Page 22

Poppy

The bar is busy as fuck for a Thursday, and I love it this way. There’s no time to think of anything but what’s in front of me. I pull down my corset and get a hoot out of the end of the bar. I nod my chin at them and saunter over. I lean over and notice that they all like the view. I grin. I do it for the tips I don’t need and for the leers that remind me I’m not dead. I never acknowledged the girls in my buttoned-up life as Poppy Gelbert. They were all Sal’s. So, now I shake a little and get some hollering.

“Pipe down, needy bitches!” I scan the bar and say, “Beer, Jack, beer, beer.” They nod, and I set to work. The rhythm of the orders and the register keep the beat of the night thumping. Beer, beer, Jack, beer, Jim, beer, Tito, Tito, Tito, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jose, beer, beer. I drown in the glory of the monotony.

I slide it all down the bar or onto a tray over and over. Then I grab the $50 and walk away. Losers, layman hiding away and not much to do but feed the alcoholics and sadness in the bar. But then the peace of my night gets disrupted abruptly.

I’m about to take an order when the opening notes of that song plays. Who the fuck played it even after reading the note? Who the hell is that stupid or brazen? My head snaps to the other side of the room and Boomer’s in the bar in a flash and unplugs the jukebox. But I don’t see who played the fucking song until I see a woman hopping up on the pool table at the edge of the crowded room evading Boomer. I can’t see her face yet.

My blood boils at the words but my fucking body freezes as my whole being recognizes the voice. “Yo. Red-headed bar bitch! Can I get a Patrón shot and a beer back?” She puts her hands on her hips and her loud ass tenor pitched voice blasts over the crowd.

I scowl and Skinny Pete reaches out as if he’s going to defend my honor. Fuck that. I’ll face her.

I climb up onto my bar and square off against her across the crowd. I wave off Boomer. He snaps her picture and returns to the door without question.

“We only serve Jose, and you are now on the ‘Get your booze somewhere else’ shit list for playing that song. Go. Leave me alone. Nobody here is impressed with your bullshit. Get the fuck out.”

“Seriously, ink? Interesting.” I glare at her. Everyone’s eyes are on her and there’s no noise in a usually noisy, I don’t give a shit kind of bar. She’s commanding the room, of course she is. Her dark hair is bobbed and severe. I know her copper knowing eyes and curves for days as well as my own. She’s captured everyone with her thick toned thighs bursting out of her cutoff shorts and perfect chest, filling out her tank top in a way I never could. And the curl in her lip, which is almost a permanent feature, smirks at me. Her mouth is painted ruby red with black-winged eyeliner, completing her dare to fuck with me look.

She uses the scattered tables like steppingstones to get to me. I know better than to ask that bitch to do anything. There’s only one person who can get her to stop doing anything. I scan real quick to make sure he’s not here.

“I’m alone,” she answers my unasked question.

The entire bar is looking at us as she crosses the room to me.

I yell at everyone. “Go back to fucking drinking. If you all turn around and say nothing, I’ll buy the bar for the next hour. But behave. And if you ignore her, she might lose her power and disappear on her own.”

“That’s more your style lately. Borrowed a move from my book.” Her voice is annoying and loud.

I point at some regulars, and they all laugh and turn back to their shit, paying this lunatic no mind. I jump back down behind the bar.

Bear says, “Are you ok? We can get rid of her.”

I laugh at him. I say this loud enough so she can hear me. “No, you can’t. Don’t bother trying. She won’t go, or she’ll just come right back. She’s like a whack a mole from hell. And everyone will be fine with her coming back here. There’s no explanation for her power over people. Trust me, after the nuclear holocaust, the only things left will be cockroaches, scorpions, and Tabi fucking Aganos.” He nods.

“I’m here.” He winks at me. “For you.” I will always be grateful for this closed off Fiona world which, no matter what happens, will never be the same after tonight. I’m fucking sick of things changing.

She taps someone on the shoulder and growls a little. I laugh at the very Tabi thing she just did. The sweet geeky man who comes in here way too often to gawk at me gives up his seat instantly to her. She’s staring at me, her face as familiar as my own. I’m confused, angry, and annoyed that I’m confronted with all this.

She elbows Skinny Pete. “Save my place. I gotta pee.” She stomps off and I grab my phone. The one I’ve started to slip-up with lately, but I’m positive she didn’t find me this way.

Fiona: Tabi’s here.

Jims: Of course she is. Wherever here is. I didn’t tell her shit.

Fiona: I know. I’m going to get rid of her.

Jims: I’d pay to see that. You ok, Pop?

Fiona: Never. But yes. I can handle crazy because I’ve dipped my toe into that pool now.

Jims: I worry.

Fiona: That’s your job. Miss you. Kiss the hubs and kids. And I promise to reach out soon.

Jims: Can I have this number? This being on constant alert in case you text is exhausting and annoying. Much like my best friend.

Fiona: No.