Good Enough(11)
He chuckles and shakes his head in response to me.
“Do you know how long I’ve liked you Hillary? Do you know how long I’ve wanted that sweet mouth of yours on my cock? Now, after all this time I’ve finally gotten your attention away from Jay, Bevan, Jameson, all those guys, and you won’t give it up.” He takes a step towards me. “Do you like a challenge? Is that it?” Another step. “Do you want me to chase you for it? Play it rough?”
With every question he asks he takes another step closer to me. I’ve never seen him act like this before. He’s always been so sweet and respectful. Something else must be bothering him. Something in addition to god-knows-how-much-beer he’s consumed.
“Mike, I don’t know what’s going on with you right now but I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression of me—”
“Don’t!” He shouts, interrupting me. “You don’t get to apologize and act like everything is okay. My ex Katie did that and now you. Next thing you know you’ll be calling me telling me you’re getting married and invite me to the wedding just like she did earlier today. Then your mom will tell you you’re old enough to get your own place like mine did today.”
It’s making sense now. “Give me your keys and I’ll drive you home.” I say. “You’re upset and you’ve been drinking.”
“No, I’m fine!” He shouts back at me again. As I reach for his keys on the picnic table Mike darts in front of me shoving me out the way. “I said I’m fine, Goddammit!”
“Obviously you’re not. You’re upset and you’ve had too much to drink. Give me your keys, we’re leaving.” I demand. I stick out my hand, palm up, waiting for him to hand me his keys. I hope he doesn’t see my fingers trembling.
“Suck my dick like I wanted you to before and we’ll go.” He tells me with a complete straight face; no smirk, no wink.
He’s not joking.
Immediately I can feel bile rising in my throat, tears are prickling my eyes as images of Robert forcing himself on me flash through my mind. A slap across the face, a punch between my shoulder blades, whenever I said ‘no.’
I try to take a deep breath and remind myself this is Mike, not Robert. Robert knew what he was saying and doing. Mike is visibly upset and drunk. I can talk him down. My brain and my body are not cooperating. That deep breath I just took I’m still holding in. My head is starting to pound and I feel as though I’m becoming light headed. I can’t lose my shit right now. I need to be strong.
Exhale.
“You’re not in the right frame of mind right now,” I say authoritatively, although I don’t feel it. “I’m willing to overlook your behavior due to the circumstances and you’re drinking if you just let me drive you home. Please Mike,” I say to him, with pleading eyes.
That was a mistake. I might as well have shown my throbbing jugular to a lion.
“I love a challenge.” He growls and pulls me towards him grabbing the back of my head, forcing my lips to come crashing to his. He laughs into my mouth.
The thought that he’s enjoying this sends fury through my body. With all of my strength and all of my fury I put my hands to his chest and push him back away from me. But when I take a step back from the situation, the back of my right foot hits an old tree stump and I go tumbling backwards down the small embankment.
Four tumbles down and I dig my fingers in to the ground to try to prevent myself from landing in the river. I hear Mike shouting my name. I feel myself stop but all I see is stars and I’m really dizzy. As soon as I realize my feet are wet and in the river I push back up higher on to the embankment.
Out of the corner of my eye I see the fisherman coming towards me. I hear him ask me if I’m okay and I just nod. I see him get closer but continue to walk past me. I turn to see where he’s going. He is quickly approaching Mike who is attempting to make his drunken way down to me.
“Hillary, are you okay?” Mike asks, but before I can answer the fisherman grabs Mike by his shirt collar and tosses him to the ground.
“I’ve seen and heard your entire conversation with this young lady,” the fisherman spits. “When you sober up later you’re going to realize what an asshole you’ve been.”
The young mother we passed earlier on the hiking trail comes running down to me with her toddler on her hip. Reaching her hand out to me to help me up she says, “Get up. I’m taking you home and away from him.” I take her hand, walk up the embankment, follow her to her car and get in. She asks me where I’d like to go, and I give her the directions to Dawn’s.