by Kira Hillins
“Good girl,” he said and then kissed her one more time before leaving.
ZOE WATCHED HIM walk down the darkened hall, believing those holey jeans were meant to be worn only by him. He had no reason to be concerned when she had all the means to defend herself, courtesy of Deputy Fred’s self-defense training.
She peered through the small rectangular window in the door and saw Sheron sitting at a table near her leather-clad friend. His long red hair flowed down his shoulders to his morbidly muscular chest showing through a loose tank top.
After a deep breath, Zoe pushed the door open and went out into the noisy, crowded room. She hurried into the seat next to Sheron and pulled Ben’s leather jacket tighter around her.
She’d never frequented the bar scene in college. Ventured inside one once, during the midafternoon break, at a friend’s request. Even then she only went in to retrieve a library book she’d lent her friend.
So here she sat like a virgin. Not dressed like one. Nervous. Stranger in a strange land. Though Sheron acknowledged her with a wink and bump of her elbow, she wished Ben could sit with her.
The band walked through a curtain and took their places on the short stage. Shouts and profanity broke through the roaring chorus of voices. Zoe cringed as several overly tattooed bald men below the stage shoved one another around. It looked violent, and yet nobody seemed to care.
“I wanted to apologize for last weekend.” The singer spoke calmly into the microphone. He held up his arm, showing off his bright blue sling. “Doctor says I’m a clumsy son of a bitch.”
More shouts of profanity and boos followed. Even Sheron booed.
This was the infamous Doogen, front man of the band. Though ruggedly handsome, he looked older than the other guys.
Doogen flipped his hair away from his right eye. He tossed Ben a glance. A deep evil chortle rolled from his mouth.
Zoe shivered.
“All right, fuckheads. Let’s tear this place down.”
The crowded room went wild as the music began, loud, fast, and heavy. Zoe pressed her hands tight against her ears. People shoved tables and chairs aside, creating an empty space in the center of the room. They thrashed about, bodies hitting bodies, convulsing, ultimately finding pleasure in hurting one another.
Zoe had never seen anything like this before. Heavy music, lots of people, hateful dancing, lights flickering throughout the bar—this was somewhat inspiring and horrifying at the same time. Nobody seemed to notice she existed.
Sheron stood. “I’ll be right back!”
Zoe nodded. Her gaze went straight to Ben, who played his guitar. He stared back. The short wave she gave was in secret, but everyone probably saw the great big smile spread across his handsome face.
This wasn’t a big deal as long as she stayed here in her seat with the jacket wrapped around her, although it was getting a little warm. Eventually, she’d have to take the heavy thing off.
Sheron came back to the table carrying two tall glasses and a bottle of beer in her hands. She set a glass down on the table in front of Zoe and then sat in her chair.
“What’s this?” Zoe inspected the full glass of brown liquid, ice chunks bobbing near its surface.
“It’s a Long Island Iced Tea,” Sheron replied.
Zoe rarely drank alcohol, so this was nice to be treated to something more her speed, especially at a bar.
Zoe placed the straw between her lips. Cool liquid found her tongue. The powerful taste of alcohol swarmed in her mouth. She swallowed hard, trying not to choke as the burn slid down her throat.
Oh God, that was good. She’d expected green or black tea. But this drink packed a different kind of punch.
Muscles relaxed, she drew another sip, a little more than her last. Warmth flowed through her veins. In no time, she’d found the bottom of the glass.
“Wow!” Her head swam. Heat rose to her face and neck. Too hot, she slipped the leather jacket from her shoulders and draped it over the back of the chair. Sheron’s friend made a point to lean over and look her up and down.
Sheron smiled. “Want another?”
“Sure,” Zoe replied, then leaned in close. “Where’s the ladies’ room?”
Sheron grabbed her hand and held tight. As Sheron stood, she turned to her friend.
“Hey, Chug. Go after more drinks.”
“Sure,” he replied in a deep, unsettling voice that sent chills down Zoe’s spine.
Sheron whisked Zoe around the convulsing floor. As they pushed through the crowd, the song ended. Bodies didn’t move as much. Maneuvering through the gaps became easier, until it seemed all eyes were on her and Sheron. The dance floor was an obstacle course. If the alcohol hadn’t worked its awful magic, Zoe might be nervous. It was kind of nice being the center of attention, especially when she had Ben’s eye.
As she walked in front of the stage, she smiled and waved with her free hand. She wanted to stop and say hi, but Sheron pulled her into a dark hallway. When they reached the women’s bathroom at the end, Sheron followed Zoe in.
Zoe glanced at the women dressed similarly to one another. Cleavage spilled over tops of tight leather. One woman wore a spiked collar around her throat. They were all pretty, in a deathly kind of way. With jet-black hair and ghostly skin, black lipstick and thick eyeliner, they reminded her of vampires.
Zoe turned on the faucet near the end wall where three vampire women watched her. They boxed her in at the sink.
“Look at the blonde bimbo,” one said, diamond-pierced nose stuck up in the air. “Never seen you here before.”
“I’m not from Denver,” Zoe said.
The woman laughed. “You don’t quite fit in with this crowd, Princess.”
Sheron shrugged as she leaned her back against the wall, inspecting her black-painted nails. “How many restraining orders do you have now?”
“Get lost, Sheron,” the pierced woman said.
“I don’t think Ben would appreciate anyone roughing up his new girl, especially you, Mandy. So why don’t you take your pins and needles and go stick yourself, you know, where the sun doesn’t shine.”
The woman glared. “I’m Ben’s girlfriend.”
“Ex.” Sheron sighed. “Like two years ago.”
This was Ben’s ex-girlfriend? Rude, maybe, but the woman was an absolute knock-out, for a vampire.
Mandy shoved Zoe’s shoulder. With held breath, Zoe caught the edge of the sink, saving herself from a humiliating fall to the floor. Zoe clenched her fists, angry and ready to beat the shit out of the stupid ex-girlfriend if she tried anything else.
Mandy shoved Zoe’s shoulder again. “What the hell do you think you’re doing with my guy?”
Zoe found her balance. “Your guy? What would Ben want with a psycho like you?”
Sheron laughed and then quieted when Mandy narrowed her eyes. “And there you have it,” Sheron said in her deep, raspy tone. “Psycho bitch is put in her place.”
Mandy turned her wild gaze on Zoe. With clenched teeth, she pulled her arm back and swung.
Zoe saw it coming. It was the easiest punch in the book to avoid. She leaned back and to the side, trying not to fall to the floor in the process.
Mandy’s fist missed her face by a mile. The girl hit her hip on the sink’s edge and spiraled to the tiled floor.
Her two friends whispered to each other. They gave Mandy a glance and then left for the music-filled hall. Some friends they were.
“You should find trouble elsewhere,” Zoe said as Mandy rose to her feet. “I’m not easy to bully.”
“Bitch!” Mandy sprang forward with both hands, aiming for Zoe’s neck.
Zoe ducked in time to avoid the woman’s strangling hands. Reflex took over as she grabbed Mandy’s right wrist and twisted it around to her back. Mandy cried out as Zoe pulled upward. She walked Mandy to the end of the restroom and shoved her into the graffiti-lined wall, ironically, right below the word crazy.
“Like I said,” Zoe shouted over the loud
, muffled music, “find trouble somewhere else! You’re pretty. Stop wasting your time on someone who doesn’t want you, and find someone who does.”
Zoe let go of Mandy’s arm. Mandy slid down the wall to the floor, mascara streaking her face. Zoe felt a little sorry for her, but stalking was stalking, no matter what gender.
“That was so fucking cool!” Sheron said.
“Thanks,” Zoe replied, chin in the air, smile draped across her face as she followed Sheron out the bathroom door.
Zoe stepped through the crowd. She could take care of herself. Confident that she didn’t need a babysitter anymore, she went to the front, near the stage where several of those vampire women stood and watched Ben play guitar.
His gaze found hers. Though he kept playing, his brows furrowed. He scanned the room, probably looking for Sheron, who came to Zoe’s side with two full drinks and the barbarian, Chug, from the table.
Ben relaxed as Zoe danced. Two-step was about the only thing going on in small-town Kansas. To let loose and move her body seductively to a heavy tempo was exhilarating.
Sheron danced too, arms in the air, drink in hand, rear rubbing against Zoe’s. Not like Zoe at all to dance with a woman in such a provocative manner. With anyone but Sheron, this would be weird.
Zoe laughed, feeling free and beautiful. Nothing in the world mattered but being here with new friends. And Ben. When the song ended, Ben leaned down. “Where’s the jacket?” He spoke fast. “Is that a Long Island Iced Tea?”
Zoe nodded with a smile. She sucked on the straw, letting the cool alcohol flood her mouth. Such a tasty drink, smooth, flavorful, strong, but well worth drinking to relax. Boy, was she relaxed!
“Don’t pass out before the first set’s over!” Ben stood as the drummer started beating.
The music was loud. The party grew louder. Zoe ignored the glares she received from the other women in the room as she danced with Sheron and Chug. She danced with the guy behind her, who smelled like stale beer and exhaust fumes, and another guy who bathed in cologne.
One drink led to another until Zoe had to cut herself off. Too high, vision blurred, balance lost, she stumbled toward the table and sat.
Her feet ached, but it was okay. It felt good to be out, away from her town, away from her boring everyday life. This was the life here with Ben, watching him play guitar, catching his gaze every other second. Loving it.
Sheron leaned against her shoulder. This fun, amazing woman, this dark princess she adored, reminded her of an evil Millie.
Zoe gasped. She hadn’t called Millie at all since she left town. Millie had probably called her a dozen times and left a million text messages, wondering where she was.
Zoe looked at her watch. Midnight. Millie might still be up writing on her memoir, since late at night was the only peace and quiet she got.
“I’ll be right back,” Zoe told Sheron.
“Where are you going?” Sheron replied as Zoe reached in her purse and pulled out her small flip-up cell phone. “You are from this century, aren’t you?”
Zoe stuck her tongue out and then stood. Smartphones were the thing these days, but she was happy with the little old cell phone she’d carried around for years. It did its job, though texting was a bit tedious using the number pad.
Zoe stumbled through the door and headed toward the kitchen. She dialed Millie’s number, then pressed the green button. It rang twice. Millie answered. Her hushed tone told Zoe everyone in the house was asleep but her.
“Hey, Millie!” Zoe shouted. “I’m here. Ben’s taking really good care of me. I’m having the time of my life!”
“Are you drunk?”
“Yes, but don’t worry. I feel so happy and alive, Millie! I feel so free, and I want to celebrate everything!”
“You’ve never been drunk before.”
“I’m in love, Millie.”
Zoe found herself gazing at the fluorescent light on the ceiling in the hallway. She expected Millie to come back with words of wisdom about falling in love and using protection and all the other motherly stuff, but she only breathed a sigh.
“Ben seems like a nice guy. Just remember, long-distance relationships don’t usually work out. So have fun while you can. Make sure you protect your heart and everything else.”
“I’ll be fine,” Zoe said. “I love you, Millie.”
“I love you too, sweetie,” Millie said with a laugh. “Now I need to go, or I’m going to wake someone, and then I’ll never get any writing done. Call me before you leave for home so I know you’re on your way.”
Zoe closed her cell phone. As she leaned against the wall to steady her balance, exhaust-fume guy from the dance floor walked through the door. The creepy short man smiled, arching his bushy dark brows.
“You’re quite a dancer,” he said, stroking his short brown beard.
“Thanks.” Zoe maneuvered around him.
“Wait up! I only want to talk.”
She sat down at the table beside Sheron, out of breath, woozy. The man came through the door. He stared as he headed toward the bar.
Zoe shivered. No telling what the guy had planned on doing. Not that she was afraid. She could defend herself. She’d really hate to have to hurt anyone else tonight, though.
As she watched Ben play, Millie’s words rolled around in her head. “Long-distance relationships don’t usually work out.” She should protect her heart, but she’d already laid it out on the table. If Ben didn’t grab her up soon and show her he was serious, she’d be better off to forget him. The guy who smelled like exhaust fumes seemed to like her well enough.
Another drink would get her back to happy-go-lucky. Not caring if Sheron followed or not, she made her way through the thick crowd to the bar.
“Long Island Iced Tea,” she said, leaning forward, elbows on the long wooden countertop.
The bartender grinned as he puffed out his hairy, naked chest. He often glanced at her boobs while mixing her drink. When he set the glass down before her, he leaned close.
“A pretty lady like you deserves one on the house,” he said with a wink.
“Thank you.” She picked up the drink. She turned around to make her way back to the table when exhaust-fume man stepped in front of her.
“Can I buy you a drink?”
“I have one.” She tried to step around him, but he blocked her path.
The giant hairy mole on the end of his fat nose became a focal point. His brown moustache and beard covered most of his face. Though his dark eyes seemed gentle, she could tell he wanted more than to buy her a drink. Staring at her chest was a dead giveaway.
“Want to dance again?”
“I’m on my way back to my table.”
“Mind if I join you?”
He reached out to touch her arm, but she stepped back. “I’m already in a party tonight.”
“Come on.” He pinched her elbow and tried to coax her toward the bar. “Just one drink.”
She shook her head, planting her feet solidly on the floor. No way would she follow this guy back to the bar.
His face reddened and jaw tightened. Thick veins in his temple grew prominent as he tightened his grip.
“Get off me.” Zoe jerked her arm away. Her drink splashed on her chest. The cool liquid streamed to the crevice between her breasts.
A wild grin spread across his pudgy face. He reached for the top of her dress, when a tall body in a T-shirt and holey jeans stepped in front of her. She smiled and leaned her forehead against his back. His muscles tensed as her free hand touched his side.
“You heard the lady,” Ben said.
“She’s with you?”
“Yeah,” he replied. “Now get lost.”
“Hey, man, I didn’t know.”
Ben turned around. Zoe’s temple slid across the green alien spaceship on the front of his shirt. A grin crept across her face as she looked up into those heavenly eyes.
“Soljer.” She breathed out, touching his chest. “My sexy guitar hero
. Are you done playing?”
He held her firmly against him. “Just taking a short break.”
The man was gorgeous. She wanted to reach up and touch his smooth face, to run her fingers over every inch of his skin and through his bangs. But when she raised her hand, he caught her wrist.
“Ah.” She puckered her wet lips. “You’re mad at me.”
“You’re wasted.”
“I’m not wasted…though I’ve never been wasted before. I’m all dizzy and happy and woo.” She put the straw between her lips and drew the cool drink into her mouth, swallowing each time she sucked. Her eyes watered. “Okay, I’m a lot dizzy, but I’m having fun.”
“How many have you had?”
“This is my third, I think. I can’t really remember.” She hiccuped and then laughed.
Ben didn’t crack a smile.
Party pooper.
“I think you’ve had enough.”
“Ben!” Sheron shouted, coming to Zoe’s side. She put her arm around Zoe’s neck and laughed. “Miss Baker here is awesome! She met your ex-girlfriend in the bathroom and kicked her ass. It was fan-tastic!”
“I didn’t kick her ass.” Zoe shrugged and then laughed. Sheron’s excitement was contagious. “I only kept—hic—mine from getting kicked.”
“Sent Mandy to the floor crying like a baby!” Sheron leaned against Zoe. She kissed Zoe’s cheek. “You’re a keeper.”
“Great,” Ben muttered. “Bringing you here was a really bad idea.”
Zoe rolled her eyes. “Oh, lighten up, Bennie baby.”
He nudged her toward the table. He grabbed his leather jacket off the chair on the way out the door. Once they reached the hallway, he draped the heavy garment over her shoulders.
Zoe stopped in the hall. He tried to get her moving again, but she leaned back hard.
“Would you stop pushing me?” she said in a hushed voice, careful not to alert the men sitting in the chairs near the kitchen. She put her forefinger to her lips and shushed herself, giggling as she shook off the jacket. “It’s hot in here.”