Watch out!”
    Faux Hawk had collided with another customer in his haste to get to the bar’s exit. He had the nerve to look affronted before continuing.
    “Are you okay?” Stella asked. “He’s such an ass.”
    “Yeah,” Valerie replied. A devilish grin slid over her face. “But I can’t say I would have minded if it had been his hot-stuff brother.”
    Stella frowned, then shrugged. “Yeah, normally he and Blondie are attached at the hip, but he didn’t come in tonight.”
    Valerie sighed, sending her bangs skyward. “Such a shame. I could’ve used some eye candy during tonight’s shift.”
    Stella rolled her eyes. “Don’t you have enough men to juggle as it is? You have a one-track mind.”
    Valerie smiled prettily. “Don’t hate the player; hate the game.” She winked.
    Stella pushed away from the counter and visited the kitchen to check on the guys’ food. She piled it on an empty tray, and as she deposited it on the table, she asked, “Anything else I can get you guys?”
    “Actually, I have a question for you,” Finn said. “It’s Stella, right?”
    Stella nodded and raised an eyebrow.
    “You’re here every time we stop by. Do you ever take any time off?”
    Stella’s smile faltered almost imperceptibly before she beamed brighter. “I enjoy my job. I consider a lot of my regular customers my friends. Besides, I have no idea what I’d do with free time on my hands.”
    “So you’ll be here tomorrow?” Finn asked.
    Stella’s eyes narrowed slightly. Why was he asking? “Yes. The morning and afternoon shift,” she said. “I’ve got to go check on my other tables. You guys take your time.”
    Back behind the bar, Valerie was filling a pint glass. Stella pinched her arm to get her attention.
    “Ouch! What was that for?”
    “Blondie just asked me if I take time off, and then he asked if I was working tomorrow.”
    Valerie’s eyes widened and her mouth formed an O. She leaned over the counter to see the guys. “Maybe he’s secretly in love with you, but he’s extremely shy and he’s finally worked up the nerve to ask you out!”
    Stella grabbed Valerie by the back of her dirndl and pulled her away from the counter. “Stop that. Besides, his friend Mr. Hot Stuff commented on my ring the other day.”
    Valerie clasped Stella’s hands in hers, a manic gleam in her eye. “He realized that if he doesn’t make his move now he’ll lose his chance!”
    Stella extricated her hands from Valerie’s death grip and laughed uneasily. “You’re insane!”
    Valerie put her hands on her hips. “And you love me all the more for it.” She grabbed the pint glass and turned to Stella with uncharacteristic soberness. “Ever since you’ve been back, working here and dating Derek, you’ve been…kind of boring. I know you’re worried about money and Phoebe, and making Derek happy, but you should be doing something to make yourself happy.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind, Dr. Valerie,” Stella said lightly. She was surprised to receive Valerie’s advice, given that she wouldn’t admit to anyone, including herself, that after two years in the same place, focusing on the drudgery of everyday adulthood, she was itching for adventure. She told herself and her mother that it was time for her to put down roots—that settling down was what she wanted. She looked down at the engagement ring she was absentmindedly twisting around her finger.

BILLY, 6:33 P.M.
    Billy blew out of the front entrance of the Leaky Stein, his head swiveling left and right as he searched for the waitress’s sister. Alex and Finn didn’t think he could do anything right, but this was his chance to prove them wrong. In fact, with Alex injured