“I’ll be your designated driver.” I hear Christian shout.
“I want to go too!” Tess exclaims.
“Okay, okay, okay! But we’re taking Hillary’s car. No one besides me is driving my Mustang.” Jameson says.
“Yay!” I can’t hide my excitement.
Jameson laughs, and I like the sound.
I SIT IN MY CAR in Dawn’s Coffee Depot parking lot checking my makeup and hair in the visor mirror humming along to “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” by Fuel on the radio. I’m so excited for tonight my knees won’t stop bouncing. I notice a dark red truck backing up next to me in my side mirror, it’s Christian. He’s an okay guy. I don’t really know him that well – he’s Jameson’s friend; they worked at Subway together – but I’m comfortable talking to him.
“Hey, how’s it going?” He asks with a tip up of his chin like some guys do with that silent sup they do with each other.
“Hey. I’m good. Glad the work week is over.” I politely reply.
Tess pulls in with Jameson right behind her in his rumbling white Mustang, and I scan my back seat for garbage or crap so everyone can sit comfortably. Christian and I both get out of our vehicles to great Tess and Jameson, and it’s decided that since Jameson will be our driver on the drive up and Christian will be our designated driver on the drive back home, the girls get the back seat.
When we pull in to the parking lot of The Tavern I notice this time Jameson parks in the front of the building and not in the back like he did last time when it just the two of us. Jameson jumps out of the car and dashes inside not even waiting for the rest of us. He must be really excited, I think to myself. Christian, Tess and I just look at each other and laugh at our birthday boy.
I walk inside to find Rick and run right over to him and give him a great big hug. He squeezes back tight and I smile wide. Jameson introduces Christian and Tess to his dad, and I’m surprised Tess has never met him before, because she had mentioned that her and Jameson were really good friends.
“Hey Jameson. David’s coming tonight.” Rick mentions.
“Oh man.” Jameson replies rolling his eyes to the back of his head.
“Who’s David?” I ask.
“My brother.”
“You have a brother?”
“Stepbrother. My dad was married to his mom but they divorced, but we still acknowledge each other as brothers since we grew up together and still keep in touch.” Jameson explains.
“So why did you say ‘oh man’ when your dad told you he was coming tonight?”
“You’ll see when he gets here.”
The fun is nonstop here at the bar celebrating Jameson’s birthday with his dad. Christian is being a good boy drinking Sprite, along with Rick. Rick’s health put a stop on his drinking a few years ago according to Jameson. The bar is packed, filled with music and conversation, and I can’t stop smiling.
Tess and I are sitting on a couple of bar stools while we watch Jameson and Rick play a game of pool. I shout in Tess’s ear that I have to pee and to save my seat. I have had a lot to drink and my bladder can’t hold any more. Once I’m done peeing and washing my hands I check my hair and makeup. I need to reapply my lip gloss. The self-conscious part of me will never go away. I’ll never be tall enough, thin enough, pretty enough or good enough but I try anyway for the hell of it.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“You’re up Hillary! Rick won!” Christian shouts through the bathroom door.
“Okay thanks. One sec.”
One last look in the mirror, I swing the door open and Jameson is standing there. Butterflies come alive in my stomach.
“Hi!” He says with a big smile on his face.
“Hi!” I say with a laugh. He picks me up and hugs me.
“I’m having so much fun. Thanks for coming.” He whispers in my ear.
I can’t help but feel a warm tingle through my body. “Thank you for inviting me.”
We notice complete silence come over everyone in the bar. Still in some sort of embrace we turn our heads to the front of the bar. I see an average height young male covered from head to toe in fur with what appears to be two prostitutes on either arm. He looks like a pimp.
What in the fucking hell?
“Oh shit!” Jameson says low and slow.
I notice Rick rush to the front of the room pulling the young man aside.
“Who is that?” I ask Jameson.
“That would be my brother David.”
Oh-my-god! They could not be any more opposite! Not what I expected at all!
“Is your dad mad at him or something? Why did he rush over there pulling him aside?”
“Because he was about to get his ass kicked by the local guys.” Jameson tells me.