Page 66 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“I’ve got to pee,” I announce.

“I’m coming too,” Ruby says, standing up. I think she is tipsier than me.

We slowly make our way to the restroom because every inch of the bar is packed. There are no tables and people are hanging out in what should be a walkway.

We finally make it to the ladies’ room and there’s a line. It seems everyone is drinking like a fish tonight. When I check myself out in the mirror, I see my cheeks are flushed.

When it’s finally my turn, I head to the bathroom and take the longest pee of my life. I’m feeling good. I’m horny as hell. I want to jump Cade’s bones. He is so fine. I like him. Like, I really like him. When I leave the bathroom to wash my hands, I don’t see Ruby and when I call out to her, she doesn’t answer so I assume she went back to the table without me. I leavethe restroom and walk along the bar because it’s a little less crowded. I bump into Ford again.

“Lookie here,” he says, swaying. He’s the last person I want to see drunk.

“Hi,” I say curtly. I continue walking but Ford grabs on to my elbow.

“Come on, Annie. Listen to the song that’s playing, this is fate.”

He’s clearly delusional, even if it is our song blasting through the speakers. People are dancing all over the place. They’ve just made their own little dance areas. Ford pulls me into him and I push at his shoulders.

“Ford, let me go. I don’t want to dance with you.”

He’s too strong for me. He doesn’t budge.

“You don’t mean that, beautiful. Look at you in this mini skirt. You know I used to like you in those, back in the day. You loved to wear them,” he continues. Despite the alcohol in my veins, my blood turns cold as he holds me next to him and begins to move.

“Ford, I don’t. . .” I’m pulling away from him.

“Let her go now or I’m going to wipe you on the floor of the bar.” Cade’s voice is stone-cold and serious. He even has me on alert.

“Bro, I didn’t mean anything,” Ford concedes, letting me go.

Cade pulls his hand back and he punches Ford in the face. Ford goes down like a ton of bricks falling to pieces.

Everyone around is screaming. I see it’s because Ford is bleeding. Macklin and Aaron run up to us and look at the floor then at Cade’s fist, which is slightly split.

“Shit, Cade,” Aaron chides.

“Don’t shit me. He got a hold of Annie and wouldn’t let her go,” Cade seethes.

Briar comes up to us. “Guys, my boss wants to call the cops. Maybe get out of here,” she whispers.

I take Cade’s hand quickly and head back to the booth. Cade drops a hundred-dollar bill on the table and we take off. Charlie is asking me what’s going on and so is Ruby, but there is no time to explain. We run out to Cade’s car. Neither of us is thinking straight. All I know is I’m acting on impulse. This guy has stood up for me more than once.

We get in the car. Cade pulls out fast. His tires skid in the snow as we take off.

“Take me home, Cade,” I say to him, rubbing my arms. My pulse is erratic with everything that just went down.

He nods. “Are you okay? I saw you trying to get away from him. I watched him holding you and not letting you go. I kept my eye on you as you were leaving the bathroom. I saw Ford at the bar when we walked in.”

“Why didn’t you warn me?” I ask.

“I didn’t think he had the balls to confront you again,” he says. “I read him wrong.”

“I hope you aren’t going to get in trouble because of me. If the police ask questions, I’ll say Ford grabbed me and wouldn’t let go,” I assure.

“I’m not worried,” Cade says, but he’s gripping the steering wheel tight and he seems so tense. I don’t know if it’s because the roads are bad or because of him punching Ford.

He pulls into my driveway before I can warn him not to. Our landlord is responsible for clearing the snow, but he does a lousy job of doing it. The girls don’t have a car and neither do I so we try not to complain.

“Shit,” he hisses when his car gets stuck.

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