“Is your friend all right?” Seamus asked, suddenly standing in front of her.
“Huh?” Penny turned towards Bonnie only to find she wasn’t there.
Seamus pointed in the direction of the bathroom. “Is your redheaded friend there all right?”
“Well… actually, she’s going through a bad breakup,” she whispered conspiratorially, aware that she might be slurring. Even as she said it, her hand sprang up to cover her mouth. It wasn’t like her to talk about Bonnie’s business.
“I’m sorry to hear that. But that’s not what I meant. She’s getting a bit messy.” His eyes lifted to track something, and it took Penny a minute to register that it was Bonnie’s return. “Are you all right, love?” he asked, yelling out to her through the din of conversation around them, his voice becoming gruff.
Even Penny was aware now of the sway in her friend’s step and the lack of focus in her expression.
“I’m grand.” Bonnie stopped walking to concentrate on getting each word out.
“I’m sure you are. It’s just that I heard you talking earlier, and I know you just got in today. Seems like jetlag might be getting the better of you.”
Penny noticed that he was smart enough not to blame it on the alcohol. However, she still saw the moment Bonnie’s eyes cleared, zeroed in on him, and began to blaze. “Excuse me?!”
“I’m just saying, you might want to….” He faltered under her direct scrutiny.
“I might want to what? LEAVE? Is that what you’re asking? For me to leave?” Bonnie’s eyes narrowed dangerously as she took slow, deliberate steps towards them. “Just like every otherman. I’m not good enough; I’m not behaving well enough. I need to….”
“Bonnie, please. I don’t think he meant anything,” Penny tried.
It was too late to calm her. Bonnie was back at the bar. She grabbed up her last full pint glass. But, instead of downing it, as Penny thought she would, she lifted it, aimed it, and flung the contents at Seamus.
As someone who was quite sober and had probably seen this kind of behavior before, he sidestepped it easily. But at that moment, his whole demeanor changed. The laid-back nice guy who had been pleasantly chatting with Penny all evening became someone else. He stood up straighter, his shoulders seeming to become even broader as his hands tightened into fists. His sparkling blue eyes darkened as his expression turned stormy. In seconds, he was moving around the bar.
“That’s it. Time to go.”
He was beside them in a blink, while Penny was still trying to figure out precisely what had happened. Then his hands were on Bonnie. Grabbing her around the waist and lifting her off the ground.
“LET ME GO!” she protested, flailing against him while making very little direct impact as he carried her towards the door.
“Bonnie!” Penny was off the stool and chasing after them, practically tripping over her own feet. Her lovely buzz was gone. Her heart raced as panic settled in. They were getting thrown out of a bar.
“Hold on now, Seamus. Hold on,” a voice called out from beside her.
Seamus whipped his head around, his fierce expression passing over Penny to find the speaker.
“She has to go, Finn,” he stated firmly. “She about threw a pint on me.”
“I’m not arguing that. I’m just asking you to let me escort the lady out.”
“Lady?!” he snorted, struggling to hold the squirming figure in his arms still.
“Please?”
Seamus scowled, emitting a few choice words, before reluctantly letting go and giving Bonnie a slight shove in the newcomer’s direction. In her drunken condition, it was enough to knock her off her feet, leaving her stumbling forward.
The man reached out to catch her in his arms, holding her gently for just a second before steadying her and letting go.
“Fine. But make sure she doesn’t come back in,” Seamus said, brushing past them. He paused briefly when he got to Penny. “Sorry about all this. You don’t have to go. But your friend needs to sober up.” Then he disappeared back behind the bar.
Shaking her head at the mere implication that she might stay instead of going with Bonnie, Penny pushed forward to get closer to her. While appreciating that Bonnie was no longer being manhandled, Penny didn’t necessarily trust this new person either. “What are you going to do with her?” she demanded, stepping close enough to finally reach out and grab the slim pale arm before her, providing support. “It’s okay, Bonnie. I’m right here,” she reassured before turning back to their would-be rescuer.
For the second time that night, she found herself face to chest. Though this time, standing at her full height of five foot two, it was less surprising. Craning her head up, she suddenly recognized the lips she’d been admiring just moments before everything kicked off. They were no longer smiling. Instead, they were slanted down in a frown that was a bit off-putting.
“I thought I might escort her out to a cab,” he said with mild reproach. “And yourself too, if you’re the friend with her.”
