“No, you have not,” she said. “Actually, I’ve never really been on a date. I mean, Keith and I sort of went to prom, but since we didn’t have money for the tickets or suitable clothing, we just went to a party out on the beach and called it prom. I don’t know if that counts or not.”
“It doesn’t.” I decided it wouldn’t count—not because I didn’t think it should count, but because I didn’t want it to.
“Well then, I’ve never been on a date at all.”
“I guess I ought to fix that,” I told her.
“When we get home, I’m going to hold you to that,” Tria said.
“Deal,” I replied. “And I want to point out that through exercising restraint to rival that of Atlas himself, I haven’t punched anyone yet.”
“Yet?” Tria took a slight step back and crossed her arms.
“Hey, the night ain’t over.”
She turned her head to look at where Keith and Brandon were still talking softly to each other, then to Nikki, and then back to me.
“I didn’t know he was going to show up here,” she said. “I didn’t think we’d see him until the ceremony. Sorry about that—I should have warned you or something.”
“You can’t warn me about something you don’t know is going to happen,” I said. “Besides, I don’t need a warning about Douchebag. He’s too weak and too stupid to worry me.”
“Be careful,” she said. “Keith has a lot of support here.”
“It’s all good,” I said, trying to reassure her. “Just keep your distance from him, okay? I don’t want you around him unless I’m there.”
“He’s not going to do anything to me,” Tria said, but her eyes betrayed her words.
“Shitty liar,” I reminded her. “You had to hide out to get away from him before.”
“Well, I don’t think he’ll do anything with you here,” she clarified.
“Yeah, me either, but I want you to stay close anyway.”
I slipped my arm around her waist, pulled her body close to mine, and then pressed my lips to the top of her head. Keith looked over at us then, and I made a point of sliding my hand lower to rest on her ass. He glared, and I raised an eyebrow at him as I gave her a little squeeze.
“You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you?” Tria asked.
“Yep,” I replied. “Fucker needs to keep his eyes to himself.”
Before Tria could make any further comment or admonishments, the sound of rubber wheels on asphalt came from down the road. A rusty old Gremlin pulled up and parked. Inside were a woman and a young man. Nikki introduced them as her mother, Patricia, and brother, Steven.
We went through the whole “Why is he here?” thing again. I bit my tongue a lot, trying to understand why my being here was such a big deal when Nikki was about to get banged by a whole group of guys right in front of her own family members.
The whole thing was just sick. This was fuckupedness to end all fuckupedness.
“It’s time,” Nikki said from the top step of the porch.
Everyone starting piling into vehicles, and I headed toward Keith’s truck with Brandon. Tria glanced at me nervously, and I rolled my eyes. Keeping my mouth shut and my fists to myself was going to be a herculean task over the next few hours.
I was never one to back away from a challenge, but I had the feeling this night was going to be a disaster.
~End Part 1~