Page 30 of Demetri
"Holy shit." Bella's eyes widen as she abandons the blouse she is holding by tossing it to the top of the rack. "What was she devil-like?" The question coming from Bella. "I don't know a whole lot about the bitch, but from what Logan has told me the woman is horrible. What she did to Demetri…" Bella shakes her head.
"Oh, she's a bitch of epic proportions. Ivanna cornered me in the ladies' room at the restaurant Demetri took me to. It turns out she and her family were having dinner there. Anyway, she had the nerve to ask me if I was having a good time with her husband."
"You're kidding?" Grace gasps.
"Nope. But you know me; I wasn't playing into the twat's games. I told her I was having a lovely time. She went on to give me a lame underhanded threat and spew some bullshit about Demetri going back to her."
"Uhg. I hate women like that." Bella scrunches her face in disgust. "She's delusional to believe Demetri will go back to her. I mean her son won't even speak to her." The three of us are quiet for a minute, and I can't help thinking of Nikolai. Finally, Grace is the one to change the subject. "Your mom called the other day."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, and I might have accidentally mentioned Demetri."
When I eye my best friend, she's wearing a guilty expression on her face.
"What do you mean you 'accidentally' mentioned Demetri?"
"Well, I commented on how you showed up for a surprise visit before flying to Russia with your boyfriend. Your mom was under the impression you were still here in Polson with me. How was I supposed to know you hadn't told her," Grace cries, throwing her hands up in the air with exasperation.
Bella cuts in, "Uh, why is your mom knowing about Demetri a big deal?"
Grace is the one to answer her question. "Because Glory has only ever had two boyfriends in her life."
"What?" Bella gives us a look of disbelief.
"Yup. One in high school and one in college. Her mom has been waiting for the day a man knocks Glory on her ass," Grace grins.
"Yeah, and I bet she started talking about wedding invitations by the time you ended the call," I retort. By the expression on Grace's face, I'm right.
"I'll bet my left tit my mother is hunting down Demetri's phone number so she can unleash her crazy on him."
At my backhanded comment, Grace ducks her head and avoids all eye contact with me. I point an accusing finger and narrow my gaze at her. "What did you do?" When she doesn't speak, I press. "Grace!"
"It was an accident!" she cries, and Bella laughs.
"Before I knew what was happening, she had wrangled Demetri's cell number and his home address from me."
"Oh, God. I need a drink," I declare closing my eyes and bringing my palm to my forehead.
Fifteen minutes later, after my declaration of needing booze, we walk into Charley's. Charley's is Polson's only bar. The guy who owns it is also a friend to the club. "Well, look who we have here. How are you ladies doing this evening?" Charley greets us from behind the bar.
"Hi Charley," we say in unison as Quinn and Sasha file in behind us.
"Think you can fire up the grill for us, brother?" Quinn asks Charley.
"Of course. Why don't you all go have a seat, and I'll bring ya some beers."
Us women grab one of the booths on the back wall while Quinn and Sasha opt to sit at the bar. Grace slides into the booth first, and I take a seat beside her while Bella sits across from us. A moment later, a waitress greets us. "Hi, ladies. What can I get for you?" she asks in a soft tone.
The three of us order a burger, and fries then thank our waitress as she makes a quiet retreat. I study her as she walks away and note how drawn into herself she is. I find myself wondering what her story is.
"That's Kinsley." Grace answers my silent question. "Charley hired her a couple of years ago. I don't know much about her because she keeps to herself and she never engages us in conversation when we come in. Emerson says she has a little boy, though. She's treated him a few times at the clinic."
"Hmm," I nod, and hum in response as Kinsley makes her way back behind the bar.
"I need to go to the ladies' room before our food gets here." I slide out of the booth. "I'll be right back." As I walk past the bar, I catch Sasha's attention and gesture toward the bathroom. He gives me a nod. When I turn the corner that leads to the hallway where the restroom is, I notice the back door at the end of the hall markedEXITis slightly ajar. Not thinking anything of it, I continue to the bathroom to take care of business. Once I have finished, I step back out into the hall to find Kinsley wrestling two large bags of trash through the back door. "Hey. Let me help you with that," I offer as I approach her.
"You don't have to do that. I got it."
