Melanie watched me with a sad expression. She must have known she interrupted the replay of that. “Brad told me one drunken night.” She paused for a second looking up to the sky trying to remember. “I think it was that night you were puking your guts out and we were worried we’d have to take you to the hospital. You know, the night we decided it would be fun to see how many Alabama Slammers we could do? Nasty, sticky crap. Mack was taking his turn holding your hair and Brad and I were talking outside the door. He was kind of worried about you. Hmm, I really have no idea how you kissing him came up.”
We arrived at the townhouse and began to walk up the stairs. I paused and stared at her. “You guys were talking about me kissing him and him turning me down when I was puking my guts out?” My mouth hung open at the thought.
“Yeah,” she admitted without shame, as we walked in the door.
“How embarrassing that he would even talk about it to…anyone.” I heaved a heavy sigh.
“Well, now you can understand why I wouldn’t try the same thing.” She glared at me. Whispering as she said it because now we were inside and Flynn was nearby in the kitchen.
“Fine. I get it. Point made.” I huffed and walked into the kitchen.
Flynn was in the kitchen making a sandwich when we walked in. He smiled at both of us and asked, “How was Spike’s?”
We both replied at the same time. “Fine.” Flynn eyed us both as if we were fighting and said, “That good, huh? Where’s Clark?”
Melanie rolled her eyes. “What do you think? He picked up a blonde within the first five minutes of walking in there!”
“Wow, he is getting faster…faster than a speeding bullet!” He laughed at his own joke. We rolled our eyes.
“I’m gonna head up to bed, guys. Have a good night.” I turned and went up the stairs. They both replied “Night.”
I overheard them chat about Z and about the “situation” and I was sure they didn’t know I could hear them. They talked about some block party in two weeks and that Clark wasn’t going. They joked about Clark not wanting to be around babies or holding them or something along those lines. Oddly enough, I fell asleep thinking about Superman and how he would rescue a baby if he were afraid of one.
THE NEXT DAY was Monday and everyone went to work, except me since the bar was closed Sundays and Mondays. I went for another long run and then decided I would cook dinner for everyone.
I picked out a nice roast and a few other things. I thought maybe a home cooked meal was something everyone might enjoy. I turned on some great music, grabbed a beer and began to cook, peel potatoes, steam veggies and make a yummy torte for dessert.
One by one, they came home from work, enjoying the smell of my cooking. Clark added that it was going to be great having a woman in the kitchen and joked, “Just make sure you don’t get pregnant.”
Melanie tried to call Z to see if he wanted to join us for a home-cooked meal, but he said he’d rather stay home and hang out. I guess he wanted to wallow some more. Poor guy. I couldn’t blame him–knowing it had to feel horrible to walk in on Sheila with some guy.
We sat down and enjoyed dinner. It actually did taste pretty good, if I may say so myself. We had a great conversation talking about Flynn, Z and Clark’s college days. It turns out that’s where Flynn and Z met Clark.
Everyone thanked me and complimented my cooking. We all cleaned up together, laughing and joking. I was glad I decided to cook and couldn’t help but think that I was really going to enjoy living here in my new life.
CHAPTER SIX
Z
IT WAS ALREADY TUESDAY. I had spent most of Sunday and yesterday at home wallowing in self-pity. Melanie had called telling me Izzy cooked some gourmet meal and invited me over. I didn’t feel like listening to everyone chatting like everything was fine and happy. I felt like Jack Daniels knew how to make me feel better. He did. Well, sort of. Except for another hangover, I was feeling. I figured being in the office going over books and orders might snap me out of feeling so crappy.
My phone chimed a text from Mel.
Hangin’ in there? You missed an incredible dinner. Iz is an excellent cook. We missed you.
I responded: All well. Jack helped me get some much-needed sleep.
She knew what I meant. No response returned. I heard the staff start coming in, joking around with each other and setting up. Glad they were a good group that could handle opening without me watching over them.
A couple hours passed and it was getting busier out there. Busy for a Tuesday night, at least. I stayed in my office. I still didn’t feel like going out and talking to anyone.
My phone rang again. Why the hell would Sheila be calling me? I let it go to voicemail. Then it rang again and I glanced at the gorgeous picture I had added to her contact when we first started dating. I picked up the horrible phone, pissed off that it was letting her call me. “Fucking Whore,” I screamed and threw the phone, which hit the side of the door frame and shattered. At the same time, Izzy stepped into the doorway, ducking as she heard it hit the frame. “Whew! Some arm you’ve got there! Glad I’m not a fucking whore.” She smirked.
“Uh, I’m sorry. I…” I didn’t know what else to say.
“No worries. I was just coming to see if you were alright. We haven’t seen you out there all night and usually you’re micromanaging,” Izzy teased with a sweet smile. As hot as she was, I just didn’t feel like dealing with another female.
“Yeah, no, I just have a ton of work to do.” I scowled back at the computer pretending to ignore her.
“Melanie told me what happened. I’m really sorry. If you need a shoulder, I’ve got one too, ya know?” I glanced back at her and noticed again she had that sweet smile and her eyes sparkled this time.
“No, thank you…I really don’t want to talk about anything, especially with another woman.” That last part I whispered more under my breath. I was being a dick but right then I was pissed off at all women for being fucking whores.
She nodded her head and smiled. “I get it.” Great, now I felt shitty. Fuck it. I didn’t really care anymore. I picked up my keys and headed out of my office, brushing past her, but her sweet smell did not go unnoticed. I caught Mark’s eye and nodded before I yelled, “You’re in charge. Lock up at closing.” And walked out. I had no idea where I was going, but I had my bike and I needed to clear my head.
THE NEXT DAY, I pretty much did the same exact thing, minus the phone throwing and screaming about “fucking whores.” I didn’t have a phone now and didn’t care. I stayed in my office the entire night. Izzy came by again to check on me and I said the same thing to her as I did yesterday. I didn’t want to talk. I didn’t want to deal with anything. I left around the same time as I did yesterday. Again, I was glad Mark could handle things.
Finally by Thursday, I felt like I could talk to people, or rather women, without cursing them and calling them “fucking whores.” It also seemed like all the women for “Ladies Night” knew I was single because they kept gathering around me, telling me how they could take care of me and would treat me better. I was pretty sure a one night stand would at least help part of my mood–until I looked up and saw two guys practically hanging over the bar chatting up Izzy. Why did that bother me so much? It felt like a knife in my heart twisting around. I tried to ignore it, but figured I’d step over and see just how bad they were trying to get in her panties. She usually kept her hair back in a sweet pony tail, but today she had it down. It was gorgeous hanging down, dangling in her cleavage. Your eyes were drawn to her luscious breasts. Fuck.
I stepped over and said, “You guys having a good time tonight?” As I glanced at Izzy. She was leaning over pointing across the room. The guys weren’t really looking to where she was pointing, they were smiling happily at her and her cleavage.
Izzy turned up a corner of her mouth and explained, “I was just telling them how those two ladies would probably be thrilled if they each brought over a Sex on the Beach. I thought it would
be a great opener to introduce themselves.”
One of the douchebags asked, “Is that how you’d want to be approached?” He was smiling smugly and winked at her. I tried to keep calm because my first reaction was to punch him and tell him that she doesn’t want to be approached. Then I was trying to figure out why I cared so much that he was trying to hit on Izzy.
She winked at me and responded, “Oh…well…I don’t date my customers. They’re here for Ladies Night. Free drinks usually brings the guys in, which is why they are here.” She had the sexiest smile I have ever seen. I felt a bit relieved that she was trying to be a good bartender and still brush off being hit on.
“I see,” said Douche One. “Well, maybe we can meet outside of the bar sometime so I can try my luck with you.” Fuck, did you not hear her asshole?
“I believe she said she doesn’t date her customers. Make up two Sex on the Beaches for these two gentleman to take over to those two lovely ladies.” I was really trying to keep my cool. I did own the bar after all and they were paying customers, at least for their drinks. They looked like they took the hint, but as they took the drinks Izzy made for them, Douche One threw his business card and tip on the counter. She smiled sweetly and thanked them.
After they left, Izzy asked, “How ya doing? Or has everyone asked you that question over and over again to the point where you want to scream back–not very fucking well?” That at least made me laugh. Maybe I could move her out of the “fucking whore” category for now.
“I’m still pretty ticked, but I’ll be okay.”
“Looks like you have your pick to help you get over her.” She nodded her head toward the crowd of chicks that were still in the circle I left.
“I was just coming to check and make sure those two weren’t getting out of hand,” I said it as nonchalantly as I could while looking around to see where they were. They took her advice and were chatting with the two ladies.
She giggled, “I can take care of myself, thank you. Besides Mark is always nearby if things get out of hand and Sandy has some pretty witty comments when we get assholes.” God, her giggle made my cock twitch and when she smiled, her eyes twinkled. Our eyes lingered on each other and I was getting a chub just from her smiling at me. Need to get a handle. They’re all fucking whores. I figured I’d change the discussion back to her. I still wasn’t in the mood to be chatty so I thought I’d make her as miserable as I was. “So, have you heard anything from your ‘ex’?”
She still smiled. She wasn’t going to be put in a bad mood. Damn, I’m a dick. “Nah, nothing. Nothing is good right? Much better to never hear from him.”
I just nodded. Then she added quickly as her smile faded just as fast. “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by that if …you know, Sheila is still calling you or something. I’m sorry…” She looked like she felt awful for asking.
I just nodded again and walked off. I wasn’t in the mood to talk anymore. I walked back to my office, grabbed my keys and left to take a ride on my bike and clear my mind.
Driving the streets, I kept wondering why I had been such a dick to Izzy when she was so sweet to me. I keep feeling like I was being drawn in by her and I wanted to break it. I just didn’t want to deal with another chick right now–especially one that’s got a crazy fucked up ex.
But then I kept thinking about how we seem to have such an incredible attraction to each other. Or maybe she is like that with everyone? She’s so beautiful and I notice how many men always gather around her at the bar. Maybe because she’s just like the rest of women that draw you in…fucking whores. Fuck.
FRIDAY MORNING, I decided it was finally time to get another phone. I’m sure I had more than my share of voicemails, but at least Izzy and Clark could relay that I was, in fact, still alive to Flynn and Mel. And Flynn would tell his mom, who would tell my mom, if they were trying to get a hold of me.
The lovely sales lady was shamelessly flirting with me. It’s as if the whole world knew I was single again. Little did they know it was because of a fucking whore. At least it felt good to flirt back. She knew my number already so maybe I’d get a call from her. She wasn’t bad looking and she really had a nice ass.
Smiling, I checked my voicemails. Hearing the fucking whore’s voice put me back into a bad mood. I kept deleting them, but then realized I should probably hear one to see if it’s anything important. Nope. It wasn’t. Just her calling to say she was sorry that things turned out the way they did and she feels bad. Great. She can go to hell for all I care. Another message from my mom telling me she hoped I was feeling better and that she can’t wait to see the whole gang at the block party. Crap, the whole neighborhood would try to fix me up with their niece, cousin or daughter. Just what I needed.
Mel left a voicemail asking me when I was getting a new cell phone since I smashed my other one. Not sure it occurred to her that she was leaving a message right after I shattered my phone so I really couldn’t listen to my messages.
I headed over to Allure. Deciding that I better stay the full night to make sure things were running smoothly since I’ve been flaking out. I started going through the books from the past couple nights. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Actually they seemed pretty accurate. Hmm. Well, good. Glad to know Mark and Sandy could handle things pretty well. I started going through the liquor count to see what else I might need to order for the weekend. That’s when I noticed that an order was already set up and ready to go; it just needed my okay. Odd. Sandy never took the initiative, but you never know. She had worked here for quite a while. I grabbed the order and walked to the back to put in the order.
After I had finalized the order, I walked out and the door opened right then and in walked Clark and Izzy, laughing about something. When my eyes met hers, I felt my heart in my throat for some reason. She stopped laughing but kept smiling. Her hair was down again. She looked fresh and absolutely breathtaking.
“Hey,” she said still smiling. I swallowed hard.
“Glad to see you’re here, man! How ya been?” Clark asked slapping me on the back.
I glanced over at him, remembering he was here. “Umm, yeah. Good, I’m good, thanks.”
“Thought we lost you there for a bit. You can’t let the whores get you down. Gotta get back out there and fuck a couple to get her out of your system. I’ll help you find one tonight. I’ll only let the really hot ones in tonight,” Clark said while smiling enthusiastically.
Izzy giggled at his comment. Fuck she had a cute giggle. Looking at the ground, she added, “He’s probably right. It might make you feel better.” She looked back up to me and it seemed like she was just saying that to be agreeable.
“Really? Is that what you want to do to get over your ex?” I asked in a soft voice, looking right into her eyes.
Her smile left her face quickly and she swallowed hard. “No, I….I…” She gulped and looked away. “I’m going to start getting things set up,” she mumbled as she walked away quickly. Yep. I was really a dick.
Smirking, Clark just shook his head, slapped my back and said, “Nice try.” Sandy and Mark came in a few minutes later along with several other waitresses.
The night got going and Clark was pretty much true to his word. It seemed like he really did just let the hot ones in. Again, it seemed like they all knew I was single. I was pretty sure Clark mentioned that to all of them. I had tons of them coming up to me, chatting, doing that flip thing with their hair, touching me constantly. Shit. Maybe I should just pick one.
Then I looked up and met Izzy’s eyes. Her eyes lit up and her smile shot right through me. One of the girls had a death grip on my arm to get my attention. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” I asked as I tried to shake off the feeling I got from looking at Izzy.
I glanced back again, but she was working on a drink, talking to some guy and smiling. Jealousy tore through me and I tried to get a handle on it. I barely knew her for fuck’s sake. The guy took his drink and walked away back to his buddies, smiling as if he
got something from her. I guess he did, his drink, but I’m sure he was thinking something more.
I was pulled back into the conversation about “how great my bar is and how she finds owning a bar so interesting.” She was annoying the crap out of me, but I smiled trying to be polite.
Flynn and Mel walked in. Thank God. Save me! Over here! Yes, the one surrounded by three gorgeous chicks who are annoying the shit out of me, except for them having fantastic tits. Flynn noticed my distressed smirk and came over, leaving Mel at the bar to talk to Izzy.
“Hey man!” He high fived me with a half hug. We walked away from the big titty crowd. “Heard you’ve been a bit flaky lately.”
Great, just what I needed. Izzy and Clark were reporting back to Flynn. “Nah, just needed to keep clearing my head.”
He laughed. “And the phone destruction episode?”
“Yeah, I guess I should apologize to Izzy for nearly taking her head off.” Shit, I never did say sorry for that, did I? Now I felt like a really a big asshole.
“Nah, she’s okay. She was actually laughing about it. Said she felt bad for the phone. By the way, you missed an incredible dinner. She really can cook. Too bad she works nights or we’d have dinner every night.”
“Really? Great. I’ll have to make it next time she cooks,” I said as I glanced back over to her. Izzy and Mel now had several guys all around them flirting. Fuck, what is up with this jealousy crap? I never used to get it this bad with Fucking Whore. Yet with Izzy, I barely knew her and couldn’t stop feeling jealous every time some dick was talking to her.
Flynn noticed my look, shook his head and grumbled, “Great. More competition. Fuck.” He brushed past me, down the hall to the supply area, grabbed a bottle of Jack and headed to my office. I was right behind him.
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