My mission is simple.
Get pissed as fast as possible.
“Well, since my baby left me, I found a new place to dwell.”
Coddling my gin, I listen to the voice crooning over the speakers. Deep and soulful, it takes two seconds for me to realize I’m nowhere close to drunk enough.
“Turn that shit off.”
The bartender guarding the stereo gives me an affronted look.
“This is Elvis, man.”
“Down at the end of Lonely Street at Heartbreak Hotel.”
A growl escapes my throat, “I know who it fucking is. Turn it off.”
The other patrons at the airport bar murmur among themselves, judgmental looks and annoyed expressions not doing much to help my behaviour.
“Don’t mind the heartbroken fool. He’s still getting used to his reservation.”
Knuckles tap the wooden countertop, drawing my attention to the pompous ass making himself comfortable in the seat beside me.
“I’ll have what he’s having.”
“Do us both a favour and fuck off.”
The bartender slides a glass across the table, offering Marlin Seaborn a sympathetic smile.
“On the house.”
“He’s filthy rich, you know.”
My comment draws another pity-inducing expression.
God. I hate this fucker.
Marlin takes a sip of his gin and pulls a face, “Is this what it’s supposed to taste like?”
“Dunno. It was the first thing I saw.”
“Understandable.” Clearing his throat, he sets the drink back on the table, “Particularly for a man of your emotional level.”
“Emotional level? Do you hear the way you talk about people?” Scowling at the man beside me, I feel those levels start to drop, “You win, Marlin. You fucking win. I left Wolf Hollow with significantly less brain cells and no fucking sanity. Is that what you wanted?”
He looks down, casually adjusting his dress shirt before responding.
“Are these feelings in respect to me or someone else?”
“You don’t think about your actions, do you? The repercussions they have on other people.” Choking back a hysterical laugh, I take another swig from my glass, “She turned me into a fucking madman. I couldn’t think straight around that woman and now I can’t think at all.”
“Love tends to be the most potent of concoctions.”
“I fucking listened to her. I heard all the things she didn’t say. Isawhow fucking lonely she was, and you know what happens?”
He doesn’t respond but my jukebox is fucking rolling.
“She tells me not to stay. Pushes me away so I have no choice but to get back on a plane and fly halfway around the world because she’s too fucking stubbornto tell me she needs me.”
