It took me a second to realize that she had just left me there, surrounded by people I didn’t know.
“Want another drink?” Josh asked.
“Sure,” I said, not sure what else to do.
I followed him back to the kegs. It was even more crowded, and I started looking at the people in earnest. I didn’t recognize a single one of them, but they were all a certain type.
Scary. Or at least a little bit scary. There were plenty of leather jackets and tattoos, and more than a few tough-looking guys with scars on their faces. People were loud and rowdy, almost a little aggressive.
It wasn’t my usual crowd. I hadn’t noticed how rough it seemed at first because I was too nervous to really pay much attention. But with some drinks in me, I was loosening up enough to look at people seriously.
I felt uncomfortable, but I was glad Josh was talking to me. As he poured me another beer, he chatted about his job as a mailman and his dog.
I followed him away from the main crowd and we ended up sitting in the same chairs Lindsey and I had sat in earlier. Josh scooted his closer to me, but I didn’t think anything of it.
“So, do you have a boyfriend?” he asked.
“No boyfriend. What about you?”
“No boyfriend either.”
I giggled. “I meant girlfriend.”
“No girlfriend,” he confirmed. “How does someone like you not have a boyfriend?”
“What do you mean?”
He leaned closer. “You know. Sexy and cute.”
I blinked. “Uh, I don’t know.”
My head was swimming a little bit and I felt hot. Josh was cute and all, but I wasn’t really interested in him like that. I pulled out my phone and texted Lindsey: 911 come find me
.
“Where’s your friend?” he asked me.
“Not sure. She went over there.” I nodded toward the RV.
He laughed. “Probably getting high. That’s typical Lindsey.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You didn’t know? She’s the area pill head.”
I frowned. “Don’t talk about her that way.”
Why did everyone keep saying that?
I thought.
“Sorry. I’m not trying to be rude.”
“Whatever,” I said, standing up. “Thanks for the drink.”
He stood up with me. “Hold on a second. I said I was sorry.”
I started to walk away but he grabbed my arm. My heart started to hammer in my chest. “Let go of me, dick,” I said.
“I’m just trying to apologize. I didn’t mean to piss you off.”
“Okay, and I’m trying to leave.”
He tightened his grip. “I’m still talking to you.”
“I said, let go of me.”
Before I knew what I was doing, I threw my beer right in his face. It hit with a satisfying splash, erasing the smug look from his face.
“What the fuck!” he said, letting go of my arm.
“Don’t touch me again, asshole,” I said.
“You fucking bitch.”
I started to walk away fast, but Josh was right behind me. People were starting to look over, attracted by the sound of Josh cursing at me as I tried to get away. I looked up, terrified, and didn’t see a single person I knew. Where the heck was Reid?
Just then he appeared, almost as if he could read my mind. I felt a huge wave of relief wash over me as he walked directly toward Josh, his face set hard as stone.
“What’s going on?” Reid asked me.
“Nothing. Let’s get out of here,” I said to him.
Josh stopped following me and took a step back. “It’s cool, Climber.”
Reid stood there staring at Josh for a second. “Come on, Reid,” I said again, tugging his arm.
He looked at me, at the empty cup in my hand, and then back at Josh. He clearly put it all together.
“You dumb fuck,” he mumbled as he walked over toward Josh.
“Hey, come on, Climber. It’s cool,” he said, backing off farther, his hands in the air.
Faster than I could follow, Reid stepped in and slugged Josh across the face. Josh had no chance. He took Reid’s strong fist right in his jaw and fell down to the ground, grabbing his face in pain.
“Go near her again and I’ll kill you,” Reid said, standing over him menacingly.
“Reid! Come on!” I said frantically.
People were staring at us. I was terrified that a bigger fight was about to break out. I wanted to run away, but suddenly someone laughed.
“Fuck him up, Climber!” the person said, and the crowd laughed.
Reid grinned. “Show’s over,” he said, putting his arm around me and steering me over toward the cars. Josh was rubbing his face but wasn’t trying to get up. He was clearly afraid of Reid, and it was obvious that the crowd was not on his side.