“This isn’t a request. I don’t take trips like this during my work shift for shits and giggles. You had your chance with her, you blew it, and another man stepped in and did what you couldn’t. You acted like a spoiled child who didn’t get his milk and cookies by insulting her and by proxy insulting me. Typically, I’d blow off any insults directed at me, but not those directed at my woman. Do yourself a favor, heed this warning and make yourself scarce.” I pulled back a little and watched the pensive expression on his face.
His eyes trained on me and he nodded ever so slightly. I tapped him on the shoulder and then moved to the door. Opening it and sticking my head in, I called for Don. With one last glance at Marshall, I turned and headed for the rig.
“We better be getting pizza now,” Don grumbled as we climbed into the rig.
I peered over him. He wore a sour expression, and I began laughing. “She didn’t give you her number, did she?”
“Fuck are you talking about?”
“You know what I’m talking about. The receptionist. Despite all her blushing, she saw through your bullshit.”
He turned dark brown eyes on me. “She’s a fucking psych student in grad school at the university. Says I got some fucking issues and I mask it by using women. You fucking believe that?” he roared, pulling the seatbelt across his chest. “Fucking ridiculous!” he mumbled, intensifying my laughter as I started the rig.
“You said what you needed to say?” he asked after a moment of silence. His head was turned, watching Marshall as he entered the building and we pulled out of the community center’s parking lot.
“Sure did.”
“Still don’t wanna tell me what it was about? What if Captain asks where we been?”
“What’re you talking about? We’re on a pizza run.”
He grinned. “As long as you add my fucking garlic knots, mum’s the word from me.”
“Consider it done.” I held out my fist and Don responded by giving me the fist bump.
Chapter Thirteen
Eric
“We headed toCharlie’safter work?” Corey asked around the table as we ate our breakfasts. The usual series of grunts and “hell yeahs” sounded off as the guys agreed to our after-shift destination.
“Count me in. I saw this one filly there last week. Had legs like a stallion. I’m hoping she’ll be there again tonight.”
“See,” Carter pointed his fork accusingly at Don, “that’s why you have so many problems with women. You refer to them as fillies.’”
Don frowned, his forehead wrinkled. “Who said I got problems with women?”
“Me.”
“I do.”
“I’ve seen it.”
Myself, Carter, and Corey answered.
Corey tapped me on the chest with the back of his hand. “Harvard, remember that one call we went on? We get to the fire. A mother and her twenty-something daughter are outside the house, distraught… until they see Don. A fight broke out as soon as both women ran to him for comfort thinking he was their boyfriend.” The table broke out into laughter as Corey finished recounting that story.
“He had a mother and daughter who just lost their home fighting each other in the street over his ass,” Corey said, fist to his mouth, laughing hysterically.
“Oh no. Remember when that girl…what was her name?” Carter tapped the table with his fingers, trying to recall.
“Samantha,” I provided, already remembering this story.
“Samantha. That’s it!” Carter pointed at me, excited. “Samantha. Yeah, she lasted what? All of two months before she was down here at the station scratching the word ‘liar’ into your car with her car key. We had to call the police on that one when she tried to throw a brick through the windshield of the rig.”
“Fuck all of you!” Don yelled over the laughter at the table. “See if I offer to pay for another round of beers for you assholes.”
“It’s okay. You’re gonna need that money to repaint or fix your car soon, probably!” Corey added, and another round of laughter ensued. The taunting probably went on for the next ten minutes. I added a funny story or two of Don’s escapades with the ladies. It was all in good fun, and I’ve been in great spirits lately. It’s been a month since we had brunch at the diner together, and I confronted Marshall. He followed through and rescinded his gym membership, claiming he had some medical emergency and couldn’t use the remaining four months to get a partial refund. Angela told me about it after an employee, who knew the two dated a few times, told her. As long as he steered clear of her, I didn’t give a shit what he did. In the meantime, Angela made good on her word and did her best to help me study for the lieutenant's exam, which was now just under two months away. And while I was perfectly capable of handling studying on my own, I was more than happy to let her help. I especially appreciated the way she rewarded me after getting a decent score on one of the practice exams.Thatwas a good night.
