“What’s up, Red.” My eyes quickly move from my drink in my hand to a skinny motherfucker sitting in front of Thalia. His hand strokes his chin and he watches her walk closer to his seat. His pathetic excuse for tattoos stands out on his pale arms. I scoff at the way his black, greasy hair is slicked back and plastered against the top of his head. He successfully misses his lip ring when he bites his lower lip as she slowly moves up to the bar. The grip on the half empty whiskey glass is the only thing I have keeping my temper from taking over.
“Hey, what can I get you?” Thalia’s voice is sweet despite the asshole sitting in front of her.He’s not deserving of her sunshine.She bends down and lowers her body against the bar and places her chin in her hands, bats her eyelashes, and all of that shit. My body gets hot with jealousy over this idiot.Fucking jealousy?! I’ve never been fucking jealous over a broad before.Calm down, Lee. This whole act is all for tips.
“What would you recommend?” His pale blue eyes trail down her whole body.He’s clearly fucking her with his eyes.If she suggestsanything other than a fucking cocktail or a plate of nachos, I will lose my shit.
“You look like a domestic beer guy.” Her eyes zero in on the fucker in front of her. “Am I right?”
“It’s like you already know me.” I quietly laugh at his response, head shaking in disbelief.What a fucking idiot. Is that really the best he has?
“I guess I do.” Thalia stands straight up, and runs a glass under the beer tap. She slides it in front of him, winking at him in the process.Oh, fuck no.
I slam my glass down against the bar, alerting the skinny weasel of a man. Honestly, I’m surprised it didn’t break from the impact. His eyes shoot towards mine, and I make sure to let him know—the glare on my face clearly evident—how fucked he would be if he continued to talk to my girl. He looks over at me with fear in his eyes and immediately looks down at his beer.
With Thalia’s back towards us, I walk over to the idiot.I can’t believe I’m doing this.He stares at me with his wide eyes as my fist grabs the collar of his black v-neck tee shirt.
“What the fuck, man!?” The guy yells.
“You think it’s okay to eyefuck someone else’s girl?” I ask, practically growling in his ear.
“No, man. I was just trying to grab a drink.” His eyes quickly peer down at the beer in front of him.
“I think it’s time to order your drinks somewhere else, asshole. You eventhinkabout looking in her direction, I won’t fucking hesitate to kill you!” The loud volume from the speaker shuts off at the right time.Of fucking course.Two other men at the bar giveme their unsure glances, but I don’t give a shit. “You got a fucking problem?!” The two men look down at their half drunken beers.
I let go of his now wrinkled shirt and gently slap the scruffy five o’clock shadow on his cheek.Well, maybe not too gently.Without taking a sip of his drink, he leaves the bar.Good, I needed another drink anyway.
Fuck, I have an audience.Other patrons in the bar look this way as I take small sips of the asshole’s booze.Damn, does everyone in this fucking place have nothing else to look at?A wide-eyed expression covers Thalia’s face as she nearly overflows the glass in her hand.Shit.I watch how her cheeks go from pale to red.I can’t tell if she’s turned on or surprised, but hell, I’ll take both.
I told myself I wouldn’t do this, that I wouldn’t get attached to another woman. Coming here tonight only solidifies that Itrulyfuckedmyself over. Every look, every stare, every smile, every conversation has me craving more. She’s like a drug, and I keep relapsing like a fucking addict.
The night ends around three AM. I sit on the high barstool, watching Thalia and Jace clean up. I don’t miss the concerning stares coming from Jace and Janice as I sit and wait for closing. They know I could have left hours ago.To them, I look like a fucking skulker watching Thalia’s every move. I don’t give a shit about what they think. I need to make sure she’s safe and this is the only way I’ll know for sure.
“Everything is accounted for,” Janice announces as she tucks the cash into the register. Jace and Thalia both look over at her with relief written on their faces. The two stop cleaning and put their wet rags on the small shelf under the bar. After the long night, we’re all ready to leave this place.
“You two doing anything after work?” Janice asks. Her large eyes look in between Thalia and me.
“No. I’m going home to sleep,” Thalia answers before I can respond.Are you sure about that, Sweetheart?
“Umm, hmm.” Janice looks down at her keys, smirking knowingly. Jace turns his face away from Thalia to hide his silent laughter.You’re not fooling anyone.
We walk out of the bar into the cold, wet night. Thalia grabs her umbrella from the brass hook behind her and does her best to hold it up for both of us. She nearly laughs when I grab it and take over the task of keeping us dry. We both walk towards my car while Janice and Jace walk in the opposite direction, looking for a cab to share.
Once we reach my Mustang, I stop her before she can open the door on her side. It’s adorable how her eyes light up. I try to hide my subtle grin as she moves just enough to stand between the passenger seat and the door.
“You’re going to have to get used to someone doing nice things for you, Sweetheart,” I tell her as I open her door.
Shaking the rain off her umbrella, I watch her apprehensively sit in the seat. I snap the strap and place it on the floor next to her feet. I can’t take my eyes off her, even if it is just for a mere moment, as I climb into the driver’s seat. The social media addict that she is, immediately takes out her phone, and I start the ignition.
Even her silhouette is fucking beautiful. The illumination from the neon signs makes an almost pink glowing outline around her unkempt curls. She looks like her own brilliant light in the passenger seat of my car, drawing me in closer. No matter how hard I try, I can’t get enough of her.
Ipull out of the spot in front of the bar and drive towards her apartment. We drive in silence until we reach our destination, and I park my car and try to break the somewhat uncomfortable silence between us.
“You okay, Thalia?” My tone, now low compared to my normal volume, is mindful of how close we are inside my car. “I know today must have been a bit difficult.”
“Yeah, I’m okay.” She pauses. “Just glad to be back to a somewhat normal life.”
“I’m glad I got to see you again.” I lean in and place my hand on the middle of her thigh. I feel her body jump beneath my touch before she turns to face me in her seat.
“Yeah?” Her voice asks in a whisper. Her red lips turn up in that sweet smile I love so much.If only she knew how much she’s been on my mind.
