Page 47 of Liquids

Why is he asking me this question anyway? “Is there something more to tell?”

He shrugs. “Sadie’s always spinning some tall tale; who knows what track she’ll be on one week to the next?”

I shrug, and he scowls.

“Babe …” he says, and the use of that word again …

“Well, it’s been cool to catch up,” I say, downing the last of my beer. I can’t prolong this, or I’ll do something stupid like invite him over. I shuffle along the banquette in the booth. “Got an early start with Agnes tomorrow.”

His hand shoots out as his eyes narrow on me. “Catching up? What’s that supposed to mean?” His eyes scan my face. “I gotta go back to the rig in a coupla days. I was planning on staying with you, babe.”

There’s that word again. I examine his rough hand on mine, and my gut clenches. What did those women say? Like she could pull someone like him. I’d really like not to be seen as one of the town sluts. It’s not who I am. All because I wanted some male company and I took leave of my senses and propositioned the only decent guy in town.

“It was fun while it lasted, Rig, and you’ve been more than kind to me, but I’m not up for getting close to you and being dumped.” I take my hand from under his. “As I said the first night in this bar, you’ve got a reputation, and that’s fine, but I’ve had enough assholes to last me a lifetime. I don’t think we should do this anymore.”

“You calling me an asshole?” he growls. “I’ve been good to you, haven’t I? Apart from that first night, and I explained that.”

Yeah, he did.

He runs his tongue over his gums under his front lip. “I know I’ve got history, but I’m not dumping you.”

“But you will eventually.”

He picks at the label on his bottle again, then he looks up and gives me a soft smile. “Maybe I won’t.”

I shake my head and reach out and squeeze his hand. “It was meant to be one night. Circumstances were a bit different than that, and we had a good time. No harm, no foul.”

His jaw tightens, and he stares out across the bar, watching old Reg who’s still shuffling his feet and waving his glass around. That’ll be me when I’m seventy. With my piles of bills and my debt. Still drinking and still here. Maybe if I can be strong about this, I can be strong in other ways. Like exercising a muscle.

“I’d like to think I can come in here and we could have a beer and a laugh together. That we’d be on speaking terms,” I add.

He looks pained at the suggestion. “Like friends, you mean?”

I swallow. “Yeah.”

His eyes narrow as he scans over my face. “Okay, babe. I can do friends.”

I slide out of the booth, and in minutes, I’m on my way.

As I walk to my car, my throat is tight. If that was the smart choice, why do I feel so goddamn pissed?

16

TIDAL FORCE

The following morning I’m woken by banging on the door, and I glance at my watch. 8 a.m.? No goons would turn up at this time in the morning, would they? My heart clenches. I pull on a robe and pick up a pan on my way through the kitchen. I don’t care what Rig says, I don’t feel comfortable without a weapon in my hand. I snort at myself. A weapon! Against guys with guns! I’m an idiot. God knows I’m regretting not offering him a bed now.

When I peer through the window, Luis, my landlord, is standing there, and the breath I didn’t know I was holding whooshes out in a long sigh.

When I open the door, he scans me up and down, looking at the pan with raised eyebrows and says, “Rent?”

Fuck.

“You’re behind two months, Carl. Don’t do that shit normally, but you’ve been a tenant for a while, so I haven’t been hassling.”

Two months? Shit. I did think my money was a bit better, so I put it into paying off other bills. Maybe Luis hasn’t been hassling because Rig’s been here and he threatened him last time, and that’s probably enough to make a man like Luis think twice. Does he know Rig is no longer here?

“I didn’t pay last month?” I squeak.