Beautifully Broken
I mirror her stance. “I’m not selling anything, Marilyn. To Dylan or anyone else.”
She gives me a condescending glare. “You know what they say…about the apple falling close to the tree?”
I return her glare. “Wow, so that’s what this is about. Let me guess, your husband had an affair? With my mother perhaps? Or someone like her? Is that why you just got divorced? Is this some sort of revenge?”
“How dare you!” she shouts. “You little—”
I hold my hand up. “You know what, Marilyn? Save it. I have enough people looking down on me in this town. I’m outta here.”
I barely make it to my car before the angry tears break loose.
“STAN GIVE ME ANUTHA’,” I slur.
Slimy Stan releases a hearty laugh, revealing a mouth full of metal fillings. “Sweet thing, you’re cute as hell like this, but you are three sheets to the wind. You’ve been here for almost five hours. I feel like it’s my professional and ethical responsibility to cut you off.”
“Oh, don’t bullshit me,” I say. “We both know your moral code is lacking.”
He places a glass of water on the bar. “Here, honey, drink this and I’ll call you a cab.”
“I don’t have money for a cab,” I complain. “Hell, I don’t have any money to pay for the drinks that are making me all spinchy. Why is it so spinchy in here anyway?”
He laughs again. “Are you trying to say spinny, darlin’? Is your head spi
nning?”
“That’s what I said! SPINCHY!” I clunk my head on the bar. Ouch.
I can feel Stan’s foul breath on my neck. “Darlin’, I ain’t running a free watering hole here. Why don’t you go sleep it off on the couch in my office and we can discuss payment after closing?”
“Run my card,” a deep voice demands. Hey, I know that voice. I crack one eye open as I see him come into my peripheral. Gavin removes his wallet from his pants and practically throws his credit card at Stan. “Charge her entire tab to my card. I’ll take her home.”
“Now look, buddy—” Stan begins.
“No, you look,” Gavin leans over the bar and lowers his voice, somehow making it sound even more menacing. “Don’t think I’m afraid to report what I just witnessed here. I’m sure that wouldn’t be good for business. Am I right, buddy? Now run my damn card and I will take her home.”
“You okay going home with this guy, Princess?” Stan asks.
I lift my head off the bar and smile at Gavin. “You’re soooooo sexy. I’d go home with you any day. Oh wait, I’ve already done that.” I giggle as I turn toward Stan. “It’s all good Spinchy Stan. Sparkles can take me. He’s really pretty. And he has a really big d—”
“That’s enough, Kat,” Gavin scolds.
“I’ve always wanted a cat,” I sigh wistfully. “I could never have one though because my mom would probably forget to feed it when I got sent away. Gavin, you should totally get a cat! Then I could pet your pussy! Get it? Pet your pussy? It’s funny because I’m the one th—”
“Just keep your damn mouth shut until we get out of here,” he growls.
“I should change your name to Grumpy Gus,” I mumble.
Gavin signs the receipt and grabs my arm to pull me off the stool. “Let’s go.”
I stumble as he drags me behind him. “Slow down there, Sparkles. You’re like, a foot taller than me. I can’t walk as fast as you.”
I yelp as he lifts me up and throws me over his shoulder. “Problem solved,” he grumbles.
“Ooh, are we going to role play?” I ask. “Are you pretending you’re a big, strapping fireman? Because I could totally get into that.” The blood starts rushing to my head making me feel sick. “Oh God, I think I’m going to puke.”
I feel a blast of cool air as I’m deposited onto the concrete just in time to ralph up everything I’ve eaten today. “Unh,” I groan.
Gavin holds my ponytail back as I continue to barf in the middle of the parking lot. And a little bit on my shoes. “Jesus, Kat. What the hell were you thinking getting drunk alone in a place like that? Do you always behave so dangerously?”