Chaser (Dive Bar #3)(8)

Joe shook his head. “I guarantee you she cannot hear a thing, except what’s drifting through the window.”

“Just because she’s pregnant doesn’t mean she needs to be wrapped in cotton wool, you know,” Alex chimed in.

“I know that.” I scowled at her.

“See, pouting!” she said, pointing her finger at me in glee.

“Gee, babe, you’re right,” agreed Joe, the jerk, his voice thick with mock concern. “That actually does look like pouting.”

My scowl deepened.

“Come on, man,” said Joe, being serious. “It’s Thursday night, you’re behind the bar, and the place has been pumping all night. And you look like a kid whose puppy died. What gives?”

I sighed again, my shoulders slumping. “I don’t know … just something Nell said today. Well, she’s been on me for a while.”

Joe and Alex exchanged looks.

“It’s nothing really. Stupid. Don’t worry about it.”

“Okay,” said Alex before taking a sip of beer.

“But, you know … just out of interest,” I said. “Do you think I’m a manwhore with no concept of responsibility, incapable of having a meaningful relationship, who just uses women because I wouldn’t know real commitment if it bit me on the ass?”

Alex’s eyes went real wide.

“That’s what Nell says, huh?” asked my brother in a low voice.

“Basically.” My tongue pushed at the inside of my cheek. “Sometimes it varies, but pretty much. Yeah.”

“Wow,” said Alex, staring down at her laptop.

“Just today, she called me a fuckboy. Can you believe that?”

Joe let out a low whistle.

“I mean, you two probably know me best,” I said. “She’s out of line, right?”

Alex’s mouth opened, but nothing actually came out. Same with my brother.

“Right?” I asked again, frowning.

Still nothing.

Fuck’s sake. “Come on, I am always up front with women. I tell them straight out, I’m here for a good time, not a long time. They know what they’re getting into.”

After a moment’s hesitation, my brother nodded. Sort of.

“Exactly,” I said. “And I’m responsible. I always cover my shifts, I work hard.”

“Ye-ah,” said Joe, dragging the word out for some damn reason.

Alex winced. “Apart from the other week when you wanted to take that girl kayaking.”

“Once,” I said, holding up a finger. “Big deal.”

“Though there was that woman from the liquor company a fortnight back,” said Joe. “What was her name?”

“Jesus, I can’t remember. So I left work early. Once.” I rolled my eyes and added another finger. Two. So what?

“And the times when you’re running late because you forget to set your alarm,” said Alex. Fast on her way to no longer being my favorite sort of sister-in-law.

I scoffed, but added another finger to the tally. “Two or three times, maybe. Everyone does it.”

“Yeah, but every week?” Alex cocked her head.

“She’s got a point, bro.” My brother nudged me with his elbow. “Probably add a couple more fingers.”

I scowled.

“We’re going to need your other hand,” she said. “Because do you remember last month when—”

“That’s enough,” I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

They both shut their mouths, giving each other one of those looks. Couples were downright creepy the way they could do that mind melding shit. Talk about unnatural.

Slowly, I shook my head. “Can’t believe you both think she’s right.”

“No…” Joe grabbed me by the shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

I shrugged him off. “Yeah, you do.”

His girlfriend kept quiet. Last time I give her free drinks.

Arcade Fire faded into The Killers and not even an old favorite song could help. All agitated like, I smoothed back my hair, redoing the ponytail. “Unbelievable. Even my own fucking brother thinks I’m useless.”

“Man, come on. I did not say that. I think…” He paused. “I think you do your best.”

“Yes.” Alex clicked her fingers and pointed at me. “Exactly. You do your best, Eric. Everyone knows you’re making a real effort. You haven’t even screwed any of the waitresses for months now. No one could expect more.”

“Jesus, are you serious?” I asked loudly. “You both think my best sucks.”

More denials and other bullshit, but I was done. Finished. Also, people were now watching. Curious eyes sizing up the drama, customers and staff. Awesome.

“You close up the bar.” I grabbed a bottle of single malt from off the shelf. “I’m out of here.”

Someone said my name and Joe did more sighing and fuck them all. I needed some space. Bottle in hand, I left.

*

“Eric?” asked a startled voice.

“Hmm?” I shoved my hair out of my face, pulling the door to my apartment closed behind me. Out of the blurry, low-lit hallway came a woman with concerned eyes. “Jean. Hey. How you doing?”