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Most days I enjoy the hell out of my job. It combines my two favorite things – art and interesting people. I rarely have a bad day at work but when I locked the shop at midnight I was in a bad mood. I couldn’t stop thinking about the drunk girl, about the hurt in her eyes. They were the eyes of a broken child, and despite her bitchy attitude I’d wanted to help her, but she’d stormed out before I could.
I sure hope she took my advice to go home. I should go home myself but I’m feeling agitated and decide to stop at Quincy’s for a drink. Lou waves at me when I walk in and turns to the taps. He knows just what I want and by the time I reach the bar he’s already got my Guinness poured. I reach into my pocket, pull out a twenty and tell him to keep the change. He asks me how my day has gone. I say ‘good’ as always. I’m not one to share my professional frustrations.
“Hey, babes!” Cindy playfully hip-checks me as she comes back with an empty tray. We dated a few times when she first started waitressing at Quincy’s, but Cindy’s a vanilla and we both knew it wasn’t going to work. We’re still good friends, though.
“Hey yourself!” I give her a smile. “Busy night?”
“Crazy busy,” she replies. “And the tips have been really good.” She nods at the jar on the counter. “Lou, looks like you made out pretty well yourself.”
“Mostly, except for some gal who left me a quarter.”
Cindy bursts out laughing. “A quarter? What the fuck, man? Who did that?”
Lou scans the room then points to the back. “That girl back there. She ordered three shots. I guess that’s her boyfriend trying to peel her out of the booth.”
Cindy and I turn to look in the direction Lou is pointing and I feel my blood run cold. A man in a hoodie and black shorts is pulling on the woman in the booth and I instantly recognize her by the ridiculously high heels she’s wearing, the ones she tripped over when she was in the shop. Without saying anything to Cindy or Lou, I walk quickly to the booth.
The guy in the hoodie is partially hoisting Bliss up by one arm where she’s slumped in the seat. As he lightly slaps her face she tries to focus, her expression vacillating between confusion and fear.
“Come on now,” he’s saying. “Let’s get you out of here.”
“Need some help?” I ask casually.
He glances over at me, annoyed. “Nah.”
Bliss moans. Her eyes roll back in her head then shut. When she opens them again, her fear is even more apparent. It’s clear she’s trying to come to her senses. When she sees me, there’s an unmistakable silent plea in her expression.
I turn to catch Cindy as she walks past. “How long has this woman been here?” I ask quietly.
She looks at Bliss. “I don’t know. An hour or so?”
“What about this guy?”
“He was milling around outside earlier. I don’t know who he is.”
“So, he didn’t come in with her?”
Cindy shakes her head. “This is the first I’ve seen of him.”
“Thanks,” I say, and turn back to the guy as Cindy walks to the table.
“Hey, buddy,” I say. “I don’t think she wants to go with you.”
“Mind your own fucking business, lady,” he snarls.
“Do you even know her?”
“She’s my girlfriend.” He lets go of Bliss and wheels around. He’s tall but so am I and I return his gaze without blinking.
“Oh yeah?” I ask. “What’s your girlfriend’s name?”
His eyes shift to the side. “Jackie.”
“Bullshit.” When he tries to turn back to the booth, I grab him by the arm. “That’s not her name and you’re not her boyfriend.”
“You don’t know shit,” he says, jerking from my grasp. “Get the fuck out of here.” He turns back to grab Bliss by both arms, hauling her up. “Come on. We’re going home.” She moans and sways on her feet. I take hold of her arm to keep him from leaving.
“Fucking nosy cunt. I told you to mind your own goddamn business.”
