I just shake my head in disgust and look around the room to find Serenity. Henry holds his hand out to me. “I’m out. You staying?”
I fist bump him. “Yeah, I’m going to hang out a while.” Henry walks away and it’s then I find Serenity again. She’s walking back toward what I’m assuming is the kitchen with an empty tray.
As soon as she disappears, I hear the men behind me talking. “That one would be perfect for our extended party. We’ll get her high and she won’t even know we’re passing her around. Plus, she’s a fat ass. Women like her are easy anyway.”
I stare down the pompous ass that said it. I recognize him from the Rebels we played a few weeks ago. I can’t get into a fight here, no matter how much I want to. My only choice is to stay until the party ends and make sure Serenity makes it home okay.
When she comes back out with another full tray, I weave through the drunk partygoers. She looks around, and I’m pretty sure she’s looking to see if her boss is around. Holding the tray out to me, she asks, “Carmelized onion on goat cheese bread?”
I scrunch my nose up. What’s up with the fancy food? “Um, no, thank you. I’m wondering if I can come back after clean-up and walk you to your car to make sure you’re safe.”
She tries to hide her surprise, but I can see it plainly on her face. I’m sure by this point she probably thinks I’m stalking her, but I’m not. She just shakes her head. “No, it will be late. One of the girls will walk me out. Thank you though.”
She smiles at me, letting me know she appreciates the thought or is just softening the fact that she’s turning me down. She starts to walk away, but I stop her. I don’t want to worry her, but I feel she has a right to know. “Look, I overheard some men talking about you. I promise, no funny business. I just want to make sure you make it to your car.”
She laughs at me then, like I’ve just told a joke instead of letting her know that something bad could happen. “Trust me, I’ve dealt with it all. I’ll be fine. I’m not going to have you come back to walk me fifty feet to my car. I promise I’ll have someone walk out with me. Thank you again. Seems you’ve saved me twice tonight.” And before I can stop her, she walks away.
My stomach tightens into knots, either from the fact that she doesn’t want me to come back or the fact that she deals with this shit all the time. Regardless, I’m coming back. I won’t be able to rest not knowing if she’s okay.
3
Serenity
Sexy Dusty Burgess says he’ll be back to make sure I get to my car safely. He says he doesn’t like the idea of me being alone in the parking lot with so many guys eyeing me, which is news to me. Yeah, every now and then, especially when there’s drinking involved, men seem to get handsy. But it’s nothing I can’t handle. I wanted to tell him yes, please come back. But I didn’t. I’m used to taking care of myself and hate to ask anything of anyone. Plus, I know he’s just being nice.
I walk away from him a little deflated. It’s like he views me as a little sister. He must have some kind of hero complex, because he’s come to my “rescue” twice in one night. Do I look like I can’t take care of myself? I look around at my coworkers and there’s plenty of women smaller and prettier than me that get hit on a lot more. Why is he helping me?
When the party starts to wind down and guests begin to leave, I watch Dusty walk out the door without a backwards glance. I fight the urge to chase him down. I would love to see him again. I know I told him I’d be fine, but honestly, I hate watching him leave. I put the empty tray under my arm, feeling confident that I’ll never see him again. It’s so late it’s stupid o’clock; he’s not coming back to see me to my car. What kind of man would go to so much trouble for me? None, that’s who. I’m not discounting myself. I know it will take a special man to see all the good in me, and I’m not giving up. He’s out there somewhere. I just don’t think he’s going to be a professional baseball player that is hotter than sin.
Once the last guest leaves, we run around cleaning tables, floors and putting the place back together. I’m wiping down tables when Jamie, a coworker, stops me. “I saw Dusty Burgess talking to you. Was he nice? Or was he trying to put the moves on you?”