"So, how do you spend your shift when you're bored?" Alicia asks.
A devious smile spreads across his face. “Well, I like to torment certain citizens of our fine town.”
I clench my jaw.
“I don’t know why you don’t just leave her alone,” Alicia comments in a sour tone, leaning back on her chair. She knows who he’s talking about, too. “She doesn’t have much good in her life. Didn’t you ever learn it’s shitty to kick somebody when they’re down?”
That’s Alicia for you. Even knowing everything, she’s still trying to stick up for people. She’s a mighty protector behind people’s backs, despite the fact that she can be a harpy to your face when she wants to and has quite the reputation of being a bitch. Though now, she’s more likely to be called aloof because she tends to avoid human interaction at all costs. I wish Ashley would get the hint and stop trying to befriend her.
Jake’s face darkens. “That’s exactly what I should do. Keep kicking.”
“Jacob.” Mom’s stern voice and the clang of a spoon on the table stop him from spewing any more hate. “I didnotraise you to treat people like that.”
“Mom—” Jake starts, but I cut him off with a harsh sound from the back of my throat. He looks outraged.
“Don’t ‘Mom’ me. You’re using your position to bully this girl,” she accuses. “That’s an abuse of power. If that’s the kind of police officer you’re choosing to be, I wonder if your suspension should’ve stayed permanent. The Sheriff gave you a second chance, but I don’t know if he’ll give you another one.”
“Mom!” Jake yelps like a little kid, and even Alicia looks impressed with how pitiful he can make himself.
“For fuck’s sake, Jake!” I bellow and smack my palm on the table, making everybody jump. “Leave it.”
Jake contemplates saying something, I can tell, but he stays silent. Furious and defensive, but silent. Then he stands with a bang of his chair and leaves the room.
Mom looks between Alicia and me; she knows something’s going on—she’s always known—but she never asks. She always gave us the chance to share our problems on our own terms without too much meddling.
“I gotta go too. Thanks, Mom—the food was amazing, as always.” I stand up and kiss her cheek. Then I position myself next to Alicia and quietly ask her: “You okay?”
“Always am,” she says with a smile. It’s fake.
I leave their house with a heavy heart.
* * *
I’m wondering if I should make a small stop as I drive home. Just to see her squirm. She doesn't know that I know where she lives. That more people than she realizes know that. She wants to hide in that little heaven she found, but the world doesn’t work like that.
When I nearly crush the wheel under my fingers, I realize that I need a breather, so I make a turn and stop by The Cat and The Stallion, a local pub. It serves nearly all night long, despite the law, and I’m okay with that. Tonight, I might stay longer than I initially intended.
I walk in and take a seat at the bar. Rory, the new and very attractive bartender, comes to take my order.
“Whatcha want, Justin?”
“Some action, if you’re up for it.” I wiggle my brows playfully.
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not.” She walks away and comes back a minute later with my usual IPA. “Open a tab for you?”
“Sure thing, hon.” I smile seductively, causing her to chuckle and shake her head.
"One day, Justin, you'll find a woman you'll want to keep, but all that,” she circles her finger around my face, “will fuck you over.”
My smile drops for a moment before it returns in full force. “No woman like that exists.”
“Sure thing, Justin. Keep believing that.” She winks and walks away, and I just laugh.
Rory is new to the bar but not new in town. She’s five years older than me and has a hot, lithe body and a fuck-off attitude. We had a fun couple of nights ages ago when I was barely of legal age. She knew a lot of tricks, and she was wild. Just reminiscing on all that fun, I anticipate my neighbor downstairs to stir at the thought of our old hookup and the idea of possibly rekindling things, but nothing. Fucking nada!
I look at her again and notice that her hair is too yellow, and while she has two tattoos on her collarbone, they’re the wrong sizes and placement. She’s too tall for my liking.
What the fuck?For my liking?I used to like everything.Loveeverything. Every shape, every size, every color. What the fuck happened to me?
