“Honey, do you ever let Lucy have a boyfriend? You’re so…”
“Protective?” I filled in the blank for Lauren and raised an eyebrow in her direction.
“Yeah, let’s go with that.”
“I don’t do boyfriends. I like to fuck. I like to get fucked. I do not do relationships. Abel doesn’t let me do anything. Just like I don’t let him do anything and that’s clear since he decided to hook up with you and not tell me.” Lucy gave a curt smirk that made her look cuter than she sounded.
“You know, besides the fact that Lucy has the same face as Nora, I would have never guessed they were sisters. She’s so sweet and well-mannered and Lucy is just…” I cringed when the words left Lauren’s mouth. I braced myself for the tornado. It was coming.
Lucy stopped eating her food and let the fork fall to the plate with a clatter. Her eyes blazed to life and she ignored Lauren altogether to glare at me. “Nora met her? You let Nora meet your little fuck toy before me? Seriously, Abel!” She pushed to her feet and it was like wind began to circulate around her.
“Excuse me?” Lauren scoffed.
“Lucy,” I begged with my tone for her to calm down but it wasn’t working.
“Is that why you won’t let me move in with you? Is it because you want this uppity stick in the mud bougie bitch to move in? She probably isn’t even fucking you right.”
“Lucy!” I boomed, crashing my fist onto the table, making everything tremble.
“Fuck you, Abel! How could you let Nora meet her and not even tell me about her existence? Evidently, I can’t trust you or her because you’re both pieces of shit that don’t think I’m worth any consideration.”
“Abel, you need to control your sister,” Lauren frowned.
“I control my goddamn self.” I stood and moved closer to Lucy but I wasn’t moving fast enough. She picked up her glass of water and hurled it across the table at Lauren. It made a thunk when it hit her forehead. I grabbed Lucy’s wrist before she could launch her plate. It clattered to the table and broke in half.
“Stop it, Lucy!” I roared, slamming her against the wall.
“Get off of me, Abel. I hate you! I hate your ugly girlfriend and I hate Nora! All of you motherfuckers can choke on a dick and die.”
“Abel, I’m bleeding,” Lauren sobbed from the floor.
Fuck!
Everything was spinning out of control and I didn’t have enough arms to contain it all. “I swear to God, if you go to her I’m never speaking to you again, Abel.” It wasn’t the first time Lucy threatened to never speak to me. It was her go to punishment.
The moment I let my sister go, she flew around the table to Lauren. We raced to her but Lucy got there first and the outcome was not good. I managed to pry my scrappy hell raiser off Lauren but not after Lucy laid into her face like a goddamn punching bag.
“I’m leaving. Fuck you.” Lucy spat before kicking me as she stepped over both Lauren and me on the floor.
The living room was a mess of spilled food, broken glass, and China. The Lucy tornado had blown through and fucked shit up per usual. Now I had a bloody, scared girlfriend and a huge mess to clean up.
Lucy, Lucy, Lucy…
**
CHAPTER FIVE
I was drunk when I clocked in. What the fuck were they going to do? I worked in a bar. I pushed past the weird mute kid, Hush, and barged into the break room. Hush stood in the door way like a creepy hulk, staring down at me.
“Well, Hush, if you’re gonna speak now would be the time. Otherwise get the fuck out of my space.” I glared at him and he scoffed before stalking away. I didn’t understand how you could work somewhere for a year and never say more than like four words. All those good looks were wasted on him.
“What the hell is your problem?” Treasure plopped down beside me, elbows resting on the rickety table. She was the owner of On the Rocks and only person I talked to at work. I used to be a social butterfly and throw tons of parties but I realized really quickly that just because people will party with you don’t mean they’ll go to bat for you. So when I got evicted for throwing all those awesome parties, suddenly, nobody had a place for me to stay.
Fuck them all.
“I’m pissed at my brother,” I told her. “And his fucking girlfriend.”
“Uh oh. Abel got a girlfriend?” She winced and shook her head before standing up. “Well, darling, shake it off you need to be out there we’re already getting tons of requests for you from this one guy. Looks like it’s going to be one hell of a night.” I nodded but in my head, I was rolling my eyes. Screw those customers.
How could Abel let Nora meet his girlfriend before me? I wasn’t that bad. Well, I did hit the girl in the face with a glass but she was a bitch. So?
The only thing I regretted was saying my siblings could choke on a dick and die. I knew better than saying things like that. Karma was real and words made things happen in the universe. I’d have to apologize to Abel. Fuck Lauren though. Bitch. She honestly could eat a dick and die and I wouldn’t shed a tear. She wasn’t right for my brother.
I knew he couldn’t be with me either but…Lauren wasn’t who he clicked with. I’d kill her myself and do away with her before I let her move in with him.
I needed to get my drunk and hazy mind off Abel.
I tied my apron on and went to work. Hush eyed me for a few awkward minutes and I flipped him off so he’d move along. He returned the favor and I laughed a little. Sometimes, the man had spunk. Most times he just glared at everyone with those creepy ass eyes of his. They looked like lava. Like chunks of melted amber.
“Well, if it isn’t Lucy the beauty.” A drunk old man with a belly and a handlebar mustache saddled up to the bar front and center. He must have been the one requesting me. I didn’t remember his face. I got so many requests and saw so many customers that after a while they blended together.
“Hey sweetie, what can I get for you?” I flashed him that devastating smile of mine and he chuckled, making his belly jiggle.
“Now if you could put that pretty little pussy on my mustache, I’d be happy.” His eyes were so hungry. It made me want to vomit. I smiled though. It’s what I was good at.
“Aww, what’s wrong? Wife not giving you enough at home?”
“My wife isn’t you. I think that’s a huge chunk of the problem.” He laughed again then licked his lips.
“Still never told me what you want to drink, sweetie. How about some bourbon? You look like a bourbon man.” I spun around and grabbed a bottle, tossing it in the air, watching it flip a few times and then catching it. I was impressed with myself because I was still pretty fucking drunk.
“Bourbon will be fine. I’ll take the bottle as long as you keep pouring the drinks,” he slid a crisp hundred dollar bill my way. I blew him a kiss right after I wiggled the money between my tits, giving him a nice show. I felt a pair of eyes on me and turned over my shoulder to see Hush grimacing as he made his way back with dirty glasses and dishes for the back.
“Hey, does that fucking retard have a problem?” The man with the handlebar mustache growled in a low tone, leaning over the bar. I frowned at him and shook my head.
“Hush? No. He doesn’t talk much but he’s not retarded. I don’t like that word. The last thing you want to do is piss me off, okay?” I patted his hand and forced a smile. I could make fun of Hush. Not the customers.
“I’d never want to piss you off.”
“Good. Let’s keep it like that.” I winked and poured him another glass of bourbon. All night, I filled glasses and did tricks with bottles that would have shown anyone why I was able to suck dick instead of pay rent. All night, Mr. Handlebar Mustache gawked at me and tossed hundreds my way like they were ones.
He was totally shitfaced at the end of my shift. I had the order to cut him off an hour ago but I slid him a few watered down drinks so I could get more tips. I was nearing the thousand-dollar mark.
“Hush, you clocking out too?” I asked. I
was much more pleasant once I was sober and had nine hundred dollars in my bra.
“Yeah,” he grunted. I punched his card then punched mine and headed out the staff entrance to the bar. I ran smack into a goddamn wall. Only it wasn’t a wall and it reeked of bourbon.
Mr. Handlebar Mustache.
“I love Lucy,” he chuckled as his meaty fingers wrapped around my arm.
“Aren’t you sweet? Now can you get the fuck off me?” I jerked away, fishing for the pepper spray I kept on my key ring. Mr. Mustache snatched my purse and threw it though. I couldn’t see where it went. I only heard it hit the concrete. My heart pumped fear through my veins and I opened my mouth to scream.
Only a sliver of my scream escaped before my mouth was covered and Mr. Mustache pulled me away from the door. I went bananas. I kicked and scratched and thrashed like my life depended on it because as far as I knew, it did. I refused to get raped and killed by some fucked up customer that didn’t know about boundaries.
I could taste the grit on his fingers as he pressed his hand harder against my mouth to muffle my noises. His other hand started to slide up my shirt. I struggled in vain and he pressed harder against my mouth. When I realized his hand was against my teeth, I bit down as hard as I could. Once I tasted blood I released his finger and he dropped me, howling in agony.
I was so busy scrambling away from him and spitting out blood that I didn’t see much of what happened. I caught a glimpse of a blur then I heard Mr. Handlebar Mustache hit the ground. I scrambled to my feet and looked down at the fat piece of shit knocked out on the pavement then up at Hush.
“You…you knocked him out?”
“Yeah.” He shook out his bruised knuckles then shook his head at the scene. My bottom lip trembled and emotions flooded me. I could have been killed. I could have been raped. My adrenaline tanked and I started to shake from the realization of what happened to me.
“Hush…thank you,” I creaked out. I rushed him with a hug and he stood rigid, not knowing what to do. I wasn’t letting his big ass go until he hugged me back. I guess he realized that too because he hugged me and looked me over.
“You okay?” He asked. It was the most he’d ever said to me besides yes and no.
“I think so. So you can say more than one word at a time.”
“Maybe,” he shrugged and smirked at me. He nudged me back inside and handed me the bar phone.
“I guess I should call the cops, huh?” I asked him with a sigh.
“Yeah,” he nodded. Treasure walked into the break room and rushed me, concern painting her face.
“Oh my God, Lucy! What happened?” She sandwiched my face between her hands and examined me.
“I’m okay now, Jesus. You’re worse than my mother, Treasure.”
“You’re bleeding!” She squeaked.
“I’m not. It’s his blood. I need to call the cops before he wakes up.” I spent the next thirty minutes talking to the police and giving a statement. When I looked around for Hush to thank him again, he was gone. His truck was gone from the parking lot too. I wanted to see if I could pull a real conversation from the little fucker.
I was going to sleep at my place but the thought of being closed in by all those boxes made me feel claustrophobic. I also was extremely creeped out by Mr. Handlebar Mustache and felt paranoid.
I went back to Abel’s.
Lauren’s car was in the driveway and I sucked in a deep breath trying to steady myself so I didn’t punch her in the face again. I can’t explain what comes over me when I get angry like that but nothing matters anymore. The only thing I can focus on is the object of my anger and God help everyone if my focus is on another person.
I tried the knob but it was locked, so I rang the doorbell like a stranger. “Lucy, what the fuck happened to you?” His strong arms were around me in an instant.
“Some prick at work tried to…” I couldn’t get the words out because the way Abel held me made the weight of the world come crashing down on my head. I wanted to crawl into his arms and stay there until the tears were all gone.
“Luce…” His voice was soft and quiet. He stroked my hair and walked me into the living room. Right then he was my brother. He was my protector and he was going to make me feel better. “Hey, tell me what happened. Did he touch you?”
“I think he wanted to. He grabbed me when I was leaving work. He’d been buying drinks and leaving me crazy tips all night. Sometimes I get guys like that so I wasn’t too worried. I never thought he’d actually try anything.” My stomach lurched as I replayed the way he snatched me like I weighed nothing. I could still taste his blood on my tongue and it made me want to vomit.
“Why didn’t you call me?” Abel’s voice was rising and he looked pissed. Lauren walked down the steps like a ninja. She was being nosey. I wanted her to leave.
“What was I going to say, Abel? I was at work. That’s how guys are. They’re gross.” his jaw flexed furiously and he took my face in his hand. His touch was nothing like his tone though.
“I would have killed that motherfucker. You know that. Anything for you, Luce.”
“I know. You weren’t there though. Wasn’t like I left on good terms anyway. I’m sorry for the shit I said before I went to work.” I looked down at my hands and fought back the emotion choking me.
“It’s cool. You’re a fucking asshole. I expect these things from you.” He kissed my forehead and I wrapped my arms around his neck. I wanted the comfort but I also knew nosey ass Lauren was watching. I wanted to give her something to see.
“You still love me?” I purred.
“Always. You drive me crazy but I’ll always love you.” He pressed his lips to mine and I tingled. I wanted to fuck him so badly. My body reacted to him, remembering how he used to feel inside of me.
“I want to stay the night with you.”
“Okay. Let me tell Lauren to go home.” I couldn’t hide my smile as I hugged him again. Abel always put me first when I needed him. “Go get in the shower.” He tugged my hair and I nodded, hopping up. I brushed past Lauren on the stairs, making sure to clip her shoulder on the way to Abel’s room. I paused at the doorway to listen. I couldn’t help myself.
“Hey, Lauren, Lucy got attacked at work tonight and I’m gonna make sure she’s okay. Would you mind going home?”
“Are you fucking kidding me, Abel? She got attacked at work? Maybe she got what she deserved. She attacked me like a fucking animal simply because she doesn’t like you having a girlfriend. You need to learn how to stand up to her.”
It couldn’t have been possible to hate anyone more than I hated Lauren. She was trash and Abel was so much better than her. I folded my arms across my chest and listened for his response.
“You’re out of line, Lauren. I tell you my sister got attacked and all you can think about is petty shit?”
“I’m sorry, Abel but Lucy’s attachment to you isn’t healthy. I think you need to tell her to go somewhere else tonight.”
“You can go now, Lauren.”
“Are you serious? You’re putting me out for your sister?”
“Yes. What part of she got attacked don’t you understand?”
“I guess there’s a lot I don’t understand.” The next thing I heard was the door slamming shut. I clapped my hands and did a quiet little happy dance, then started the water for my shower. I pulled off my clothes, tossed them in the hamper then walked around Abel’s room ass-naked. I saw Lauren’s clothes lying on the bed and tossed them on the floor where they belonged. Fuck her.
Abel’s footsteps were heavy coming upstairs. He paused when he saw me naked and tipped his head to one side to admire the view. “Jesus, Luce.”
“Wanna get in the shower with me?” I asked.
“I shouldn’t.”
“You should. How else am I gonna wash my back?”
“We’re getting close to that line we said we wouldn’t cross again.” He warned as he moved closer to me.
“I need you right now,
” I pouted and his eyes honed in on my bottom lip. “You know how I get when I’m going through something.”
“That’s life, you’re always going to be going through something. We can’t be each other’s crutch all the time.” I hated that he was right. He was so damn comfortable for me though. We made each other a promise a couple of years ago that we’d stop fucking because things were getting too deep and too painful.
I had to keep that promise.
Abel was like feeding my hunger though. When my stomach growled, I fed it. When my pussy growled, I fed it.
I pulled away from Abel and went to the shower. Alone. I kept replaying that dirty bastard grabbing me at work and my skin crawled. I scrubbed harder. I scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed until my skin was bright red and raw. By the time I got out, I was sniffling and tears blurred my vision.
That shit was terrifying.
I’d been in a lot of dicey situations but nothing like that.
Abel took one look at me and pulled me against his chest. He didn’t care that I was soaking wet. He didn’t care that I was wetting his shirt with tears and shower water. He held me. Lines were so blurred that I couldn’t tell if I wanted him to hold me as my brother or as my man.
“It’s okay,” he sighed. “Let’s just be grateful that nothing happened to you. It could have been even more serious.”
“I know. It just…It scared the fuck out of me.” I hugged Abel and dug my nails into his strong back through his shirt. I needed to feel anchored to something. Once my sniffling subsided, I looked up at him. His eyes were beautiful and hazel and they made me want to do bad, bad things.
“We’ll go back to behaving after tonight.”
“We can’t fuck. You know that.” He was trying to hold on and I suppose I should have been trying too. I wanted to indulge though. I ignored his last words and kissed him, sucking on his lips, savoring each one.
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