Chapter 750: Rerun's Bar & Grill
Thursday, March 23rd, Evening
She pushed open the door and looked at the collecting crowd. Crossing the barroom, she sat at the bar and picked up a napkin. The bartender walked over and placed a napkin down, as well as a bowl of pretzels.
"The usual?" Ramon "Rerun" Vasquez asked.
"Yeah," Ashlyn said.
Rerun nodded, "One moment," he said, turned, and made her drink, "Anything else?"
"Well, there's…" Ashlyn started to say, then stopped as the TV over the bar suddenly was set to the channel the Miami game would be on. "I see."
"What else would you watch?" Rerun asked.
"True," Ashlyn said, shrugged and sipped her drink.
"You usually watch at home, where's the kids?" Rerun asked.
Ashlyn shrugged, "Buck complains he never got to spend time with them, so he can watch'em."
"I see," Rerun said.
"Do you have an issue with that?" Ashlyn asked.
"No," Rerun said.
"Good," Ashlyn said.
"Why do you call him Buck?" Rerun asked.
"I call him Buck because he stopped being my dad fifteen years ago," Ashlyn said.
"Would there be anything else?" Rerun asked.
"Yeah, can I get, if you still have them, the Empanadas de la Abuela?" Ashlyn asked.
"I'll check. Which ones, and if we don't have any?" Rerun asked.
"Beef and, if not, then the carne asada," Ashlyn said.
"Red meat?" Rerun asked.
"I feel like tearing into something," Ashlyn said.
"One of those days?" Rerun asked.
Ashlyn sighed, "One of those years," she said.
"I see," Rerun said, nodded, and went to handle Ashlyn's order.
Ashlyn looked up at the TV and studied the teams warming up. She sighed and ran her finger around the rim of her glass. Taking her finger off the glass, she stuck it into her mouth and enjoyed the mixture of tastes. Shaking her head, Ashlyn reached for her smartphone and scrolled through sports news. There is nothing new about the University of Notre Dame. There was always chatter about the Miami Heat. There was always chatter about the Miami Heat. There was some hype from Duke about some new players. The big story discussed the Connecticut Sun and how the two Scotts could co-exist.
Shaking her head, Ashlyn knew that Angela was the main event and Kay was a role player. What made it interesting was where they would draft and who they would take. Was Connecticut building for this season or a few down the road? Angela was almost thirty-three, in her prime, but was moving through it quickly. Not everyone was a Lisa Leslie, a Birdy, or a Dee. Angela wanted different things and was getting close to making those choices.
Rerun returned and put some chips and salsa in front of Ashlyn. "You've got the last of the empanadas," Rerun said.
"Thanks," Ashlyn said.
"What are you reading about?" Rerun asked.
"The talking heads are wondering how Angela and Kay can co-exist," Ashlyn said.
Rerun laughed, "Simple, Angela will smack her upside the head, and Kay will fly straight," he said.
"It's not like that in the league," Ashlyn said.
"We know Angela," Rerun said, looking towards the back room.
"That we do," Ashlyn said, "What's going on back there?"
Rerun sighed, "Yeah, well, I don't know," he said.
"Rerun, don't pull this male avoidance shit," Ashlyn said.
Rerun took a deep breath and turned to Ashlyn. "Candi's back there with Lina Oomen," he said.
Ashlyn shrugged, "So, they're friends and Lina considers her a mentor," she said.
"Yeah, I understand that," Rerun said.
Ashlyn nodded. "I see. Do you still feel guilty?" she asked.
Rerun nodded, "Yeah, I guess," he said.
"She needs to hear that you feel bad. Damnit, Ramon, that woman's been through hell and walked out tempered, but she still needs to hear it," Ashlyn said.
"I don't think I can do that," Rerun said.
"You need to man up and do it," Ashlyn said.
"It's been too long," Rerun said.
"It's never too late; she's been gone a long time," Ashlyn said.
Rerun nodded, "Why is she here?" he asked.
"Some family stuff needed to be here for," Ashlyn said.
Rerun nodded, "I see. Is it Keith?" he asked.
"I don't know," Ashlyn said.
"You know," Rerun said.
"I do, but it's not my place to say," Ashlyn said.
Rerun nodded and stepped away. Ashlyn watched as he served several patrons. Rerun would crack a joke and smile with each. Finally, he stepped into the kitchen. Ashlyn turned to look at the TV and watched the beginning of the Miami versus Toronto game from Miami.
Ashlyn took a sip of her drink and watched the tip-off. Different times and a different world, she would get seats and watch James play at Duke when she was in town, and sometimes Brett would be with her. Ashlyn hated being a spectator as well. She always wanted to play and could do drills now and then, but her knee was done. As much as Ashlyn loved basketball, she liked walking more.
Rerun returned and put Ashlyn's plate in front of her. Ashlyn smiled at Rerun, and he smiled back.
"You're welcome," Rerun said.
Ashlyn nodded and ate her Empanadas. After her first bite, she sipped her drink. She watched the basketball game. Miami lost 84 to 101. Ashlyn shook her head; James led Miami in assists with seven. James wouldn't be happy, and Ashlyn wasn't looking forward to going home to Buck. Ashlyn sighed, finished her drink, and settled her tab. She left the bar and headed home.