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I told him about the English courses I had taken my first year and how much I had enjoyed them, but that I decided I wanted to do something to make more money, leaving out any talk of my father and the debts he had. I told him about my experiences living in the dorms and then moving out to live in a house with friends. Parties and dating and all the things that went along with college life. The beginning of vet school that saw me off to another town entirely.
“Lucy and I briefly lived together again, but without our mom around to referee us it was a little difficult. You remember how much we used to fight? It turns out it wasn’t much different when we were fighting over who needed to do the dishes or some laundry or anything else involved in managing a household.”
Alex chuckled. “I do remember a few skirmishes here and there.”
I rolled my eyes. “So anyway, I got an internship and finished up all my requirements. I had been practicing at an office in Louisville for a little while, but I wasn’t getting the equine experience that I really wanted. When I heard about things opening up back here, I thought it would be a good move to make.”
Simple enough. It explained me coming back here without having to get into all the details about my dad’s health. It just wasn’t something I wanted to involve Alex in at the moment. I didn’t know what was going to become of us and inviting him into that part of my life seemed like a step too far.
We settled in for the fireworks and watched the display there with the rest of the town before heading down to the roadhouse to catch up with Lorna and her latest boyfriend, Billy, a guy we had gone to school with but was a few years older than us.
“I’ve got to be honest with you, I don’t spend much time around this place,” Alex said as we made our way in. “The element it attracts seems to be a little bit shady, and I’m not really into that.”
“Would you rather we leave?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No, I’ll keep a sharp eye though. There’s always someone trying to start a fight around here, and I don’t want to get you in the middle of anything.”
The place was your stereotypical roadhouse bar with all the personalities you’d imagine it to be filled with. He was right, it wasn’t my type of place either, but it was nice to be out for a change and amongst the living.
We took a seat in the corner but within view of the door. Lorna came over and joined us, beers in hand, giving us each one.
“Billy is at the bar. I don’t know what that’s all about. He had a bet with someone over something ridiculous, and I think he’s arguing with him about some money owed or something.” She rolled her eyes and waved a hand in the air. “I never know with him.”
“Why are you with him?” Alex said out of the blue and over the din of the bar.
Lorna shot me a look and then looked back at Alex. “You’re awful ballsy to be
asking a question like that.”
Alex frowned and shook his head. “That guy is no good, Lorna. You knew it when we were in school, and he hasn’t changed a bit. I mean, he might have gotten worse, and I think he’s developed a drinking problem, but he’s certainly no better than he was.”
“You might want to keep your man in check, Maddy.”
I could tell by her language that she had already had a few. Now I was just waiting for Billy to come over and continue whatever he had started at the bar. I was already regretting deciding to come here.
It didn’t take long to kick off.
“Hey, asshole!” Billy shouted with a laugh as he came to join us at the table. “I don’t ever see you around here anymore.” He looked over at me. “Guess you caught a little tail though. That’s all right, I understand. You’re done chasing that pussy now that you found some. I feel ya.”
Billy smacked Lorna on the ass and grabbed her firmly.
“Billy now’s probably not the time,” Lorna said, starting to push him away a little.
“What the hell do you mean? You’re always ready for it.”
He pulled my friend over by the belt loop on her jeans and tried to force his pickled tongue down her throat.
Alex was on his feet before I knew what had happened.
“Billy, I don’t think Lorna wants you to touch her. You need to respect what she says, or we’ll take it outside.”
“Fuck no we won’t. You don’t get to tell me how to treat my woman.”
I looked at Lorna, hardly believing that my friend was putting up with the crap from this drunk who had nothing to offer her.
“Lorna, come on,” I said, standing to leave.
“No one is going anywhere with my girl!” Billy shouted and started to slam a beer bottle down on the table. So he was the one who was trying to start prison fights in the bar.
