Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(65)

“What is wrong with that?” Flem asked.

“What is wrong—he didn’t offend me. Nothing that horse’s ass could say would offend me. I didn’t give one lick about what he said to me. I told him he shouldn’t have pushed me away like a barfly that couldn’t handle herself. Then, get this. He says that it was obvious I was in over my head. That it was a man’s job for protection.”

Oh shit.

“I kindly asked where he was, the man, after all…where he was when Candace got her shirt pulled down." Lump barely stopped herself from throwing a fierce look in Adam's direction. "When they were trying to get up on her like humping dogs? Who stepped in and protected her? I also kindly asked where the man was when you were molested by that skeeze Dusty. Who got you out of that mess?”

“Lump, you didn’t.” I knew this was a sore point with Adam. I wondered if Lump knew it before, or stumbled upon it.

“Oh yes, I did. Because you know what, Jess? You got out of that because I taught you some moves. You saved yourself. Men for protection? In this society? Please. We aren’t God damn gorillas. Willie tries to protect you, but he can’t be with you all the time, everywhere, so...” She trailed off as she noticed fresh tears had sprang to my eyes.

“Anyway,” she changed direction, “I offered him the rare chance to have the first shot. I could take that brute! He’s big, okay. He’s strong, yeah. He’s fast—okay, maybe. But I could take him!”

“Oh just give over will ye?” Claire said. “Drink yur feckin’ beer. Me head is achin’!”

Lump smiled mischievously. “Trees aren’t so tall for climbing when they are felled.”

We all laughed.

“He is a hot piece, though.” Flem nodded. “I would go for that if he weren’t southern.”

“Weren’t southern, Flem?” I asked. “Is that a little southern sneaking into your speech?”

“Shut up, you!” she said with a smile.

We drank our beer and another beer after that. We were starting to feel all right. Moose’s girlfriend Jasmine came up to us. She was alone so we welcomed her into our group. The girls lightly filled her in with the issue.

She said, “I thought there was something wrong. He hides personal stuff so well from everyone I couldn’t really tell, but he just...was off, or something.” She gave me a sad smile that girls give when they have “been there.”

We ordered another round. Jasmine tried to get a girlie drink but we wouldn’t let her. She could either have a real mixed drink, like Jack and coke, or a beer and a shot. She opted for a beer and a shot.

Candace came up next. “Jess—are you okay?”

Apparently William allowed the girlfriends to show up. He had some pull with his friends. I was starting to think I was the only person to say no to the guy.

“I am God damn great, Candace. How the hell are you? I see you are wearing a shirt with straps tonight.”

Her face went red. “Yes...I thought...”

“Don’t get bashful Candace, we are all friends here.” I waved my hand to swat away her concern. I had gotten slightly belligerent it seemed. “Once, I fell down a small set of stairs in this really cute, but very tight, dress. The dress ripped in half and nearly fell off. What’s worse? I wasn’t wearing underwear.”

Everyone laughed.

Claire said, “Once in Dublin, it was me first time in the city, right? I was off me head. Absolutely legless! I was walkin’ down da street, as ya do, and I went ta step up on da curb. I didn’t know objects in the mirror were actually further than they appeared. Sure, I tried to step on a curb that wasn’t dere, like, then got off balance and tripped over the real curb. I fell flat on me face, skidded up half me cheek, dress was up over me head with my nickers out to da world, and I was too drunk to stand up, like! Some ol’ biddie had to help me get up!”

We all laughed. Well, those of us that could understand her, anyway.

We went all around, sharing stories, acting like asses. Candace didn’t really have any good ones, so we helped make last night a great old story to tell all her friends, and possibly her little Ty’s.

A good song came on to interrupt our storytelling, so we got up to dance. We were obviously the only drunk ones, and just as obviously, we didn’t give a rat’s ass.

When we were done dancing I saw that William was at the bar. Suddenly the music went off and everyone looked at us.

“Excuse me,” he said to the whole bar.

All the girls looked at me like “What. The. Fuck?”

“Excuse me everyone. I have an announcement.”

The whole bar quieted, which was pretty amazing because the place was fairly busy at that point.

“I am Willie Davies. Some of you may know me. Some may have heard of me. I would just like to take this opportunity to let you know that last night I did something inexplicable.”

Oh my God!

“I left the bar without the love of my life. She was there. I forgot her like the ass**le I am. Now, I would never make a scene like this normally for any reason, but I think it important that she know, and everyone know, that I love her. I am in her power. I may make life impossible, but it is because I love her.” He turned to look at me. “You.

“Jessica, I am so sorry I lost your trust. Sorry is such a shit word. Distressed. Despondent. Ashamed. Shameful. Whatever the word, the feeling cannot be expressed. I understand if you don't want to take me back. But please, this is a Davies man begging...” He walked to me and got on his knees. Everyone cleared away to give us room. “I am begging you. Please, please be with me. Please don’t turn me away. My pride is in your hands.”