“Seriously, I can’t thank you enough for taking my case, and I can’t believe I walked on everything.” said Ben to Hank as they pulled up to a convenience store.

“Just stay innocent, we might not be lucky the next time.” said Hank, as he turned off his van and placed it in gear and set the parking break.

“Really man, I mean we’ve been friends since we were kids, we’ve worked together, we worked for Lou, but nothing I have ever done deserves what you did for me in that courtroom, and best of all you made it so literally I cannot legally work for my mom anymore, she can’t make me go back to that restaurant again. This is so awesome.” said Ben.

“She’ll miss having the best cookies in town, I’m out of there too, I just promised to stay until I finished school and passed the bar exam. We’re out of there bro.” Hank said, giving a high five to Ben.

“This case is going to make you so famous; the money is going to flow.” said Ben.

“I don’t know, I just don’t think it’s going to be where I go in life. It’s going to be like a side thing.” Hank tried explaining.

“Whatever bro, let’s go get some sodas.” said Ben, as they left the van and went into the store. They liked the owner, he was an older man, but always happy, and the two friends had known him since they were little.

“Hey Mr. Kook.” said Hank, as both young men entered the store and walked back to grab some sodas. Ben grabbed a packaged muffin to go with his soda, and Hank grabbed some jerky.

“Can I get a lottery ticket too, please?” asked Ben.

“Only if you promise to buy the store from me when you win.” said Mr. Kook

“But you love this store.” said Ben.

“I’ve loved this store since you both were little boys and would walk here to buy Bazooka gum. You remember that?” asked Mr. Kook. Ben and Hank grinned, they worked hard for their allowance and spent it all at Mr. Kook’s store. Hank and Ben grew up going to his store, and even took their prom dates for pictures there. Mr. Kook had offered them both jobs, but they were indentured to Ben’s mom Lou at her legitimate business, the restaurant.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“I tell you what, if I win, I’m splitting this ticket with Hank for winning my case, and we’re buying this store.” said Ben.

“You know, if we’d just worked here, you wouldn’t have had a case in the first place.” said Hank.

“Don’t be so sure about that, I might be eighty-three years old, but I am some gangster.” Mr. Kook said, pulling his shotgun up from behind the counter.

“All right, if you win, that’s all you owe me.” said Hank.

“I hope you guys win, this thing gets heavier every year.” Mr. Kook said, putting the shotgun down behind the counter.

“Deal.” Ben said, handing his cash to Mr. Kook who rung it up and gave Ben his change.

“You boys are getting too old for sodas, you should go buy some coffee. If I was young, I’d buy a cup of coffee” said Mr. Kook.

“Yah, but you don’t sell coffee. You told us that once you started selling coffee you would have to make fresh coffee all day, and that would be more work.” Hank said, with Ben nodding in agreement.

“Not here you dumb asses, the girl with the nice eyes that Hank pretends he doesn’t like, she owns this coffee shop next door, buy it from her.” said Mr. Kook. He had watched Hank and Erin irritate each other at random encounters over the years, and hoped Hank pulled his head out of his ass before she found someone else.

“Maybe tomorrow, I just paid for this soda, and you don’t give refunds.” said Ben.

“Get out of here. You guys are dumbasses.” said Mr. Kook, playfully shooing them out of the store.

Later that night, Hank’s phone rang. “Who is it, and why are you waking me up.” said Hank into the phone.

“It’s me Ben, I was watching the news. We won the lottery.” said Ben.

“It’s too late for a joke, I’m tired, I was up early for court for some asshole who calls to wake me up and fuck with me.” said Hank.

“No man, I’m not lying, we won.” said Ben.

“You’re fucking with me.” said Hank.

“Would I lie to my lawyer?” said Ben.

“Probably.” said Hank.

“Well, I’m not, I swear, we hit the jackpot, I mean, who knows after taxes and stuff, but it’s still a lot.” said Ben.

“Enough to buy Mr. Kook’s store?” asked Hank.

“I mean yah, I guess, we kind of promised him.” said Ben.

“As your lawyer, we both know he had that on tape, we’d better make him a fair offer tomorrow.” said Hank.

“What else do you think you’ll do with your money?” Asked Ben.

“Buy my parents’ house so I can get out of this apartment, and away from my roommate who is too lazy to walk over and just talk to me.” Hank said, walking into Ben’s bedroom. Hank took the lottery ticket and pulled the internet up on Ben’s computer.

“Fuck man, you were serious.” said Hank.

“Yah man, I told you. Partner.” said Ben.

“What the fuck are we going to do with a corner store?” asked Hank.

“I don’t know, maybe we could add cookies and coffee. We do make the best cookies in town, and I never really wrote the recipes down at Lou’s the whole time we worked there.” said Ben.

“She’ll kill you, even if you are her first born.” said Hank.

“I took the rap, she owes me a big favor.” said Ben.