Chapter 378: Rerun's Bar & Grill

Saturday, February 4th, Evening (Eastern Standard Time)

They parked in a municipal parking lot and looked at the rows of cars. He put the car into park and looked over to his passenger. She looked across the parking lot and finally to him.

"It's probably packed, we could go elsewhere if you don't want to wait," Garvan said.

"I'm good going here," Brett said.

Garvan nodded, "Okay, let's go," he said.

They got out of the car; after Garvan locked it, they headed across the parking lot to a small two-story building. Finally, they reached the front door, and to prove that gentlemen weren't dead, Garvan held the door open for Brett.

Inside was very different than the outside; the small sports bar and grill was packed, as patrons drank and watched various sports on the large TVs. The decor had a Latin Flare, and a short Hispanic man with dark hair stood behind the bar looked at them.

"Garvan, Brett, welcome, go to the back find a seat, I'll make sure the Miami game is on," Reynaldo "Rerun," Vasquez said.

"Is Mina here tonight?" Brett asked.

"No, she's upstairs with Eric; she has an early morning tomorrow," Rerun said.

"That's right, everyone heads home tomorrow," Brett said.

"Well, go get comfortable," Rerun said.

"Thanks, Mister Vasquez," Garvan said.

"Garvan, how many times have I told you it's Rerun," Rerun said.

"Yes, Mister Vasquez," Rerun said.

Brett took Garvan by the arm and led him to the back room. They found a table, and both sat on the same side so they could watch the muted TV. The bottom of the screen had the latest news on, including the tensions along the Waldberge border involving US Troops.

Garvan looked over to Brett. She had now slipped her coat off, and he saw she wore a top with a plunging neckline exposing a good amount of cleavage. Brett also produced a pen and was doodling on the paper placemat.

"So, you're going to New York," Garvan said.

"Only for a few days, make some money and then come back," Brett said.

"What are you doing in New York that you can't do here?" Garvan asked.

"Do a runway show during New York Fashion Week," Brett said.

"For Grammy Brooke?" Garvan asked.

"Yes, for her, it should be fun," Brett said.

"Why are you doing it?" Garvan asked.

"Why not? You only live once, and it gets me away from my mom," Brett said.

Garvan nodded, and before he said anything, the server showed up. Brett and Garvan looked at a woman in her early twenties, with blue-grey eyes; her blonde hair was in loose curls and held back with a hair clip. There were streaks of hot pink running through her hair.

"Hello, I'm Kora; I'll be your server. Can I start you with drinks," the young server said, her voice was in all too perfect English.

"I'll have a sweet tea," Brett said.

"A coke, please," Garvan said.

"A sweet tea and a coke," Kora said, "Are you ready to order?"

"No, we need more time," Garvan said.

"Very well, will there be anything else?" Kora asked.

"Please, remind Rerun to put on the Miami game," Brett said.

"Very well, I'll let him know," Kora said and walked away.

Garvan watched as Brett doodled on the placemat. Then, he studied what she's doing with the pen. After a moment, Garvan concluded that Brett wasn't doodling but was drawing.

"Where did you learn to draw?" Garvan asked.

Brett stopped, looked up at Garvan. Then, with her left hand, she brushed a stray ginger red bang out of her eyes. "You didn't know that I could draw?" Brett asked.

"No, I didn't; I don't even remember ever watching you draw," Garvan said.

"Oh, okay," Brett said, "It's no big deal."

"So, where did you learn to draw so well?" Garvan asked.

"As you know, when I was little, I lived with my grandparents while my mom played in Atlanta," Brett said.

"Yeah, yeah," Garvan said.

"So, I would be rotated around several houses that summer. One of the houses was Coach Scott's house. His wife wouldn't allow us to use electronics, so there were always activities. One of the fun ones was drawing and painting in her art studio. I never got good at painting, but drawing and sketching I took to," Brett said.

Kora walked back to the table with their drinks. The server looked them over. "Are you ready to order?" she asked.

"Yes, I am," Brett said.

"So am I," Garvan said.

After they ordered, Garvan looked at Brett, "So, Notre Dame, next year," he said.

"Yeah, you know, we discussed it before I committed," Brett said.

Garvan shook his head, "Green and Gold," he said.

"What's really on your mind, Garvan?" Brett asked.

"It's just becoming real to me," Garvan said.

"You don't think it's not becoming real to me?" Brett asked.

"You wanted to go to Norte Dame," Garvan said.

"I've always lived in North Carolina; it's scary," Brett said.

"So, why not stay local?" Garvan asked.

"Norte Dame is a good school; it's a religious school," Brett said.

"Religious school?" Garvan asked.

"Family tradition, but the main reason is I chose Norte Dame is to spread my wings," Brett said.

"Is this an Auntie Tall thing?" Garvan asked.

Brett shrugged, "Maybe, a little," she said.

"A little?" Garvan asked.

"One night, we sat down, here as a matter-of-fact, and had dinner. We talked about things, and I broke her heart," Brett said.

"Broke her heart?" Garvan asked.

"I told her I wasn't going to UCONN. So we talked, she was disappointed, but she said live my life," Brett said.

Garvan nodded and looked up at the TV. The Miami game had started. Then, turning away from the TV and he looked at Brett. "How do you think the game will go?" Garvan asked.

"They've been on a winning streak, so who knows," Brett said.

Garvan nodded, "So, it looks like you're the only one headed to the playoffs," he said.

"You had a good season; too bad the tiebreakers didn't go your way," Brett said.

"We're having a down year, but yeah, those tough losses hurt us," Garvan said.

Brett smiled and took Garvan's hand, and patted it. "You had a great season," Brett said.

Garvan nodded just as Kora came back with their dinner. Garvan looked over to Brett and smiled. "Well, I'm going to be in the stands cheering you on," Garvan said.

Brett took a bite of her dinner. Then, she smiled, "You never get to see me play," she said.

"Yeah, I think I'll even make a sign," Garvan said.

"No, please," Brett said with a laugh.

They sat, ate, and watched the Miami game. After finishing dinner and order dessert. Garvan and Brett stayed and watched Miami beat Philadelphia, 125 to 102; James Scott led the team in assists with eight.