Her skin was hot against mine, her breath sweet and tantalizing the closer she got. Her brown eyes peered at me, questioning mixed with longing, under her mile long lashes. She continued to gaze at me as I pulled her closer. The song was fast, but I didn’t care. Seeing that creep trying to put moves on her made me realize just how much she still meant to me. How badly I wanted her.
“Cade,” she breathed, her voice husky. “This song isn’t slow….” She looked around, checking for stares, I was sure.
“I don’t care,” I admitted. “Are you ok?” I questioned, lifting her chin in my fingers.
She nodded, looking over my shoulder, at my nose, anywhere but my eyes.
“Ok…one more question,” I said.
She finally connected her gaze, my heart fluttering on impact. “What?” she whispered.
“Did that guy…did he…did he really ask you to mix your eggs with his baby batter?” I chuckled out.
Her eyes widened as her teeth captured her lip. She shook as she laughed, gripping her stomach and almost doubling over. “Yes,” she giggled out, barely catching her breath.
I laughed louder, grasping her hand to guide her off the dance floor. She directed me towards a table filled with women, all gaping at us. Her hand slid out of mine and I felt empty without her touch. She stopped at the edge of the table, fidgeting with the edge of her shirt.
“Hello, Cade,” the pretty brunette said, a knowing look on her face.
Upon further inspection, I saw it was Daphne something or the other, Francesca’s friend from high school.
“Oh, hey…Daphne, right?” I greeted, raising my fingers in a slight wave.
“Mmhmm,” she said, her eyes darting from me to Francesca, over and over again.
“Are you ladies having a good night?” I asked, smiling at each one when I made eye contact.
“It just keeps getting better,” a bright redhead acknowledged.
“Well, Francesca, I think you will be ok left in these ladies’ capable hands, I’m going back to meet up with my friend, Jay.”
She looked almost sad to see me go, but the look passed quickly. “Ok. Thanks again, Cade,” she said, her voice soft as her hand reached out to my arm.
“Anything for you, Francesca.”
I woke sprawled on my bed, feet dangling over the side. My face was mushed in the covers. I hadn’t even made it to the pillows. Disoriented, I raised up, rubbing my eyes. My foot hit something that moaned. Namely, a someone who moaned. I maneuvered my body around, careful to not fall, to see Jay in the floor. Flat on his back, his mouth was open wide and he snored loudly. Groaning, I sat up. The room spun slightly, but not as much as I expected. After seeing Francesca, I drank half the alcohol in the place. I couldn’t remember what I did after I watched Francesca leave with her friends. My memories were blank. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you how I got home.
“Jay,” I grunted out, poking him with my foot. “Wake up, man.”
He rolled over, away from my prodding, and buried his face in the mass of clothes laying there.
I stood, gaining my balance before I attempted walking, and went to release the contents of last night. Afterwards, I downed a glass of water, chasing it with a shot of whiskey. Checking my phone, I was disappointed to not see anything from Francesca. I don’t know why I expected her to contact me. It was hope more than anything.
Jay stumbled through the hallway, leaning on the wall for balance. He practically fell through the bathroom, landing against the counter with a thud. I didn’t stop the laughter from escaping my lips.
“Shut up, asshole,” he called out.
“Nope,” I replied, waltzing back to the kitchen to pour him a class of water. I took another shot as I waited.
He shuffled in, his hands holding the mess of blond hair on his head. “Why did you let me drink so much?” he cried out. His body slumped in the chair, his head falling to the table.
“Drink up, tiger,” I joked, sliding the glass to him. Jay was an old friend I’d met through work. He was a couple of years younger than me and he, apparently, couldn’t hold his alcohol.
Groaning, he sipped the water. “How are you not as messed up as I am?” he questioned, looking envious.
Shrugging, I just smiled, patted him on the back, and headed for a shower.
The rest of the day was a blur. Jay eventually made his way home, though he still whined about his hangover. I drank, ate, and drank some more. Pops called twice, though I didn’t answer, and Cason showed up around 6 p.m.
“What’s going on, bud?” I asked, ushering him in.
“Came to check on the job situation. You found anything yet?” he asked, making himself comfortable on the couch.
Shaking my head, I grabbed two beers from the refrigerator and sat beside him. “Nah, not yet. Haven’t really looked,” I admitted, popping the tab.
“Cade, I don’t think Dad will bail you out anymore,” he said, pushing his beer away.
“Of course he will, little brother. He always does,” I shrugged, drinking half the can in one gulp.
“I talked to your boss, Cade.”
“So?” I looked at him like he had three heads. What did that matter?
“She told me what she said to you. About how you could get your job back.”
“Oh, yeah, she seems to think I have a drinking problem,” I laughed, chugging the rest. “You gonna drink that?” I asked, pointing to his unopened can.
He shook his head, leaning back with his arms crossed. “Maybe you do….”
“Do what?” I inquired, turning to face him.
“Have a drinking problem?” he said sharply, pointing to the drink in my hand.
I laughed again, louder this time, “No, I don’t. I can stop at any time I want. I just don’t want to.”
“Cade, I think you need to sober up,” he said, his voice rising.
“What the hell is your problem?” I yelled, slamming the can on the table. “Dammit, you made me spill some!”
He shook his head, taking the can quickly from my grasp and rushing to pour it down the sink. I followed after him, the anger growing. I saw him rustling through my kitchen drawers, then moving back to the living room.
“What are you doing?” I asked him.
“Looking for your keys.”
“Why?” I spat out.
“Because, big brother, I don’t trust you to be here alone, drunk and unable to make decisions, with access to your car. And I need to leave before I get really mad at you. So tell me where they are,” he demanded.
With a curt shake, I said, “No.” The shiny treasure set was lying on top of the TV, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. Nor was I going to give myself away by trying to get them first. My insides were twisting, my skin growing hot. Cason was being ridiculous and it pissed me off.
“Cade,” he said, then turned quicker than I imagined he could, reached out, snatched the keys, and headed towards the door.
I ran after him, grabbing him by the shoulder. “Cason! Give me my damn keys,” I screamed, gripping his arm tightly.
He shook me off in seconds, and I realized the alcohol was making me slightly weaker than he. He simply stared at me, watching as I tried to regain balance, and shook his head. His face was sullen, disappointed, and sad.
“I don’t know how to help you. Maybe…,” he appeared to be lost in his thoughts, his eyes boring a hole in the wall, “maybe she could help you.”
“What? I don’t need help. And who are you talking about?” I replied, growing more and more frustrated with my brother.
One hand grasped the door knob, the other held tightly to the keys. “I love you, Cade. And I’m worried about you. That’s all you need to know. I agree with Ms. Thorpe.” He gave me one last look, his eyes wide and childlike as they filled with his despair.
“Cason,” I said, moving to stop him, but I was too slow. He slamm
ed the door behind him, rattling the few pictures that adorned the walls. I sank to my knees, burying my head in my arms. I didn’t know what was up with my brother, but I had a deepening feeling in my gut that my life was going to change soon. For the better or worse, I didn’t know, but something was coming.
Mangled Hearts Page 14