Page 49 of Reckless Chances
Chapter 18 – Charlie
Music shook the wallsof the Last Chance Tavern, the windows rattled with the reverberation from the heavy bass. Charlie hadn’t heard of the DJ, but he was apparently some big shot from the city. He looked around the main room of the Tavern where he’d bartended at for the past eight years and didn’t recognize it. The stripper pole, which had sat dormant for the past two years, was seeing solid action, with some very talented dancers. There were lasers, shooter girls – specializing in hooter shooters, and even dry ice.
“What do you think, bro?” Jason jumped to Charlie’s side the minute he stepped in the door.
“It sure is something...” Charlie glanced at the bar where his replacement, a ski bum named Landon was doing his best Tom Cruise impersonation. Charlie winced as Landon spun the bottle in his hand, waiting for the crash – but the guy tossed the bottle into the air, caught it behind his back, and then ran it along the twenty or so shot glasses lined up along the bar.
“He’s good.” Jason scream shouted in Charlie’s ear.
“He better be. I trained him,” Charlie said. He had slowly been giving over shifts to Landon and at the end of the week would hand over the keys to The Last Chance entirely.
“Where’s Adam?” Charlie asked. He scanned the room, wondering if he would recognize his childhood friend.
“Over there,” Jason hooked his arm around Charlie’s neck and pointed to the guy lying on the small stripper pole platform, money in his mouth while the dancer slid down the pole upside down, her huge fake breasts inching their way towards his face.
Looking around the room, Charlie recognized more than a few local faces. “Is this an open party?” he asked. He couldn’t imagine that half the search and rescue guys knew his childhood friend Adam.
“I sold tickets,” Jason grinned. “We’re going to make some serious cash for our brother.” Charlie glanced at the pole where the dancer was now gyrating over Adam’s crotch. His eyes were fixated on the woman’s ass, his hands hovering inches away. Charlie looked away, disgusted. Jason and Adam were more like brothers than him and Adam. “He must really be in love.” Charlie rolled his eyes.
“Oh, come on. Let him have some fun before his life is ruined.” Jason slapped Charlie on the back.
“Hi, boys.” Charlie stiffened as the smell of cigarette smoke hit him from behind and an arm slithered across his lower back.
“Pammy.” Jason turned. “You made it.”
The hand slid from Charlie’s back and Pamela hugged Jason. “Are you kidding? We wouldn’t miss this for the world.” She pointed behind her with her thumb like she was hitchhiking. Charlie’s gaze followed the gesture and he saw Stacy and their friend Angie, all in their pleather glory.
Charlie pulled Jason aside. “I don’t want a repeat from last time.”
Jason removed Charlie’s hand from his shoulder and dropped it. “You worry too much. Why don’t you try and have fun for once in your life?” Jason turned and slid his arm over Pamela’s shoulder and the two of them headed to the bar.
“Chuckie!” Charlie recognized the voice and was instantly transported back in time to his high school days. He turned and Adam had a huge grin on his face and his arms were outstretched wide. Charlie embraced his old friend.
“Congratulations, buddy,” Charlie said, once their bear hug was finished. “She’s a lucky lady.” Charlie’s eyes flashed to the debauchery behind Adam and wondered if he picked up on the slight sarcasm in his voice.
“She is.” The sarcasm flew a mile over Adam’s head. He leaned in close. “Wait until you see the strippers we’ve got scheduled to come in later. They’re going to offer up a little more than dances if you know what I mean.” Adam smacked Charlie’s abs and gave him a used car salesman wink. The idea that Emma had been with Adam seemed absurd, and it also made Charlie’s stomach a little queasy. There were moments when he’d wondered if Jason had been telling the truth about Adam and Emma. But the Emma he knew was way too classy and smart to be with a popped collar wearing bro like Adam. There were many layers to the woman, and he felt relieved that he had stopped peeling them back. Who knows what he would’ve discovered if he’d stayed with her.
“I’ve got to get a drink,” Charlie said. “Do you need one?” He wanted to get away from Adam and his prostitute talk. His experience in dealing with obnoxious drunks had taught him that buying a drink was basically a peace offering.
“I’m good. I’ll take you up on that one later.”
Charlie squeezed his way through the crowd and waved to get Landon’s attention. “I’ll take a Chance Verbena,” he shouted.
Landon shook his head. “We’re discontinuing the craft stuff,” he shouted. “Domestic bottles only.”
“I’ll take a whiskey, straight up then.” Charlie was fuming. The owner of the Last Chance, a businessman named Richard told him he’d still order in Charlie’s small-batch craft beer, the stuff he was going to be brewing on-site at the Brew Pub. He wondered when Richard had changed his mind, and when he planned on telling Charlie.
He parked himself in a dark corner and checked his watch. He had shown his face and congratulated the groom. That was good enough. He was going to finish his whiskey and get out of this hellhole. He scanned the room. The professionals were taking a break and Stacy was taking a turn on the grimy brass pole. He shuddered and looked away. He couldn’t get that whiskey down fast enough, and the second it was gone he set down the glass and made his way to the door.
“Where are you going?” Jason stepped in front of him. “The party is just getting started.”
“I’ve got to get some painting done.”
“Ah, come on. Just one more. Adam’s one of your best friends.” Jason was already slurring and wavering on his feet.
“No.” Charlie shook his head. “Adam is YOUR best friend, not mine.”
“Whoa,” Jason held up his hands in front of him. “What’s your problem? The guy hasn’t seen you in years and he’s invited you to his wedding.” Jason leaned in so close Charlie could feel the warmth of his alcohol-fueled breath on his ear. “And I didn’t tell him about you banging his ex.” Jason stood back and crossed his arms across his chest like he had done Charlie a huge favor.
“I don’t even care anymore. I’m leaving.” Charlie sidestepped around his brother. “I’ll see you tomorrow. You owe me breakfast.” He started to walk away, but Jason grabbed him by the wrist.
“Holy shit,” Jason whispered.
Charlie turned to look at what Jason was seeing.
“Holy shit.” He echoed his sentiment when he saw who had just walked into the bar.
It was Jenni.
And Emma.
