“She doesn’t look like an old lady to me, man, but no offense intended. Good to see you again, Krystal.”
I started to walk toward the hallway when I heard the man speak to Krystal and I stopped, just in case the situation was about to get out of control.
“How the fuck does he know your name, you fuckin’ slut?”
I turned around to see Krystal put her hand on the man’s arm.
“Sugar, there’s nothing for you to worry about. I’m here with you tonight.”
Her voice sounded terrified, and she caught my gaze for the briefest of moments, and she shook her head slightly. I assumed that she was warning me off to avoid a confrontation, and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that the man she’d called Bug was the boyfriend — or whatever — whose phone call she’d avoided the night before.
I turned away but didn’t walk any further. I didn’t want my presence to inflame the situation, but I wasn’t about to walk away from a woman who was obviously scared of a man. When Bug just turned and walked over to a pool table, I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and headed for the bathroom.
When I was finished, I looked at myself in the cracked mirror over the sink while I washed my hands.
“What did you walk into?” I asked my reflection.
Clearly the dynamic between Krystal and Bug was complicated, and I didn’t want a fight on my hands, but I also wasn’t going to walk away and let him be abusive. Whether she knew it or not, she didn’t have to put up with his bullshit.
And Jesus, what had she been thinking when she walked out of the house dressed the way she was. She was an absolute fantasy — all sexy hair, bedroom eyes, and that sexy dress that didn’t hide anything. She looked even more amazing than I’d imagined. I felt an instant surge of jealousy at the thought of her in bed with that piece of shit who’d pushed me out of the way, but I’d seen his cut. I was on his turf, and I had no option but to walk away — as long as he didn’t push things too far.
As I left the men’s room, I realized that I couldn’t drink much more and still get back to the hotel safely, and I resolved to try to make an exit sooner rather than later. I didn’t want Krystal to get into trouble, but I couldn’t solve all the world’s problems.
“Hey, Joker,” I said, leaning in so that he could hear me over the jukebox blaring ZZ Top. “I’m gonna take off after this beer.”
“All right. If you’re too big a pussy to hang with your old man, I get it.” Joker’s voice was loud enough for all of his brothers to hear his good-natured teasing. “”I’m just fuckin’ with you,” he said, throwing his arm around me once again. “Hey, you busy tomorrow?”
I looked over at Krystal sitting at the bar, by herself in the corner, watching the room and trying not to let her eyes rest too long on my face in case Bug was watching her. I wished like hell that I had plans with her tomorrow.
“Nah, man. I’m free.”
“Perfect. Jimmy and I are gonna take you on your first ride. You’re gonna love it.”
“That sounds awesome. Should be a great day for a ride. Should be sunny and warm.”
“Only pussies wait for a nice day to ride,” Jimmy said with a straight face.
I wasn’t sure if he was serious or not. “Well, I guess I’m just lucky then. What time do you want to head out?”
“‘Bout ten? That work for you both?”
Jimmy and I nodded in answer to Joker’s question, and Jimmy finished the last of his beer and waved to the bartender for another.
“I was thinking we could ride up to Cripple Creek. I know a couple of girls up there, and we can have a little fun and be back before dinner.” Joker looked at me. “What do you say?”
I wasn’t sure exactly what Joker meant about having fun with the girls he knew up there, but I’d never been to Cripple Creek, and I’d heard the drive was nice. “I’m in,” I said, before I finished my beer.
I hugged Joker, waved to Jimmy and the other guys and headed to the bar — ostensibly to set down my beer bottle, but really to talk to Krystal. I made sure Bug was occupied with his pool game, though I was certain he’d be watching. It wasn’t like I was planning on doing anything but talking. There was plenty of room around Krystal, as if everyone in the room was afraid to get too close to her.
“You okay?” I asked as I set the bottle down.
“I guess so,” she answered. “It’s the usual. I might as well have brought my homework to do. Bug’s pissed, so he’s just gonna shoot pool and glare at me all night. Heaven forbid I actually talk to anyone or have some fun.”