Page 87 of Top Shelf
“No,” I repeat, sterner this time. “Which is something you should have said to your barber when he decided to give you that hideous haircut.”
He takes a step toward me, and I scoot back, not at all liking where this is going. It’s not the first time I’ve had to deal with someone hitting on me in the bar, but it’s the first time I haven’t had the counter between us to give me protection.
“Come on, baby. Don’t be like that,” he says, reaching out for me, and I stumble backward to dodge his touch.
It’s pointless because suddenly, the guy isn’t anywhere near me. No, he’s pressed against the counter, his face turning red as Gavin stands over him, hand around his throat.
“She told you no, dipshit. More than fucking once. What about that is hard to understand?” he snarls, his nose inches from Creepy Guy’s.
“I-I-I…” the guy tries to say, but I imagine it’s hard to get anything out with how tightly Gavin is holding on to him.
“Yo, Locke, let him go, man.” Hayes grabs him by the shoulder and tries to pry him off.
Reed is there too, pulling at him from the other side. “Come on, old man. Let him breathe. He’s turning purple.”
“Fucking good,” Gavin says, still holding on.
And while I’m still pissed at the guy for being a total asshat, I’m now worried about Gavin doing something he can’t undo.
“Gavin!” I yell, and he instantly whips his head my way.
“What?” he shouts, eyes wide, like he’s in some sort of trance.
“Let him go,” I say calmly, like I’m trying to talk someone down from the ledge, and I might as well be. It feels like that’s what he’s teetering on right now. “Please.”
The last word is what breaks through to him, and he does. He drops the man so suddenly that he crashes to the floor, holding his throat as he gasps for air. Gavin just stares at me, his eyes raking over me, like he’s looking for damage. I want to reach out to him so damn badly and reassure him I’m okay, but I can’t with Reed standing behind me.Especiallynot when he’s looking between me and Gavin like he’s missing something and we’re the answers he’s looking for.
“You good, man?” Hayes asks, clapping him on the back.
He nods, never once taking his eyes off me.
“All right.” Then he looks at Josh and points to the door. “Get this fuck out of here, yeah?”
Josh stands there wide-eyed for several beats before nodding and scrambling around the counter. He picks the guy up and shoves him toward the door.
“You’re banned,” Josh tells him.
“Banned?!” Creepy Guy says, as if he’s genuinely shocked by this turn of events. “I didn’t do shit! That fucking bitch is just being dramatic! I wasn’t even doing anything to her!”
Gavin takes a step, ready to go after him to finish what he started, but I step into his path. He stares down at me, eyes hard, jaw set.
“Are you okay, Van?” Reed asks, stepping up next to him.
His eyes are still darting between us, and it makes me more and more uneasy by the second.
Does he know? Did Gavin’s reaction just give us away completely?
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I answer, finally pulling my gaze from Gavin’s. He still looks like he’s seconds away from going after the guy, but I think he’s calmed down enough that he won’t. “Just some creep hitting on me.”
“Sorry, I didn’t even see it. I just saw Locke jump out of the booth. Everything else happened so fast. Are you sure you’re okay?”
There’s genuine concern in his voice, and I think it’s the first time I’ve ever experienced that from him.
I nod. “I’m okay. I promise.”
He pats Gavin on the back. “Thanks for having her back, man. You’re a damn good friend.”
Gavin tenses at the words, though I don’t think Reed notices. At least Ihopehe doesn’t notice.
