Page 26 of Her Guardian
I finish my cigarette and first drink of the day.
Sarah is still working on whatever blue concoction Freddy made, so I refill my glass without bothering the older man.
Her hand is still resting on mine. I’m lightly caressing the tip of her finger. There’s something stirring inside me. I can’t deny it. Something that goes a little deeper than the lust that easily lingers on the surface when I look at her.
“Was there ever anyone like that for you, Boyd?” Sarah asks, her pretty blue eyes flickering with curiosity. “Someone you… cared about?”
Here she goes unpacking me again. Peeling back the layers. Trying to peer into the darkness some people call a soul.
“Yeah,” I admit. “Once. A long time ago.”
“Did something bad happen to her?” Sarah’s curious glance shows a hint of apprehension. “Like Massimo’s first wife… And Leo’s girlfriend…”
“No, nothing like that.” I shake my head. “We were barely more than kids. I was the onlybadthing that ever happened to her. She couldn’t handle this—my life. Most can’t. I didn’t blame her for it.”
“You’ve been alone since then?” Sarah puffs her vape and turns her attention back to me. “You mentioned dating a showgirl. Was that her?”
“No, no,” I answer. “That was much later, and like I said, it was never serious. Just two fucked-up people looking for something. I don’t think we ever figured out what it was.”
Silence. Sarah sips her drink. I down some of my scotch. The adrenaline has worn off now. The alcohol isn’t doing a damn thing for me, but hopefully it’s helping her. I’m sure I traumatized the fuck out of her, going off the deep end, like I usually do.
“What about you, Sarah?” I ask, deciding to unpack her for a change. “Why are you still alone? You haven’t broken any hearts since middle school, right?”
“No,” she replies. “I mean, I’ve been on a few dates. I get hit on sometimes at the restaurant where I work. I have weird fans who email me after listening to my podcast. But I’ve always been kind of standoffish with guys, especially after what Bill did.”
“Fucking asshole,” I mutter. “You’re young. You got plenty of time.”
“Yeah, but I don’t know about all that.” She bites her bottom lip and takes another sip of her drink. “I don’t see myself ever getting married. I like my freedom too much.”
I can see that. She’s the carefree type, even when it could get her into trouble. That might be why I like her so much. Why I’m thinking about things I shouldn’t be thinking about. Those pouty lips. Those pretty blue eyes. Her, over my knee again, showing me how wet she can get while I spank her ass and feel her squirm. I don’t even need a reason to bare her ass and turn it red.
“You sure about that?” I ask. “You were pretty eager to get the boss lady’s bouquet at the wedding.”
“You noticed that?” She looks down and I get a glimpse of a smile, but it quickly disappears. “I just wanted to catch her bouquet, honestly. When we were kids, we always talked about that. Whichever one of us gets married first, the other gets the bouquet.”
Freddy returns and Sarah pulls her hand away.
“Ye two doing a’ight?” Freddy asks, motioning to Sarah’s drink. “Ready for a refill, lass?”
“No, I think I’ll stick with one, but thank you,” she replies politely.
“Yeah, I guess we should head back to Salvalagio.” I down what is left of my drink and put out my cigarette. “We need to work on your notes.”
“Right, my notes!” Sarah blushes slightly. “That’s what we were doing, before…”
“Thanks, Freddy,” I say, tossing some money on the counter.
“Ye bills are no good here, Boyd!” Freddy waves a hand and slides the money back. “I’ll chase ye down with my bat if ye don’t put that back where it came from.”
“Fine,” I grumble, collecting the money. “See you next time.”
“Tell my boy to come around sometime!” Freddy says. “Ain’t seen the lad in almost a month.”
“Will do,” I reply, nodding to him.
I stand and motion for Sarah. She sucks the watery remnants of her drink through the straw before pushing the glass across the counter and following me.
The door opens before we get to it, and a big, burly brute with scars on his neck and jaw walks in. He’s not as big as me, but he sticks out in a crowd. He nods in my general direction, and I nod to him.
