Dead Outside (Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

up to one of the pool tables. It was the type that you put quarters into
and the balls dispense, though they were rather old so you had to kick it after
you put the quarters in for all the balls to come out, otherwise some of them
might get stuck.
    It
didn’t take long for Nick to beat me in the first game. Nick would never admit
to practicing, but he’s had a lot of free time since he graduated the police
academy six months ago.
    “How
is the job hunt going man?” I asked him while he was racking the balls for the
second game.
    He
let out a sigh, “Not good. The sheriffs department wants someone with
experience, just like all the others. I keep saying, how the hell am I supposed
to get that experience if nobody will hire me?”
    “That’s
true,” I agreed. This had been the same story for the last few departments Nick
had applied to. Neither of us could seem to catch a break lately, and sooner rather
than later we would be stuck on the streets. “Hopefully the next place will
work out.”
    “Yeah
me too,” He sighed again, “Roxie’s been hammering me again about getting
married. How am I supposed to marry her when I’m not working?”
    “Yeah,
I know what you mean,” I chuckled. I don’t know who Nick was trying to fool.
Roxie had been talking about getting married for a while, and Nick always had
an excuse for putting it off.
    “Speak
of the devil,” Nick said, noticing that Roxie was walking over. “Hey babe, how was
work?”
    She
was a lot shorter then me, with the top of her head reaching just over my
shoulders. She walked over to Nick, who had to lean down to kiss her. Their
height difference was pretty dramatic, a foot and a few inches. Nick could
practically put his arm on her head to use as an arm rest, though Roxie would make
him regret it.
    “Good,”
she smiled as she gave Nick a hug. “Oh, and you not having a job doesn’t
matter, my dad didn’t have a job when he asked my mom to marry him, and they
were twenty-one when they got married. We’re twenty-four, time to move
forward!”
    “Can
we not do this here?” Nick asked seriously.
    “So,”
I jumped into the conversation to cut the tension before it got worse and
awkward. “Roxie, would you mind getting the next round of drinks? We’re about
to start another game.”
    They
stared at each other with spiteful eyes for a minute before Roxie broke the
staring contest.
     “Why
are you giving all your money to Nick again?” Roxie asked, tucking her straightened
reddish brown hair behind her ear. It was naturally curly, but she often
straightened it to keep it in check.
    I
rolled my eyes and came back with, “Well obviously so he can give it all back
to me next time we play poker.”
    “Have
you talked to Sarah lately?” Roxie asked as we sat down at the table where Nick
and I kept our mugs of beer.
    “Yeah
I did today. She said she’s getting into town tomorrow sometime,” I informed
Roxie. “So I don’t think I’ll be seeing her before I leave.”
    “I
wouldn’t count on that,” I heard from behind me. I turned to see Sarah standing
right behind me. She was a few inches taller than Roxie. She had her curly
brown hair tied up in a ponytail, but it was still long enough to go past her
shoulders.
    “When
did you get here?” I asked awe struck.
    “I
got on an earlier flight,” she smiled. “I called Roxie and she picked me up
from the airport. I wouldn’t miss hanging out with you guys.”
    She
reached over and gave me a hug, so I returned it. “Well I’m glad you could make
it. You’re just in time to watch me kick Nick’s ass at pool.”
    “Sam,
you suck at pool,” she laughed. “You never win.”
    “One
of these days I’m going to beat him and you’re all going to be eating your
words,” I proclaimed. "I’ll just go get Sarah a drink at the bar and then
we’ll settle this.”
    “I’ll
come with you,” Sarah said as she set her purse on the table.
    I
walked up to the bar and pulled a five dollar bill