Page 33 of Love is Strange
I walk straight for the door of Lizard’s Tavern with every intention of giving Silas a piece of my mind if he’s unlucky enough to be in here tonight. I figure if I can get him to understand just how close to the brink of death’s door he got me, maybe he’ll apologize—or at the very least find, a new hobby.
The walls are shaking once I step inside. The jukebox is full swing into some ninety’s alt-metal music and everyone seems to be feeling good. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see an arm waiving and when I glance over, I see Vanessa. I clench my jaw tightly and nod at her, an angry and betrayed feeling washing over me. Once I’m done with Silas, I’ll be paying her a little visit for suggesting that I take up with him in the first place.
I look around the crowded bar and crane my neck toward the pool tables.Of course, that’s where he is,I think, shaking my head as I pull my hair back into a tight ponytail and roll up the sleeves of my shirt. Silas is bent over, lining up his next shot, and just as he’s about to hit the cue ball and win the game, I reach over and yank it off the table.
“What the fuck!” he shouts angrily as he glances at me.
I walk right up to him; ball firmly clasped in hand and poke a finger into his chest. Silas’ anger gives way to a smirk when he realizes it’s me. His eyes lock onto mine, giving me a level stare that causes me to take an unwitting step backward.
“That shit you gave me the other night almost killed me,” I accuse through grit teeth. Silas rolls his eyes and tosses his pool cue over at one of the guys standing next to us. He crosses his arms loosely over his chest and raises an eyebrow.
“Do I know you?” he asks.
“What?”
I’m confused by his question. I can’t tell if he’s being serious or if he’s just fucking around with me right now, but either way, I won’t leave without an apology.
“I asked if I know you because I don’t have a fucking clue what you’re talking about. Now, may I suggest that you hand over the cue ball, get your fucking finger out of my face, and maybe walk that sweet little ass to the bar and buy me and my guys a round? Listening to chicks bitching always makes me thirsty and I don’t like to drink alone. Off you go sweetheart; and make sure that you come back fast with those. We like our beers nice and cold.”
My mouth drops open slightly. What happened to the Silas from the other night who dubbed me Hair Metal and took playful jabs at my awkward shyness to make me feel comfortable around him?
I look around the table for a moment and notice that we’re being watched by his friends. One of them is impatiently tapping his pool cue against the side of the table.
“Here,” I say, tossing the cue ball onto the table before I turn to face him again. “My mistake, I thought you were a decent guy.”
The men standing idly by all break into laughter.
“Damn Silas; seems like you’re always making friends,” one of them says to him as I turn away from them and start to make my way toward the bar. I won’t leave just yet because I don’t want to give them the impression that they were able to chase me out.
Vanessa, who’s been watching the entire scene unfold, walks quickly down the length of the counter and waits for me because she knows that I always end up in the same stool, in the same bar, every fucking night.
“Hey, are you okay?” she asks when she reaches me.
“Oh, get the fuck away from me,” I snap at her. “You and kid wonder over there almost landed me into an early grave the other night.”
“What are you talking about?” she asks, wrinkling her nose. “I didn’t give you anything.” I give Vanessa a level stare. I refuse to believe that she doesn’t recall the perfect set up between me and Silas—the one I had told her I wanted no part of.
“Silas did. He gave me something ‘fun’ to make me forget, and you fucking set me up with him even though I asked you not to, so you’re just as guilty in my eyes,” I reply through grit teeth.
“Whatever,” she mutters with a shrug. I’m fighting the urge to pick up the napkin dispenser next to me and throw it at her head over her nonchalant attitude, but I decide it’s in my best interest not to get arrested—especially not in a place like this.
And most definitely not when the only person I know who would come to my rescue would send my demon instead and I’ve run for far too long to have to come face to face with it ever again. He wouldn’t send him out of malicious intent, he would only do so because he would assume that as time has gone on and distance has been put between us, that he would have grown out of his sickness.
It’s too risky and I can’t take that fucking chance.
With a heavy sigh, I decide it’s best to stay where I am and try to compose myself. That is until I feel an arm drape around my shoulders. I turn my face and look right into Silas’ eyes.
“For fucks sake! Can’t you just leave me alone?” I ask, attempting to shove him away.
“Stop,” he says in a quiet tone. “I’ll explain why I treated you like a stranger just now if you follow me into the bathroom.”
“I’m not interested,” I say, giving him a hard-enough shove to move his arm from around my shoulders.
He lets out a long-suffering sigh, then leans over the bar-top and waves at Vanessa. Silas reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wad of cash, orders two beers, and steals a glance at me.
“Those guys that I run with? Bad dudes. All of them—myself included. If you’re spending your nights here looking for a hero, I think it would be in your best interest to give the villain a second look instead, Hair Metal.”
I turn slowly to face him, my eyebrows arched, and venom on my tongue. If he thinks that I only come here to look for some random dick to take home, then maybe it’s inhisbest interest to go back and play pool with his little friends.
