“Ah,” he nods in understanding as if it’s something that he’s used to hearing.
We move three kegs to a hidden spot behind a bush, and then the stranger thanks me and then walks away without any more explanation.
I’m still left with no answers and a curiosity about whoever this Mr. M is.
The roar of the generator breaks the silence of the rustling trees and the lights hanging around the large space flicker on and come to life. It’s not too bright, but enough to lighten the space up a little.
Now, I see more people milling around the stage area, plugging things into amps and fiddling with a few other instruments. More onlookers are milling around the wooded area and looking around than I thought.
Madison smiles and walks over to where I’m standing in the middle of the field.
“Hey, making friends?” she asks.
“Just helping out where needed,” I reply. “Do you know who Mr. M is?”
She looks at me in confusion, “that sounds so ominous. I have no clue who you’re talking about, any clues?”
“The guys gotta be the front-runner of the band or something. The dude I was talking to made it sound like he was someone big.”
“Interesting,” she threads her arm through my arm on my hip and around my waist. “Thanks for coming out tonight, I think this is fun, a double date.” She says as Cooper and Nydia come up beside us.
“So, you guys doing good?” Cooper asks.
“Yeah, how did you guys hear about this?” I ask.
“Wyatt met one of the guys in the band the other day, and yeah. Speaking of which…” Cooper trails off as Wyatt and Miles approach.
We all share niceties as the band begins to sound check their instruments.
“This is a killer set up man, I wish they had this kind of shit when I was a damn kid, it would have been a whole lot of trouble and drunk ass nights,” Miles says looking over at the row of kegs behind the bushes.
“You grow up around here?” Wyatt asks.
“Sure did, I was homeschooled though, kinda hidden from the town due to shame from my mom’s indiscretions and shit.” Miles replies.
“Sounds sinister,” Cooper replies.
“She hooked up with Noah’s dad, made me and so I was hidden for the most part because it was known that my mom had no man,” Miles shrugs and says quickly.
“Such scandal for such a small town.” Cooper says with a laugh. “But hey, you got a brother out of it, Noah is a cool guy.”
Miles nods as a big gorilla of a guy steps up to the microphone.
“How we doing out there?” he asks.
A few whistles and cheers sound from just below the stage. There’s at least fifty to a hundred people hanging out now, all waiting for the band to go on.
“So, for those of you who don’t know who we are, we’re Mercy’s Grind. We’re a local band, who got too big for their britches out in the real world, so we’re taking some time off. But we miss playing out, so we’re doing it in secret. Are you ready for this?”
Cheers erupt and the first chords from the guitar play.
Mercy’s Grind.
I recognize that name. Not just because they have the towns name in their band name, but I swear, that I’ve heard their music before.
I take another look at the lead singer.
The name is familiar.
He’s a giant, has big biceps, a short manicured blonde beard and short blonde hair on top that is styled perfectly as if he constantly runs his hands through his hair out of frustration.
It can’t be.
Can it?
Chapter One Hundred Eleven
It’s Caleb fucking Mercy.
When I first moved to this town, he almost ran me over with his car on his way out of town. He swerved and instead of hitting me - thank heavens- he hit the driver’s side of my car instead.
When I took his information down, he said that he would do his part for the insurance to make sure the end of my insurance was taken care of.
But I never heard from the guy after that.
Granted, his family name is the name of this town, but I’ve never seen him in town again.
A few months after the small accident, the record company that he had just signed with that I contracted for, wanted me to add his band to their site as well as wanted to create a site for them.
Mercy’s Grind.
And now, I’m standing in the woods, with this band that spiked high in the charts for a few years until rehab and trouble came their way.
The music echoes perfectly through the woods; the beer flows perfectly as the evening goes into the later hours.
Soon enough, I forgot about how I knew the leader of the band and just swayed to the music with Madison in my arms.
It was truly a perfect night, unlike any other date that I’ve gone on and kinda romantic as well.
I had a few drinks and was having a good time with Cooper, Wyatt, and Miles when the band stopped playing and the lights shut down.
I hear someone murmur to be quiet and then see spotlights in the distance bouncing off of shadows and of the trees.
Madison grabs my hand and we take off running in the opposite direction of the spotlights and head towards where we parked the car.
When we get to the car, we’re all out of breath and jumping immediately into the back seat with Nydia and Cooper right behind us.
We gun it out of the spot that we parked in and we are soon on the highway back into town. As soon as we hit Main Street, Cooper pulls the car over and kills the engine.
As if on cue, we all break out in laughter.
“I feel like I’m fifteen again and out past curfew,” Nydia laughs.
“Seriously, do I have braces again?” Madison laughs.
“Bonus is that the few sheriffs and deputies around this area, means that we could do anything. I doubt that anyone is left at the station. Wanna loot?” Cooper says with a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.
“Hey Mr. Bad Boy, none of that talk. You know I like good boys,” Nydia points at Cooper.
“You know I’m kidding, babe,” he says leaning over and kissing her chastely.
Laughter fills the car again, and Cooper starts up the car again and drives back to Madison’s place. We get out of the car and stand awkwardly on the sidewalk after we say our goodbyes to Nydia and Cooper.
“So, do you want to come in?” Madison asks. “I have a busy morning tomorrow, but I figure we could hang out just a little bit.”
“Oh yeah, what do you have going on tomorrow?”
“I have the morning shift, so that means I have to be up around four in the morning to make sure I’m in at five.”
“Well, that works for me, I need to be up early to work on a work project,” I wink.
We walk side by side up the rest of the sidewalk and into her place. As soon as the door closes, she has me pressed up against the wall. Her hands grips the collar of my shirt as she presses herself against me. She licks my lips and I open for her instantly. Our tongues tangle as my hands slide down her hips and grip her ass to press her against me more.
She fists my shirt and pulls it over my head as my hands fumble to do the same with hers. I get her shirt off and her bra unclasped then toss her shirt aside. I grab her by the hips and hoist her up with her legs wrapping around my middle while I move through her apartment to her couch. I turn and sit down with her sitting astride me.
“I want you,” she whispers against my lips in between kisses.
“You have me, you can have me in any way you want.”
While I said that I needed to get up early and work last night, after getting back home this morning at four-thirty in the morning, I go directly to my bed and pass back out only to wake up a few hours later to a pounding on my door.
I drag myself out of bed and with a yawn, I open the front door to a very excited Cooper.
“Why are you knocking on my door so early? And why the hell do you looks so happy?” I ask hi
m to step aside to allow him entrance.
“I asked Nydia to marry me last night, and she said yes!” he says excitedly.
“Man, that’s pretty awesome. Congrats. But why are you here with me when you should be in bed with your woman?”
“She needed to head into town, some appointment that she already had lined up. Why are you looking like you were still asleep, it’s noon?”
“I passed out when I came back from Madison’s.”
“Come with me to the bar, I want to celebrate and make sure no one is messing with my work site.” Cooper says shoving his hands in his front pockets.
“Sure thing, let me switch out of these clothes.”
We’re sitting at the bar, with burgers in front of us, a few empty shot glasses beside a full one and a beer in front of us as well. We’re properly lubricated, and I know that at this point no work will be done today.
We have a small crowd gathered at the bar with us as we are taking turns telling jokes with Noah and Miles when the crowd breaks for both Nydia and Madison.
I open my arms for Madison and almost fall back in my seat.
“Didja hear the good news, they’re getting married, so we’re celebrating!” I tell Madison, likely at too high of a volume.
“Yeah, yeah, I heard. Geez, you stink, how much have you had to drink?” she asks looking at the bar where the scene of my evening lays.
She looks over everything in front of me, then slowly returns her gaze to me. She has a look that my fuzzy brain cannot compute, I smile at her, hoping that she will return the smile, but she doesn’t.
“So, I’m going to go. I don’t want to see you like this,” she says to me as Miles walks up to us.
“Hey there, can I get you a celebration shot?” he asks her.
“No thanks, I was just leaving,” she returns her gaze from Miles to me again. “I’m not a fan of drunk Lewis.”
I have nothing to say, not because I don’t agree with her, but because I can’t actually form the words of apology.
She gets off my lap and taps Nydia on the shoulder, whispers something to her and without any other words, she leaves.
Chapter One Hundred Twelve
With a nasty hangover, I work on the last bits of programming in one of the software’s that I’ve been commissioned for from a huge client of mine, a company that I’ve done quite a bit of work for.
I’m running the last bit of tests to look for additional bugs, so I figure now is a good time to finally shower and grab something to eat.
I pull up my phone contacts and press for Madison. I haven’t spoken to her yet today, so I’m curious as to what she’s been up to.
There’s no answer, so I send her a quick text message instead.
Me: Hey, how are you on this fine day? It’s already the afternoon, and I haven’t heard your lovely voice yet?
I wait to see if my text has been read or for that bouncing bubble, instead, there is no response. I put down the phone and head into the bathroom. Once I shower, I return to the kitchen and pick up my phone. Still nothing from her.
I make myself a sandwich and settle back down in front of my desk as the computer runs through a few more pass throughs.
Upon the results returning completely polished, I send a message to my client and wait for them to return the call.
After an exceptionally long and shitastic day, I decide to head over to the bar and drink my sorrows away. Today has been a blow to the gut, something that I haven’t dealt with in an incredibly long time and I just want to forget that it never happened.
One of my biggest client’s businesses tanked today.
Apparently, the business has been on the verge of bankruptcy for the past year and I had no clue during any of my dealings with them that this was even possible. I have developed three programs of which they used, and I was still waiting to get paid for the last two which was completed within this last quarter.
When I reached out to their accounts receivable department today, I received constant ringing. When I tried two cell phones with the partners, one sent me directly to voicemail and the other answered with apprehension.
“I’m sorry, Lew. This was something that we were trying to prevent, but ultimately, it was a looming shadow on us. We have no money in any of our accounts and I’m so sorry,” the partner that I signed my contracts with said.
“So, you knew that it was going to happen, and you still contracted out for new software? I’m not understanding here,” I say with my hands running through my hair in frustration.
“We might have something else happening in the next few years, and I wanted to get a leg up, that’s all.” he explained as if it was nothing.
“I’m still expecting payment, you understand that, right?”
“Can I just pay you piece by piece? I don’t have all the money right now, but I have a little bit to get by, it just would be a solid piece by piece payment, will that work?”
I slam the empty beer bottle on the bar top and signal for another. Miles approaches and leans on his arm.
“I haven’t seen you drink this bad since you made me take shots with you that one night,” he observes.
“I know, but today is mighty shitty,” I say pulling a long drag from the bottle.
“Need another shot to numb you,” Miles asks.
“How about you just line them up and I’ll say when?” I close one eye, point at him over the lip of the bottle.
Miles shakes his head, grabs a bottle of something amber colored and lines up a row of shots in front of me. He looks at me one time with a quirk of the eyebrow, “Are you sure about this, my friend?”
When I nod, he begins to pour.
Once he’s finished, I grab the first shot and lean my head back to shoot it.
One down, nine to go.
My fingers are gripping the last shot, when the hairs on the back of my neck stand. I slowly turn my barstool and come face to face with Madison.
And while Madison is generally smiling and looking happy to see me, right now, she looks disgusted with a hint of worry? Or is that anger?
She’s a little bit blurry and I can’t really tell right now.
I reach behind me for my beer.
I hold it up in a cheers manner, then take a sip.
“Hey Mads.” Miles says from behind me. “Our friend, Lewis has had a pretty bad day. Don’t be pissed off or anything, he just needs to let off some steam.”
She smiles, then takes a seat beside me at the bar.
“Is this why you’ve been ignoring my phone calls?” she asks.
“Phone is home,” I slur using both of my hands to move my body in the stool.
“Okay, so you are not ignoring me?” she asks.
“Darlin’, I don’t think I could even operate a phone right meow. Meow.” snort, “I said meow, like I am a cat. Am I cat? I have no fur, but I could be a person cat.” I put my finger up in the air at my thoughts. “Have you seen the trailer for that movie? Creepy as hell, loved seeing it on Broadway, though”
She turns to Miles, “how much has he had to drink?”
Miles stands straight, “well, if we’re counting everything. He’s had three beers and ten shots. No, make that nine shots, he still has one left.” Miles points.
As if in slow motion, I watch Madison turn to look at me. Her eyes are wide, and her mouth is wide open. In shock.
“How are you still standing?” she asks.
“Um, I’m not. I’m shitting. I mean sit-ting,” I enunciate for my benefit more than hers.
“Miles, how much does he owe you for tonight?” Madison asks him.
“He’s got a tab. He pays it weekly,” Miles replies.
“Good, I want him to remember how much he drank, when he’s not only dealing with a hangover but the repercussions from tonight.”
“He doesn’t really pull out all the stops like this.” Miles waves his hands piling up the shot glasses.
“He’s here all the time,” she says.
“Half the whole town is in here all the time,” Miles defends.
I watch the exchange while they argue quietly back and forth. Madison places her hand on my arm, turns to me and smiles with her jaw clenched.
“C’mon, we’re leaving. He gave you enough alcohol to kill a person, I’m not sure how you’re still alive right now and not drowning in your own throw-up.”
“I know when to schtop,” I slur while she swings her death stare gaze at me.
Chapter One Hundred Thirteen
I know when it’s time to shut up, and this is one of them. Madison looks pissed off and I’m not entirely sure if it’s because I’m drunk or what. I decide to try to pay attention to her cues and do as she says as much as I can.
I’m not in the right frame of mind to be making any decisions anyways, so I go along with whatever she says and wherever that she leads me. She has my arm gripped in her hands and we’re briskly walking down the street in the direction of where we both live.
My feet are trying to keep up with her fast-moving feet as well, but I stumble, and my palms are in front of me to break my fall. Only my arms failed me, and my face broke the fall.
I watch Madison’s feet stay still as I groan and move my face to face her feet. I roll over onto my back and look up at her. Her hands are on her hips and she sneers down at me.
“I’m not sure why you’re so mad at me?” I say, lightly touching my nose. “Oh man, I think that my nose is broke. Actually, my face is broken. Ow!”
“Why am I mad at you? I’m not really sure why you are asking me that question,” she straightens her arms and balls her fists.
“I’m asking, because I don’t know. Oh my God! My face feels like it’s on fire! Isn’t alcohol supposed to make me numb?”
“Your stupidity is making you numb,” she huffs out. “Why am I even still here!” she steps over me and then walks out of my eyesight leaving me laying on the sidewalk, alone.
I’m still in my clothing from yesterday.
I’m face down on my bed and the sliver of light coming through from the blinds in my bedroom.
The Neighborhood Series (The Neighborhoood) Page 40