The Other P-Word(41)

       

"We're going to find a table close to the band," Dillon said, taking Josh's hand.

"I'll grab you some drinks. What do y'all want?"

"Did you just say y'all?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Baby girl, we're from Chicago. We say ‘you all'. Sometimes we say ‘yous  guys'. But we never ever say ‘y'all'. Is that cowboy rubbing off on  you?"

"In all the right ways."

"I'll have a Killian's," Josh said.

"Make it two," Dillon added.

"You want a beer? Not a cocktail?"

Dillon looked at Josh, the corners of his mouth crinkling. "You can't make the kind of cocktail I want."

Looks like I'm not the only one being rubbed off … rubbed on … rubbing … whatever. Shit, I was horny.

Josh and Dillon each pulled out chairs and stared at each other. I  laughed, realizing they'd pulled out the chair for each other. How cute.  Like Evan, Josh was a little Rocky Road, and Dillon was … Neapolitan, but  it sounded like a really good flavor combination to me.

The night wore on, but I'd never had so much fun at work. Evan sounded  terrific and even the fangirls didn't bother me tonight. Plus, I got to  chat with Dillon and Josh whenever I had a free moment.

All my customers were friendly too. Well … I did wish the table next to  Dillon's wasn't so friendly. It was six rowdy guys who kept referring to  me as ‘baby' and ‘sweetheart' and all those things that sounded sweet  coming from someone you cared about and creepy coming from someone you  didn't.

"I want a mojito," the guy I'd nicknamed Alligator said. Not because he  was scary, but because the few times he got up, he did zigzag. I  wondered if I should cut him off. "Now take out your pen and paper so I  can explain how to make that."

"I think you've had enough."

"I've had two drinks here."

That was true. I'd only served him two. "I don't believe we're the only establishment you've been at tonight."

"Establishment … now that's a big word coming from such a tiny girl."

"Take it easy, asshole. She's just doing her job," Turtle said. I called  him that because his knit cap resembled a turtle's shell. "Don't bring  him anymore drinks."

For whatever reason, Alligator didn't argue and I was grateful for it.

"Thanks," I said to the Turtle when Alligator stormed toward the bathroom.

"Anytime. I'm really sorry about that."

"It's fine. I've had worse," I lied.

Eventually, everyone in the group left until there was just Turtle.

"You guys need anything else?" I asked Dillon and Josh shortly before last call.

"I'm going to squeeze in a quick game of pool," Josh said. "You coming, McKay?"

"You go ahead. I'm going to sit," Dillon said.

I moved to the table next to them. "It's going to be last call soon," I said to Turtle.

"Why don't you take a break and enjoy it with me?"

"I'm not allowed to sit with guests."

He gestured toward Dillon. "I saw you sitting with him earlier."

"I have a boyfriend."

His hand grazed my leg. "I won't tell."

"I will, and I swear if you don't remove your hand right now … "

"I got you. He's going to kill me."

"He won't have to because I will. But he will help me bury the body."

He didn't move his hand away. Instead, he slid it down my leg. "I like  it feisty. Come on. We both know you've been coming on to me all night."

I backed away from him. He stood. I had to look up. He was tall enough that his body cast a long shadow over me.

"Are you seriously scared of me? I'm just trying to be friendly. Remember what I did for you earlier?"

"Hey, you touch her again and you answer to me," Dillon said, wedging himself between us.

"Are you the boyfriend?"

"You can call me the fucking bodyguard for all I care. Point is, it  doesn't matter who I am. It only matters what I plan to do to you if you  don't leave right now."                       
       
           



       

I desperately searched for Brick but he was nowhere to be found. I  grabbed Dillon's arm, surprised how muscular it felt. "Dillon, let's sit  down."

"Listen to your girlfriend, buddy."

I managed to get between them. "Leave before I call the police," I said.

"I am the police, honey."

Oh shit. Dillon was trying to pull me out of the way while the asshole in front of me was trying to grind into me.

"How old are you? 'Cause you look way too young to be working here. Why  don't you come to my car and I'll show you what a real man can do." The  scent of liquor spilled from his breath.

I went to knee him in the groin, but he moved back just in time. "He is  more of a man than you'll ever be," I spat. Dillon was holding me back  now.

"What the fuck is going on over there?" Evan's voice boomed through the microphone.

"None of your business," Turtle answered back.

"You're groping my girl and that is my business."

"She's not with you. This slut is with the maggot over here." Only the  guy didn't say maggot. He said the other word that began with F that I  couldn't repeat.

Everything got real quiet then … at least for me. Ten things happened at  once. I felt a swoosh of air from Dillon's arm as his fist flew past me,  connecting to the guy's jaw. I screamed, but nothing came out. I  stumbled back. My chest heaved and I could hear my heart as if it had  lodged itself in my eardrum. I turned toward Evan. It was like slow  motion. He threw his guitar. It made a strange riff as it bounced on the  stage.

He leaped onto a table then a second one, slow and fast all at once.  When he jumped on top of the cop, knocking Dillon out of the way, they  crashed to the floor, followed by shattered glass and spilled drinks.  Evan swung his arm back. I winced at the cracking sound of breaking skin  and broken bone. But he didn't stop.

"Evan!" I screamed. This time it had volume but he wasn't listening. I  scrambled toward Dillon and helped him up. "Are you okay?" He touched  his hand to his lip. It was bleeding.

"He's going to kill him," Dillon said. Dillon and I each took one of  Evan's elbows mid-blow. That was a mistake. Evan whipped his arm back  mid-punch, jabbing me right in the eye.

Someone screamed …  Oh, it was me. I landed on my ass, searing pain  spreading across my face. I cupped my hand over my eye. It took Mike,  Brick and Josh to finally hold Evan back.

"Get some fucking control," Mike screamed.

Evan blinked rapidly, until he focused on me. His mouth gaped. "Billie …  Did I do that?"

He turned to Mike and Brick for confirmation. "Let me go." He fell to  his knees and crawled over to me. "Oh God, I'm so sorry," he said. He  helped me onto his lap. "Let me see it, baby." He took my wrist and  moved my hand. He closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath.

"It's over. Go home," Mike said to Turtle. I flinched at the sight of my  assaulter, who sported a black eye, broken nose and split lip.

When he spoke, his voice was hoarse and the air whistled. Maybe he'd  lost a tooth in all the commotion as well. "Are you kidding? This is  just beginning. Your employee just beat up a cop. Either I'm going to  own this place or shut it down. And you," he said, pointing to Evan.  "You are going to jail for a very long time."

"I don't think so," Dillon said, leaning on Josh for support.

"No doubt about it. I can see the headline now, ‘Bar Brawl Results in Attack on Local Cop'."

"I can see the headline too, but it reads ‘Local Cop Starts Bar Brawl and Slings Gay Slurs'."

"That's not what happened."

"Oh, it is," Dillon said. "You called my sister a very offensive name.  When I came to intervene, you did the same to me. Then you punched me in  the lip. Luckily, I had my friends here to defend me. I'm a protected  group. You know what that means? The F-word. Not the one you called me  but the other one-felony."

"That's not how it happened."

"That's the way I'm telling it."                       
       
           



       

"It's a good thing you're not the only witness then."

"That's the way I saw it too," Mike said.

"Me too," Brick added.

The guy looked around the bar, but Mike stepped in front of him. "If any  of you saw anything and feel like going downtown to make a statement,  please raise your hand."

No one did.

Mike turned back to Turtle, shrugging. "Sorry, man, but you are really  shit-faced. Is it possible things went a little differently in your  head?"