Fallout (Crank 3)

there. I offer a chair

to Nikki. “Stay here.

I’ll go get us drinks.” The bar

is hosted, and no one

asks to see my ID,

so I order Chardonnay

for Nikki; Jack Daniels and

Coke for me. By the time

I get back to the table,

Rick Denio has closed

in. But star-striking Nikki

won’t be nearly as easy as

he expects it to be.

AMUSING TO WATCH, THOUGH

I circle the table, sipping my drink,

liking the whiskey burn. Rick is all

over Nikki, and she looks really

uncomfortable about it. He’s a jerk.

“Hey, Rick. Putting the moves

on my girl?” I hand Nik her wine.

Rick is in the game. Your girl?

Didn’t know you had such good taste.

“There’s a lot you don’t know

about me. Uh, where’s your wife

tonight?” The station buzz is she

ran off. With another woman.

Rick’s face flames, but he remains

calm. She had another party.

I can’t help but smile at the opening

he just gave me. “A girl party, huh?”