Hurt You

by Abby Mccarthy

  I packed an overnight bag because I had a feeling that Maura and I would be getting a tad shitfaced and would not be driving anywhere. I threw my bag over my shoulder, locked my door, and headed down the stairs of my apartment. It was summer and the warm air hit me as soon as I heard the door to the outside click shut behind me. I made my way to my car, unlocked it, threw my bag in the backseat and was about to get in when I heard his voice.

  “Don't you look sexy in your red ‘fuck me’ heels,” Antonio said, stepping out of the shadows.

  “What do you want?” I said, turning towards him, afraid to keep my back to him.

  “Tsk. Tsk. Is that any way to talk to your future husband?”

  “I’m just heading out. It’s my birthday,” I said, hoping that he would go easier on me if he knew.

  “I know what day it is. I also know you’re going to that clubhouse.”

  “How do you know where I’m going?”

  “Oh Passerotta, haven’t you figured out yet that I know all of your moves? I have eyes everywhere. I know that Carlo is at the nightclub with Carmine right now. Marcus and Vito are already at the clubhouse waiting for you. Your other brothers are home with their families, except your niece has the flu and your sister-in-law just took her to urgent care. Gino has a basketball game and your mom is picking him up at 9:30. So yes, I know where you are going. I know where everyone in your family is, so that if you decide when you’re out wearing those fuck me heels that you actually want to get fucked, someone you love will also be very fucked.”

  “I get it, Antonio. You’ve made yourself perfectly clear. No one has touched me in a long time, and no one will.”

  “Good, but you won't have to wait much longer to be touched,” he said and ran his fingers down my arm. I shivered at his touch and he grinned menacingly at me. I had to learn not to react; this twisted man got off on it.

  “Am I free to go?” I asked trying to make my voice as steely as possible.

  “You may,” he said and stepped back into the shadows.

  I got in my car and headed towards the clubhouse, now fairly certain that Maura must know it’s my birthday if my brothers were there. I also picked up my phone and dialed my sister-in-law to see how my niece was. Antonio didn't lie; they were walking into Urgent Care and she promised to call me with an update.

  I was waved into the clubhouse parking lot by Turk, one of the prospects, and pulled my car into a spot. Frustrated that Antonio was keeping tabs on everyone in my family, I banged on the steering wheel. “Shit fuckity fuck!” I yelled, trying to take out my anger before walking into what was probably a party based on the amount of cars here.

  I stepped out of my car and noticed the glow from a cigarette by the door to the clubhouse. As I got closer, I saw that the man smoking the cigarette was, in fact, Jules. Great, I wondered if he saw my mini freak-out.

  “You need to pull yourself together more before you go in there,” he said. Well, that answered that question, he most definitely saw my freak-out.

  “I’m fine!” I snapped then felt bad, “Okay, maybe I do need a second.”

  I stood outside with Jules while he finished his smoke. “Is it a party for me?” I asked him knowing he would give it to me straight.

  “It is. So act surprised,” he flicked his cigarette across the parking lot and I watched the tiny red light spark as the cherry hit the cement.

  I took a deep breath in and then exhaled. I’m not sure how it was that Jules always saw me at my worst moments, but it felt like if I was having one, he was right there to witness it.

  “Thanks,” I responded and was about to pull open the door when Jules stopped me by placing his hand over mine.

  “You’re beautiful. Enjoy your night and don't let whoever it is that has a hold on you ruin it. You’re with friends here.” He moved even closer to me so that his mouth was right next to my ear, “Happy Birthday,” he whispered and then pulled open the door.

  It was pandemonium. Maura, my brothers, and her dad were right up front. Maura screaming ‘Happy Birthday’ and my brothers both giving me kisses. Other men and woman I’d never really met before were tilting their bottles in my direction and Happy Birthdays were mumbled throughout the room. I could tell Maura had fun with this. There were balloons shaped like tits, some balloons said things like over the hill and in one corner of the room she had a large penis balloon. None of them said ‘Happy Birthday.’

  “Shots!” she screamed and grabbed my hand pulling me away from Vito’s embrace.

  I nodded to the large dick balloon over the pool table. “I can't believe you did all this. Nice balloons,” I laughed.

  “You should’ve seen how bad the guys were flipping out over the dick. I got it just for that reason. It was fabulous.”

  “And the over fifty balloon?” I questioned.

  “Oh alright. Apparently, it’s Delores’s 90th birthday, whoever she is, and every Happy Birthday balloon in the county was purchased.”

  I laughed, “That’s okay. The tits balloons on each side of the bar really do wonders for Big Titty and Little Titty Rhonda. It’s like it makes the bar their spotlight.”

  “Hey, Rhonda!” Maura yelled knowing one of them would respond, “Get us two Irish Car Bombs. We’re starting tonight off right!”

  Little Titty brought us our shots and a few seconds later my brothers joined us. “You guys want to do one with me?” I asked Vito and Marcus.

  “It’s not really our crowd. We just came to wish you a happy birthday, Sis,” Vito said.

  “Wait! You’re not leaving already are you? Do one shot with me?” I pleaded, then I saw Jules a stool down from us at the bar. “Jules, you’re in on this one too. Rhonda, get us five Jager bombs,” I declared and my brothers and Jules all agreed, because who could say no to the birthday girl on her birthday?

  “To large dicks hanging over a pool table.” I lifted my glass. Vito, Marcus, and Jules looked at me and then Jules spoke, “I’m not cheers-ing to dicks.”

  “Oh, come on!” I yelled over the music that was now blaring.

  “Me either,” Marcus said.

  “I’ll cheers to dicks,” Maura laughed.

  “I bet you would,” I laughed and jested Maura.

  “Enough dick talk,” Vito said, about to set his shot down.

  “Oh fine, you just make it so easy to mess with you with how squeamish you get.”

  “How about to my sis turning twenty-five and being the coolest chick I know,” Marcus said. I love my brothers I thought, and sighed.

  We all lifted our glasses in the air and toasted. My brothers kissed me goodbye. The fact that they were at the clubhouse at all was pretty cool considering I knew how far outside of their comfort zone this was for them.

  “Let’s play pool,” Maura shouted. “Jules, you in?”

  “Sure, I’ll play,” he said.

  “Dad! You playing?” Maura asked over the loud noise of the party.

  “Be right there, baby girl,” Mickeysaid, excusing himself from some scantily dressed chick at the bar.

  Mickey brought over another round of shots and passed them out. Mickey was old-school Irish, but had Maura young. He was a little gray at his temples, was in shape, tatted up, and a good looking guy. Not that I made a habit of checking out my friends’ dads, but Mickey wasn't like my other friends’ dads. He was originally from Ireland and even though he was here Maura’s whole life sometimes his accent would come out thick. I loved the guy, and I wished that if my Dad was alive still that I would have had the same type of relationship with him that Maura has with her dad.

  “Daddy, toast!” Maura begged in almost a childlike voice. I would’ve too. Mickey’s toasts were awesome.

  “Here’s to never losing your beauty as you age. Making sure your loved ones feel it deep and making sure, you’re good and naked when you finally fall asleep.” We all lifted our glasses and then Mickey turned to Maura and said, “Except you. You stay clothed.”

  We laughed at this
, all of us except Maura. Daws took a seat on the red vinyl seats that surrounded the pool table. He had two girls with him, and he was being over the top with them on purpose to see if he could get a rise out of Maura. He palmed one chick’s tits and kissed the other all while his eyes were locked on Maura. She wasn't amused.

  We ignored Daws’ outlandish behavior and played our game. Maura really wasn't interested in him, and one of these days the fool would get it.

  “Hey Jules, snag Maura’s phone for me will you?” I quietly asked Jules while Maura was taking a shot.

  He rolled his eyes at me and then said, “I got you” with a slight chuckle.

  Maura finished sinking several balls into various pockets then handed her dad the cue stick. It was my turn next so I thought I would try and draw Maura’s attention. “Are those bimbettes bugging you?” I asked Maura pointing with my cue stick at the girls who were all over Daws.

  “Only for the fact that they’re slightly in our way.”

  Jules moved in Maura’s direction, her phone sat a foot away from her on the edge of the table. I held her attention while Jules swiped it for me. Mickey smiled, not missing a thing.

  “How much do you think the blonde one weighs?” I asked, then took my shot, missing badly.

  “I don't know. She looks kinda like a coke head. Maybe a buck ten,” Maura guessed.

  I handed Jules my cue stick and he slipped her phone into my back pocket.

  “I bet I could take her,” I said, just trying to stir up trouble. Nothing was going to happen, but Maura sure was amused.

  “You’re nuts! I bet you could too, but no fighting on your birthday,” she laughed at me and then climbed up on the edge of the pool table and pulled the giant dick balloon down. She hit one of the broads over the head with it. The girl didn't flinch, but I laughed good and hard. After a second, I excused myself to go to the bathroom and told Maura that I’d grab everyone a round. Once behind the safety of the bathroom door I took out Maura’s cell, reprogrammed her ringtone to This is How We Do It by Montell Jordan, did my business, and then went to the bar to grab drinks.

  Maybe I didn’t notice while we were playing pool, but the number of people at the bar seemed to have doubled. The men all looked like they were having a good time. Most of them had some girl fawning over them. I understood why the girls here irritated Maura. They never seemed to treat themselves with much respect.

  I spotted Jules at the bar and walked over to him, “Hey, what about our game?” I questioned.

  “Mickey finished it, and then Maura hit one of those broads with the balloon again. This time the chick noticed. Maura is beating Daws with a dick over there,” he motioned towards the pool tables again.

  I threw my hand over my mouth and giggled like crazy. Sure as shit, my drunk best friend was hitting Daws with a giant penis balloon.

  Daws took his lit cigarette and pressed it to the balloon making it instantly pop and since it was one of the Mylar balloons it didn’t make a loud noise. Instead it just kind of fizzled out.

  “Just leave me alone, Dawson,” I heard her yell from across the room and then she made her descent towards us. “Uh-oh. Looks like we better get a good shot,” I said, nudging Jules’ arm who was about to order from Rhonda.

  “Hey, Big Titty! Get us three snakebites and a couple of Buds,” Jules ordered.

  “God, that man infuriates me. When will he get it through his thick skull that we are never going to happen?” Maura complained as soon as she approached.

  I felt Jules's fingers slip into my back pocket and grab Maura’s phone. I really liked that he was playing along in our game with me.

  Rhonda poured the shots and we passed them around and lifted our glasses. “To asshats that need to learn when to move on,” Maura said.

  “I’m not making Jules toast to that,” I said and then continued, “To cassata cake.”

  “Who toasts to cake?” Maura asked very amusedly.

  I wanted to tell her someone trying to get their best friend’s mind off of impossible situations, but I shrugged my shoulders and said, “I do. I like cake.”

  Jules lifted his glass first, “To cake.” We all followed suit and I smiled at Jules. I liked this easy-going side of him.

  “Let’s dance,” I hollered to Maura. Jules took a seat at the bar as Maura and I made our way over to the jukebox. We picked out a few songs that probably wouldn't go over so well with this crowd, but we didn't care. It was my party.

  Justin Timberlake’s Bringing Sexy Back came on and we began to make drunk silly fools of ourselves. It was bliss. Sometimes, there is nothing better than a good buzz and acting crazy foolish with your best friend. We were the only two dancing, and it was just as it should be. This was our show and show off our drunkenness, we did.

  The song ended and Maura and I were both doubled over laughing at the other’s ridiculous dance moves. Jules walked behind me and I felt something slip into my back pocket.

  Then he said, “Hey Maura.”

  She looked up from her giggles, “What’s up, Jules?”

  “You left your phone by the pool table.”

  “Thank you! You want to dance?” she asked.

  “Nope, not a dancer.”

  “Awww, come on! You guys never dance. I got moves like Hiroshima,” she giggled.

  “It’s ‘I drop bombs like Hiroshima',” I said through my laughter.

  “You two are nuts,” Jules laughed and walked away from us. I wanted him to stay, but I wobbled a little.

  “Maura?”

  “Yeah?” she asked.

  “I’m drunk.”

  “Me too!” she giggled again.

  “Let’s go to my room,” she said as we walked over to her dad, who gave us the key to their room.

  We stumbled into Maura and Mickey’s room, practically tripping over each other as we made our way towards her bed. She found the bedside lamp, flicked it on, and illuminated her side of the room.

  My legs were dangling off the side of the bed and she plopped down next to me in the same fashion.

  “Thank you for tonight,” I said a little more soberly, “Drew whatever-his-last-name-was may have been a blessing ‘cause I’m so glad that dumping him brought me to you.”

  “It seriously was my pleasure making you laugh tonight. And if it wasn't for you, I don't know how I would be coping with Dawson’s crap.”

  I squeezed Maura’s hand, deciding that was all the mushiness I could take without bursting into tears. “I’m going to go get changed,” I said, sitting up. I grabbed my overnight bag and closed the bathroom door behind me. I did my bathroom business, took off my clothes, and pulled my black tank top on over my head, then pulled my super comfy fleece pajama bottoms up. I washed my face free of makeup and grabbed my clothes off of the floor to shove into my overnight bag. I picked up my pants from the ground and heard a clinking sound against the bathroom tile. Whatever it was that Jules slipped into my pocket must have fallen out. There was a white piece of paper that was folded around something. I picked it up and opened the paper. Inside, there was a silver key and the paper that wrapped around it read,

  Are you ready yet? ~J

  Chapter 5

  I laid in Maura’s bed while she was happily in dreamland across the room in her dad’s bed and tried to decide what to do. I worked his key between my fingers over each knuckle like a magician would a coin. Once one hand was finished, I would switch hands. I used to do this with my Dad when I was small and I never forgot how.

  I wanted to go to Jules. We had fun tonight. What did he mean by am I ready? Is that why he’s been cold? He’s been waiting for me? I was still a bit buzzed, but the clock on the wall ticked loudly reminding me of each wasted second. It’s been so long since I have been with anyone. What if Antonio decided tomorrow that I needed to marry him and I blew my last shot at anything good? I had his key. No one needed to know.

  I convinced myself that it was okay and that I could have one last night of happiness. If Ju
les was game, and it sounded like he was, then what harm could us being together cause? It was, after all, my birthday. I deserved this at least once more, didn't I?

  Once I made my decision that I was going to do this, my mind was set. No more back and forth. I just had to make sure that I waited until the music from the clubhouse stopped and that no one saw me.

  Key in hand, I walked down the hallway, ready to pretend like I was headed to the kitchen if someone asked me what I was up to. I didn’t see a single person. The party either died down or they moved it elsewhere. I passed Daws’ room and could hear loud sex noises, so that explained it. Everyone was probably off doing what I was trying to do. I reached Jules’ door, glad that I made it unseen, turned the lock and pushed into the darkness.

  “It’s about damn time, Babe,” Jules said and then it was on.

  The door clicked shut behind me and I was pressed against the wall. If our first kiss was intense, this kiss was explosive. Our lips mashed together and his tongue made its way in, colliding with mine. His hands were in my hair. My hands were all over his bare chest. He wore jeans and nothing else. Our kiss grew hotter, and then his mouth was gone from mine. Kisses moved down my neck, leaving a small trail of wetness that gave me goosebumps every time the fan rotated in our direction. I grabbed onto his ass, which was perfectly toned and firm and pulled him closer to me. My hips ground forward trying to get the friction I so desperately wanted.

  Desperate. That’s how this felt.

  Could he have been fighting the pull we have for each other all along when he acted so aloof?

  At the grind of my hips, he grabbed ahold of both thighs and hoisted my legs around his waist. The wall helped work to support me. I threw my arms around his neck and hung on. My nails dug into his skin, but I couldn't help it. I felt wild, primal.

  His mouth was still on me and I threw my head back and let out a small whimper. He pulled down my tank top, exposing my full, pert breasts and took my nipple into his mouth; sucking, biting and flicking it at the perfect rhythm. No man had anything on this mouth.