by Elle Casey
“You know … you’re right. He was a dick. He ignored me. He never listened to me. He basically told me to jus’ be seen and not heard. D’you know how annoying that is?”
“I can imagine.” He’s answering, but I can tell I don’t have his attention.
I look over my shoulder. “What? Whass over there?”
“That guy is staring at us.”
I giggle. “He’s probably jealous. You’re here with the hottest girl in town, you know.” It’s not saying much considering most of the women in here look like they get paid at the lower end of the scale for BJs in the back alley, but I’m drunk enough to be proud anyway.
“No, he wants to fight.” Colin sits up straighter.
I look again. “What guy? That fat guy over there?” I’m pretty sure he could just sit on Colin and that would be the end of things.
“No. The one in the corner.”
I turn more fully on my stool, but I can’t see the guy’s face. “You know him?” As I squint to get a better look at the stranger, he turns around to almost look at the wall.
I smile at Colin. “D’ya see that? He’s scared of me. I jus’ looked at him and BAM, he turned away. I fucking rock. I’ve got this aura, you know? Like back the fuck off kind of aura. It scares people. I’m street like that.”
“He’s looking for trouble.” Colin gets up off his stool and bumps into my legs.
I grab him by the arm and hold him back from leaving me at the bar. It almost causes me to fall off my stool. “Where are you going? You can’t leave me here.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“No!” I yell a little louder than I mean to.
At least it gets Colin’s attention. His expression says he thinks I’ve lost my mind.
“I mean, please sit here and have another beer with me. I want to talk about dead people some more.”
“In a minute.” Colin pulls his arm from my claws and makes his way around the pool tables.
“Oh, fudge buckets,” I say, sliding down from my perch and following him over. I take my mug with me since I paid for this round with my own money. No way am I not drinking every last drop in that glass. I stop right behind Colin, just in time to hear him throw down his challenge.
“You must not like your face much, the way you keep looking at me and my friend. You want to go or what?”
I peek over Colin’s shoulder and look at the guy, adding my two cents. “I’d definitely say no to that. I’ve never been punched by him, but judging from those muscles,” I point at his bicep with my free hand, “I’d say a face rearrangement is probably going to hurt a lot.”
A hiccup flies out of my mouth without warning. I throw my hand up to my lips, wondering for a split second if I’m going to barf on Colin’s back.
Nope. False alarm. Just air.
Colin acts like I’m not even there, but the guy stares right at me.
“Who is she, your keeper?” he asks.
“Ha!” I shout, imagining Colin as a wild tiger and me being a zoo keeper throwing a hunk of meat into his cage. “He is pretty wild, you’re right about that. You know they call him Trouble?” I nod with my eyebrows up in my hair so he can see how serious I really am.
“Go back to the bar, Teagan,” Colin says, not looking at me.
“Yeah, go back to the bar, Teabag,” the stranger says.
Oh, no he did not just say that. I slam my beer down on the nearby table and try to shove Colin out of the way. “Move, Trouble, I have some ass to kick right now.” The fact that this guy outweighs me by about seventy pounds doesn’t bother me in the least. My anger is fueled by righteous indignation that knows no bounds. Turd baskets must die.
Colin is like a brick wall, completely immovable. He also has no problem at all with speaking for me. “Apologize to Teagan and leave,” he demands. “That’s your only option, man. Apologize and leave or I bust up your face.”
“Yeah! Apologize and leave!” I yell over Colin’s shoulder. “Or he’s going to rearrange your face, and I’m going to … rearrange your ass!” I’ve been possessed by a raging bull bitch. I have no idea what I’m doing, but it’s freeing. I feel like I could jump off the roof of the building and fly back to work if I wanted to right now. I have a raging tiger named Trouble at my side and I can conquer the world.
The guy reaches into his back pocket and pulls something out. I hear a flick and a click and then see the flash of metal that makes my heart stop beating.
“That’s a knife,” I whisper in a really high, squeaky voice. Ideas of tigers and flying flee my mind. Now I just want to find the bathroom so I can pee in a toilet and not my pants.
Colin’s right fist flashes out and smashes into the guy’s forearm, causing him to drop the knife on the ground.
I lose track of what happens next during my escape. I turn to run and trip on a chair leg. Face planting into the floor probably should hurt more, but I’ve got enough adrenaline and alcohol pumping through my veins to fly me to the moon. I scramble around, trying to avoid the heavy legs and boots stomping around above me.
Before I can get away, my eye catches a glimpse of the knife. Worried that it will eventually be used against my protector, I crawl over and snatch it up, putting my gears into reverse to get away. Using the edge of one of the few tables still standing, I get to my feet.
The bartender is yelling about calling the cops, and Colin is standing to my left, huffing and puffing like a bull about to charge. The stranger is standing in his corner again, looking at my hand.
I hold up the knife, pointing it at him. “Fuck the fuck off, fucker.”
“What does that even mean?” asks Colin, frowning at me.
I wave him away with my free hand. “I meant to say back the fuck off. I had too many beers and I happen to like the word fuck a lot.” I gesture with the knife. “Leave, ass basket. Don’t worry about the apology, just leave.”
“Give me my knife.” When he sneers at me a flash of recognition hits my brain. “How do I know you?”
“Fuck that,” says Colin, reaching over and taking the weapon from me. “It’s mine now.” He takes me by the upper arm and steers me backwards towards the bar.
I twist around trying to see the guy again, to get a fix on his face so I can figure out how I know him. He’s too old to be one of my fellow students. Does he work at the university? Does he live at the Golden Legacy? I don’t think I know him well. Maybe I’ve only seen him once. Where in the hell was it?
“You’re paying for that broken chair, Trouble,” says the bartender.
“Put it on my tab,” Colin says, using a bar napkin to wipe some blood off his eye.
I can’t stop smiling now that we’re back to the bar and out of the fight club zone.
“What are you so happy about?” Colin asks me, almost growling.
“This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
He stares at me for a few seconds and then smiles. “I think we’d better start calling you Trouble, not me.” He opens his mouth to say something else, but then he freezes and tilts his head. “Cops. Gotta go.”
“What?” I look around as I’m being dragged to the back door. “Where are we going? I’m not going to make out with you in the bathroom, I hope you know.”
“Just follow me.” He pushes past some people in the back room and through an exit door painted black. We’re out in an alleyway next to a big dumpster that may actually have a dead body in it, it stinks so bad.
I put my hand over my mouth and nose. “Oh my god … what is that?”
“Come on.” He brings me to the back of the alley and around a corner I didn’t realize was there. We circle around, stumbling through garbage-strewn streets until we’re at my car again.
“Son of a bitch!” I scream when I see one of my windows is broken.
“Aw, fuck.” Colin bends over and sticks his head in the window, checking out the interior of the car. He pulls his head back out and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t wor
ry about it. I’ll fix it. If you had anything in there on the seats, it’s gone, but otherwise it’s okay.”
I throw my hands up. “This is what I get for going out and having a good time. The universe is punishing me once again for trying to have a life that does not include one hundred percent suckage!”
“Fuck that. Come on.” He takes my keys from my hand.
“Oh, no-no-no-no-noooo, you’re not driving my car.”
“Get in.” He’s already in the driver’s seat and turning the ignition on by the time I get my feet moving. He’s even brushed the glass off my seat.
I open the door and stand just outside it. “I said you’re not driving.”
“I don’t want you to get a DUI. Just get in and I’ll take you back home.”
Giving up with the arguing thing, I sit in the passenger seat with my pout on. “It’s not home. That hole of darkness is not home.”
“Wow. That’s a pretty poor attitude considering it’s free.”
I sigh heavily. “Well, if your brother hadn’t messed everything up with his stupid naked body, maybe I wouldn’t be so negative.”
Colin looks at me sideways as he pulls out onto the main road. “My brother’s naked body? What are you talking about?” He’s laughing at me.
“Never mind. Pretend I didn’t say anything.”
“Listen, I get that something happened, I mean you’d have to be a stone statue not to realize there’s something going on between you two, but if you want my advice …”
“No, not really. Your advice is not needed.” My face is going red with embarrassment. I had no idea I was being so obvious about Rebel at work.
“Okay. Suit yourself. But I’m just going to say that he’s a really private guy. He’s probably thinking all kinds of crap inside that hard head of his, but none of us will ever know what it is. He doesn’t share. But don’t let that get you down. Our mom broke through his shell, so I know it’s doable.”
“Why are you giving me relationship advice right now?” I’m not going to tell him how much he’s making my heart take flight. A glimmer of hope brightens up the night and I hate that I feel lighter because of it.
He shrugs. “I don’t know why I’m giving you advice. I guess I must like you. He’s a good guy who needs someone to help him not be such a hardass all the time. Maybe it’d be fun to watch you whoop his ass, I don’t know.”
I slump down in my seat and dream of the day. “Whatever. He’s not my type. He’s too old.”
Colin laughs. “Oh man, I would love to see you say that to him someday. He’ll flip.”
“I doubt that,” I say. “He doesn’t flip. He just stands there and stares.”
“Oh, I’ve seen him flip out. Trust me, it ain’t pretty.”
I sit up, suddenly interested in the conversation. “Oh, yeah? Tell me about it.”
He shakes his head. “Nah. He won’t want me telling you. And I don’t want to piss him off any more than I already have.”
Colin pulls into the parking lot and glides into a space near the big garage door.
“Why do you piss him off? Is it on purpose?”
Colin looks at me as he turns the car off. “Maybe. Who knows? I’m a complicated guy.” He grins big as he throws open the door.
Neither of us is prepared for a very angry Rebel to make his appearance at the side of the car and yank Colin out of his seat.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
“WHAT THE FUCK, MAN!” THAT’S all Colin manages to say before he’s punched square in the jaw.
“Rebel!” I shriek, getting out of the car and running around the back end of it.
The two of them are scrabbling around in the gravel, their shoulders locked in some kind of wrestling move.
“Stop! What are you doing?!”
“Goddamn, it, Reb, get off me!” Colin grunts out. “What the hell’s your problem, man?!”
“I got a call from Pops, Colin!” Rebel sounds angrier than I’ve ever heard him. I’ve never seen him lose his cool like this. He looks like he’s ready to pummel Colin into the grave.
Colin pushes him away and dances back, putting a few feet between them. “So what?! It’s not your problem!”
Rebel goes after him again, and lands a punch that sends Colin reeling backwards. “You bring her into your mess, then it becomes my problem.”
Colin gains his feet back and drops his head, taking off like a bull towards Rebel’s midsection. “Grrrrrraaarrr!”
The impact sends both of them towards my car where they land against the back of it, Rebel pinned by Colin’s body.
Rebel starts punching his brother in the ribs and back, making Colin grunt with pain as he absorbs the shock. It appears as if Colin’s plan is to bear-hug Rebel to death, but it’s clearly not working.
“Would you stop!” I scream. My feet finally become un-stuck and I run over to slap at Rebel’s arm and then his face.
He ducks out of my way while still delivering plenty of punishment to Colin’s ribs.
Colin is sagging off Rebel, no longer able to use his body as a brick wall and his arms as vices.
“Why are you doing this?!” I yell. “Stop, you stupid ape! He didn’t do anything wrong!”
Rebel stops punching his brother and stares at me. At this point Colin is so beat down, he’s holding onto Rebel to keep from falling. He’s slouched over and spitting blood onto the ground.
“So, you were with him?”
“Yes, I was with him.” This is the stupidest question he could ask me, as far as I’m concerned. “So? What’s that got to do with anything?”
Colin speaks up, his voice rough and breathless. “She wasn’t with me, asshole. She was just there having a drink, for chrissake.”
Rebel pushes his brother off.
Colin stumbles back a few steps but manages to stay on his feet. He wipes the blood off his mouth and spits once more. When he lifts his head, he looks first at me and then at Rebel. “You need to control your fucking jealousy, bro, or you’re going to end up in jail. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about.” He shuffles over to the entrance of the building without waiting for a response and disappears inside.
I’m shaking my head in confusion and disgust. “Guys are idiots,” I finally say. “Seriously. How do you survive without wandering out into traffic and killing yourselves?”
“You’ve been drinking.” Rebel says, staring at me.
“Hell yeah, I’ve been drinking. That’s what I do after I’ve had a shitty week at work. I party it up and forget all the craptastic stuff that happened. That’s what normal people do, Rebel. They don’t skulk around and attack people as they’re getting out of their car. If you have issues with your week, I suggest you either start with a beer or take your girlfriend out on a date and then wine, dine, and sexty-nine her or whatever. Beating up your brother is not the answer to whatever your problem is.”
“It’s sixty-nine, not sexty-nine.”
I throw my arms up. “Whatever!”
“I don’t have a girlfriend, you know.”
His comment takes me off-guard a little, since I fully expected him to blast me back or remain silent as usual, but I’m not going to un-mad myself just because he throws me a stupid curveball. I shrug all nonchalant and cool. “So. As if I care.”
“I just don’t want you to get the wrong idea about anyone.”
I shrug again, harder this time. “Who cares if I do? You’ve already made yourself painfully clear on that whole issue, so whatever. Game over. I’m tired. Do you mind if I crash on your couch?”
“Yes, I do mind.”
My jaw drops open. The nerve of him. Kicking me out when I’m ready to pee my pants. “Fine. I’ll go to my apartment, then.” I try to go around him to get into the driver’s seat, but his hand shoots out and grabs my wrist. It stops me dead in my tracks.
“Don’t go,” he says quietly.
I look down at his hand and then up to his enigmatic expression. I sigh heavily. “Rebel, if
I had a tire iron in my hand right now I’d klonk you over the head with it. But since I don’t, could you just do me a solid and let go of my arm right now so I can get on with my shitty night?”
“I’d rather you stay here.”
“But you just said …”
“I said I minded if you crashed on my couch.”
I roll my eyes in frustration. “Jesus Christ Superstar, did you do some drugs tonight while I was at the bar? Hippie flip? Trip balls? Puff the magic dragon? … Goddamn.” I throw my free hand up and let it fall and smack my side. “Speak! Tell me what the hell you’re trying to say!”
He’s completely cool when he answers. “I want you to stay at my place but in my bed. No more couches.”
I pull my arm from his grip. “Argh! You are totally mind-fucking me right now, Rebel, and that is seriously not cool.” I straighten my shoulders. “Now … before I tell you all about yourself, I have to go pee. After that, I have to figure out what I’m going to do, which I can assure you is not going to be led on and left naked once more by you, okay? Goodbye, Rebel.”
I walk-run to the door, determined not to wet my pants or say something incredibly needy and weird. I need space to figure this out and to try and get to the bottom of his psychosis. And no matter what, I have to be strong. I plan to gather all my forces and self-restraint in the potty.
I bring my cell phone with me so I can have a quick meeting with Quin. She’ll know what to do. I’ll listen to her, since my libido is already working overtime to convince me to take him up on his messed-up offer.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
I SIT DOWN AND HIT the auto dial. Quin picks up on the third ring.
“Talk to me, sweet cheeks,” she says. “Tell me all your secrets.”
“Quin, emergency meeting alert.” I don’t have time to play games with her. I need to get down to business before Rebel decides I’m hiding and decides to disappear on me.
“Ooo, I like emergency meetings. Are we talking a life-or-death kind of thing or man troubles?”
“Both, because if I don’t figure this out, someone’s likely to get hurt, and it’s not going to be me.”
