Page 60 of Dirty Roulette
“I’m working. I think it can wait,” I say staring at the bar with people pooling into the front doors and others leaving.
“I wanna know where my video is,” Brody presses.
I have zero patience to deal with anyone else when the only things on my brain are sleep and Payton. “You’re going to have to give me time...”
“Time? You’ve had a month.”
“This isn’t Brittni. She isn’t one of your sleazy girls.”
Brody coughs up a sadistic laugh. It’s almost like he’s possessed by the devil. I pull my ear away from the speaker. “You’re soft, just like you were with Brittni.”
“This isn’t the same, dude. I’ve known her since I was a kid. This is beyond messed up and you know it.”
“Here, hold up.”
The phone vibrates in my hand and when I glance at what he sent me, it’s video footage of Payton stealing the booze. Then there are a handful of small clips of Charlie and Payton playing the game, drinking from that damn bottle, taking off their tops. It’s raw and naked, and there is nothing I can do. He’s pulling the trigger and helping them commit social suicide.
“Payt’s hot but she’s not wife material and you’re not keeping your end of the bargain. I figured that bloody lip I gave you would’ve knocked some damn sense into you. Fuck her brains out and send it to me.”
“I’ve played this damn game with you every year, why can’t you just let this one go.”
“She’s from junkie town. You really think she belongs on the field?” He asks.
“It doesn’t matter where she comes from,” I say.
“You can’t be telling me you want more from Trash? Brittni’s not over you. Let’s patch things up, yeah?”
I’m shaking my head, feeling the blood on my lip that I split open with my teeth. “Stop. Calling her that. My teammate slept with my girlfriend. I can’t let that slide, dude.”
“We were drunk.” Brody sighs on the other end.
“That doesn’t change anything.”
“She came onto me. What was I supposed to do?” He asks.
“Say no!”
“Look,” he pauses and takes a breath. “I wanted to date Charlie, but she’s manipulating. She was always with some other dude, then accused me of sleeping around. Your sister messed with my head. I ain’t the bad guy here. She broke up with me again that night. Brittni was all pissed off at you – so yeah, I slept with her. She said you two weren’t together. It was a dumb choice.”
“You didn’t even bother to ask if we ended things. I can’t put that past either of you.”
“Dude, your trailer trash crush is gonna burn you in the end. Film yourself pounding her. That’s all you gotta do.”
“If I want to be with Payton, there is nothing you can do that will stop me. You’ll get your Goddamn video when I’m ready to make it.” I hang up the phone and toss it onto the passenger seat. First, it’s Payton’s remark on a damn picture, her sobbing on the phone when I try to figure out her deal – now Brody is on my nuts. God’s watched me make this bed, and I need to lie in it because he’s not coming off his throne to help.
I pull the stack of tips out of my back pocket. It’s enough to finish covering the car payment and utilities, and I can start tackling the mortgage.
The drive isn’t far, and I’m there right at midnight, knocking on the door to freedom. When it opens, Charlie stands there, her eyes widen. “No way. I thought you were off tonight?”
I tilt my head back with a laugh. “You gotta be kidding.”
She flashes me a lopsided grin. “If you wanna come in, you gotta promise not to punch Noah.”
“You know it’s a dick move to order pizza two minutes before closing.”
“Hey, at least we tipped you.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m coming in.” With a shoulder, I push the door open and see a group of punks with long hair and tattoos huddling in the kitchen. They’re from a completely different world, and I’m not someone who fits into this muse of worshiping Satan himself.
