500 Days

by Jessica Miller

  “Hey, little devil.” I flinched slightly when he used one of Casper’s old nicknames for me. Reece bent down and wrapped his arms around my waist.

  “Hi, sorry, but I can’t really talk.”

  “Then we won’t talk.” He pressed an eager kiss to my lips. I tasted something odd and I pulled back. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, like I said I’m just really busy. I’ll try and catch you later, okay?” He nodded and I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before I headed into the back. I got the strangest feeling when I kissed him. I felt like something was off, but I ignored it so I could focus on my job.

  I snuck through the crowd and around the back to see if the boys needed anything before they went on. My breath hitched slightly when I saw Casper. He looked like shit and I could tell he was in a mood. “Katherine, so nice of you to grace us with your presence. I see Pinocchio finally pulled his tongue out of your mouth long enough to allow you to talk.”

  “It’s a little early to be drunk, Cas,” I glared.

  “It’s a celebration,” he said, tipping back his bottle.

  I walked straight for Colton and asked him if he and Greyson needed anything. “Some water please,” he inclined his head toward Casper and I nodded in agreement.

  “Okay, I’ll be right back.”

  “You didn’t ask me what I wanted.” Casper shouted as I rounded the door. I turned back to look at him. His smile was mischievous but his eyes said something else. They were a mix of emotions everything from anger, sadness to desire. My heart broke a little at his torn expression. I closed my eyes and took a breath, reminding myself he was the reason I was suddenly doubting Reece.

  “What you want isn’t available.” Putting my emotions aside, I walked back out into the madhouse to grab some water for the boys.

  It was nonstop the moment the band went on. I barely had a second to catch my breath. “I really hate nights like this,” Declan commented as she walked past to fill an order. “I swear if one more person tries to grab my ass I’m going to knock them out.”

  I knew it was bad if Declan was threatening violence. “You wanna switch?” Declan was working the floor tonight while I was behind the bar.

  “No, it’s fine. No use in risking a brawl.” She knew I wouldn’t take crap from no one and in these tight quarters a fight could easily escalate. We managed to make it through the first set without any issues, but by the second the bouncers had already thrown out a group of people. With how rough the crowd was getting, Gus actually pulled Declan behind the bar and put me out on the floor knowing I could handle the rowdies. Gus even gave me permission to take action into my own hands. I smiled happily as I grabbed my tray. I entered the mob waiting for someone to start something with me. I had a lot of pent up anger and needed to let go of my aggression.

  Unfortunately my reputation had preceded me, because no one dared to try anything. I was a little disappointed. I had delivered my latest order when someone grabbed me from behind. I spun around fist ready. “Whoa, it’s just me,” Reece said, startled by my reaction.

  “Sorry, just a little on edge.”

  “I can help with that.” Reece pulled me in for a kiss, but I reluctantly pulled away. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “I don’t have time for this right now. It’s too crazy in here and I can’t stop.”

  His eyes narrowed for a second. I was ready to take the defensive when his eyes softened. “You’re right and I’m sorry. How about you just call me when you’re done and I’ll come pick you up?”

  “Don’t leave. Stay and have fun with your friends.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I took his hand and yanked him over to a dark corner of the club, shoving him up against the wall and kissing him forcefully. Reece was the one to break the kiss this time. “What was that for?”

  “A preview for tonight,” I winked. He bent down and placed a sweet kiss on my lips. “Now go have fun.” I patted him on the behind as I made my way to the back to deliver more water.

  The rest of the night went fairly smooth, except for a few minor run-ins with my fist connecting with a few faces. I knew it was going to be a late night and I wasn’t going to get out of there before four. I was just hoping Reece wouldn’t be too tired to go a few rounds. The only thing I needed right now was some release. Something to ease the pain I felt inside from all these conflicting emotions. Thankfully the hectic night kept my mind busy. I didn’t think about Casper or the strange feelings I got from Reece.

  I had battled all week with my head and my heart. I needed to understand these feelings I was having. I wanted to talk to Casper and clear the air. I hated the way things were between us, but I couldn’t stand his behavior lately.

  My head was somewhere else all night and Gus had noticed. “Alex I don’t know what the hell is going on, but you need to move it,” he said, shoving me out on to the floor. “Pick up the pace or I’m demoting you to shot girl.” Shit. I tried to focus and pull myself together. When the band arrived on stage for their last set I watched Casper search the crowd before he strapped on his guitar. I stood behind the bar. His eyes found mine and his face looked almost angry. I tried not to let it bother me. I told myself it was something else. There was no reason for him to be mad at me.

  Gus asked me to take some beers backstage for the boys for when they were done. I loaded up two buckets of ice and stuffed them with beer. “Hold up,” Declan called. She walked over with a bottle of Patron and a few shot glasses. “I’ll help you.” She took one of the buckets while I held the bottle of Patron. One of the bouncers cleared a path for us as we made our way back to the only dressing room in the place. We set up the two buckets and shot glasses on the table. Declan opened up the bottle of Patron and started pouring shots.

  The boys returned before we were done. Casper walked right over to the table. He reached around me, grabbed a shot, and took it without a word. His eyes never left mine as he slammed the glass back down on the table. Then he reached around my other side to grab a beer and walked away. I stood there speechless as he made his way into the bathroom. Colton greeted Declan with a kiss and wrapped his arms around her sweetly. “How much time do you have?” he asked her, pressing another nauseating kiss to her lips. I was happy for Declan, but this whole lovey dovey couple bullshit was getting on my nerves.

  “I only have a few minutes,” she replied. He led her over to one of the couches and pulled her down on his lap where they proceeded to give each other eskimo kisses. I fought the urge to throw up. Casper emerged from the bathroom where he had changed his clothes. He wiped a towel over his face and chucked his empty bottle in the trash. He rolled his eyes as he walked past Declan and Colton on his way to the table. He took another beer from the bucket and crashed down into one of the chairs, staring at me.

  His look was intimidating and I was almost afraid to approach him. Before I lost all my nerve, I marched straight over to him. He slouched down in the chair and looked up at me with a cocky smile. “What’s up…Katherine?” So he was back to the little pet names he had for me.

  “Can we talk…in private?”

  He smiled smugly and puffed out a laugh before he took a swig of his beer. “We don’t talk.”

  I crossed my arms, narrowing my gaze at him. “Oh no, then what exactly do we do?”

  “Sling insults,” he leaned forward on his elbows. “Have sex.” He waved his hands out in front of him like it was no big deal.

  I was stunned for a second by his words but then I laughed harshly and looked down to glare at him. I should have known better. He narrowed his eyes at me and took a few more swigs of his beer before he placed it on the table next to him. Then he stood up and grabbed my arm tight, pulling me out in to the hall away from prying eyes and ears. He pushed me up against the wall closing me in with his palms pressed on either side of me by my head. “What do you want from me Alex?”

  “I want to know what it is I did to make you so pissed off at me. Why you’re so pissed off to
the point that you want to ruin my relationship with Reece.”

  He laughed and pushed himself off the wall allowing me space. “I’m not the one at fault here Alex. All I did was tell the truth.”

  “No. You put lies in my head. You and my brothers and now all I can think about is what Reece is doing. You’ve made me some paranoid freak.”

  “Good. You should be…See ya ‘round, hiedra venenosa.” With that he was gone. I stared at the empty spot in front of me. How is it that I feel worse than I did before? I gripped my aching stomach. How did he manage to have this weird effect on me even when he was being an asshole?

  I left and headed back out to the front. Casper had eventually ventured out of the back room, but he wasn’t alone. He had his arm draped over some skanky blonde who was practically giving him a hand job in the middle of the bar. There was no reason that this should have bothered me, but it did. I tried to ignore it the best I could but it was hard for the fact that they decided to take a seat at the bar. I had to watch this chick give him a lap dance while they swapped spit. To make matters worse I had no idea where Reece was. I had texted him earlier in the night but got no response, and to top it off the bar would be closing soon and I hadn’t seen him. Frustrated and having enough of watching Casper with his side show act, I ‘accidentally’ knocked over a glass on the bar, spilling beer all down the back of this chick. She screeched and stood up, holding her hands out. Her bug eyes zeroed in on me. “Sorry, accident,” I said and walked away to hide my smile. Declan shook her head at me laughing, while I got Casper a new glass of beer.

  I pushed it over to him. He grabbed my arm and held me there before I could pull away. “If you wanted to take her place all you had to do was ask.”

  “Been there, done that, no thanks.” I ripped my arm away and got back to work.

  “Excuse me?”

  “What?” I snapped.

  “Um…can I get a beer?” the man asked a little frightened.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled and got him a drink.

  I was a little angry at the events of the night and was taking it out on innocent people.

  Just before closing, Reece had finally resurfaced. “Where the hell have you been?” I snapped, taking my anger out on him.

  “I’ve been hanging out with my friends. Like you told me to,” he replied calmly.

  “I texted you like twenty times.”

  “My phone died,” he said sincerely. I sighed. I shouldn’t be taking my anger out on him.

  “I’m sorry. It’s just been so hectic tonight and I –”

  He didn’t even let me finish my sentence. He pulled me into him and I relaxed against his chest. “How about when you’re done we go back to my place and I’ll help you release some of that tension?”

  “Sounds fantastic but I won’t get out of here until almost three and I can tell you now I won’t be much fun. I don’t want to make you wait that long. How about you just go home and I’ll call you tomorrow?”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, no sense in us both being tired and cranky.”

  He kissed me sweetly on the forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I smiled and waved goodbye before I got back to work.

  I finished my orders for last call and started to clean up. “Hey, why don’t you leave and go spend some time with Reece,” Declan said after I returned.

  “Yeah right. Gus would never let me leave.” I started wiping down the bar.

  Declan grabbed my hand to stop me. “Go, I’ll cover for you.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Now go and hurry so you can catch him before he leaves.”

  I smiled, giving Declan a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you. I owe you.”

  “Yes you do but we’ll worry about that later. Now get your butt out of here before I change my mind.”

  I collected the little tips I made tonight, stuffed them in my bag, and rushed out the door. I took out my phone and text Reece, crossing my fingers in hopes that he didn’t leave yet. It took me a minute to remember he told me his phone was dead. Shit.

  I wasn’t looking where I was going and I bumped into someone. “Shit sor – you,” I growled.

  Casper narrowed his dark eyes. “Where you off to in a hurry? Late for a sacrifice?”

  “Fuck off.”

  “Don’t let me stand in your way. Wouldn’t want you to miss out. Since it’s thanksgiving, do you still slaughter chickens or switch it up for the holiday and use a turkey?” he laughed. I shoved past him and kept walking.

  When I got to my car I slammed the door and ripped off my mask and wig, throwing them on the front seat angrily. I untangled my hair from the knotted mess of my bun and laid my head back against the seat closing my eyes. How could one guy turn everything upside down? I hated feeling this way. I reached into my bag to grab a smoke. I lit up and took a big drag. When I rolled down the window, I spotted a man a few cars over. He had his back to me, and was leaning up against his car, head back slightly. I squinted to get better look. The slight wavy brown hair, broad shoulders and bright colored shirt sparked something inside me. I knew right away who it was. He didn’t leave after all. He was still here.

  I was just about to open my door when I saw a girl stand up. She wiped off the corners of her mouth and smiled wide at Reece. I blinked, not believing what I was seeing. A wave of nausea crept up into my stomach. They were telling the truth. Casper, my family, everyone knew but me. I couldn’t believe I was so stupid. I felt like I was suffocating. I jumped out of the car, my head spinning. I fell back against the car, bending forward and trying to catch my breath. My chest felt tight, like I had a rubber band tightening around my heart and if I didn’t release it, it would snap and everything inside me would explode causing an unfixable break. I had to get out of there. I couldn’t handle it. I got back in my car, slamming the door, making Reece turn around. His eyes looked terrified when he saw me. “Alex!” I heard him call my name faintly in the distance. Maybe I misunderstood. Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me and I should let him explain. I watched him hustle to zip his pants while the blonde pushed down her skirt.

  I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from crying as I struggled to get the keys in the ignition. I dropped them on the floor. “Alex!” Reece pounded on the window.

  “Fuck off!”

  “Open the door Alex. I can explain.”

  In a blind flurry, I kicked the door open, knocking Reece back into the next car. He didn’t dare get up. “I defended you,” I said voice shaky. “My entire family tried to warn me about you and I wouldn’t listen. I thought you were different”

  “Alex, I am different. Would you please just let me explain it’s not what you think?”

  “You going to try and tell me that I didn’t just see you getting your fucking dick sucked by some whore!”

  “Yes I mean no.”

  “Which is it Reece?” I yelled, getting in his face.

  “It wasn’t what it looked like. She came on to me. I was trying to let her down easy.”

  “Before or after you’re dick was in her mouth.”

  “Clearly you’re upset. So how about we go back to my place and talk about this.”

  All the craziness in my head started to spring a leak and I laughed. I laughed so hard my side hurt. Reece reached for me and I flinched. The laughter was gone, quickly replaced with hatred. Clenching my fist at my side, I closed my eyes and took a breath. I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was cold and felt so wrong. I opened my eyes, looking up. My arm was moving before I could stop it. My fist connected with his nose, blood squirting everywhere. He cried out in pain. I brought my knee to his groin feeling satisfaction only a spurned woman could. He fell to his knees.

  I bent close to his ear. “It’s over. Don’t call me. Don’t text me. And if I ever see your cheating bastard face around here again I will cut your dick off with a dull razor.” I got in my car and took off. I just wanted to be alone.

  The tears poured down my face all
the way home, making it difficult to drive. I contemplated pulling over several times but I just wanted to get home. The second I turned off the engine my phone beeped. Fear of it being Reece, I went to turn it off when it begun to vibrate in my hand. It was Jaxson. I didn’t want to answer it. I couldn’t answer it knowing I would have to tell them they were right and I was a fool. I hit ignore and tossed the phone on my seat. Needing to pull myself together, I took a few breaths. My phone buzzed again. It was Jaxson, again. I knew if I didn’t pick up he would keep calling.

  “Hello,” I said softly, trying not to cry.

  “Alex, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” I said, biting my tongue.

  “Alex.” I didn’t answer him. I could feel the tears creeping over and I knew if I opened my mouth my voice would betray me. “Alex, talk to me.” I couldn’t. “Alex?” A waterfall poured down my face. I couldn’t keep it in. The pain inside was too much to bear. “Don’t move. I’ll be there in five minutes.” Jaxson hung up on me and I dropped the phone back on the seat. Then I buried my face in my hands and balled.

  Jaxson offered me no pity and no ‘I told you so’. Instead he just let me cry on his shoulder. He also promised he wouldn’t tell anyone and when I was ready to tell everyone he would make sure Jasper wasn’t a dick about it. I knew it wouldn’t take long for all them to find out. I was more embarrassed than I was upset.

  Thanksgiving break was over and I couldn’t wait to throw myself into my school work to distract me. Declan let me be, knowing I needed time. I confessed all the dirty details when I couldn’t stop crying at Thanksgiving dinner. Jasper surprisingly stayed quiet during the whole ordeal which was more nerve racking than anything. To make matters worse, Casper was at the bar every night I worked and every night he went home with a different woman. I didn’t know if he knew about Reece and me yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he did. I let it eat at me until there was nothing left. I snapped at the customers causing Gus to threaten me several times that he would fire me if I couldn’t control my crazy outbursts. By the end of the week my paycheck was gone due to the fact that Gus had to give away free drinks to make up for the rude service. He took the free drinks out of my pay and warned me if it happened again I would be fired.