༆ 002 - Fuck You, Bastard!!

“Another one?”

I looked at the bartender and pushed my glass forward.

“Please.”

He didn’t ask what was wrong or try to chitchat or worse…advise me about the number of drinks I’ve had that night, and I appreciated that about him.

The bar was throbbing with music that swallowed conversations, a very vibrant and energetic crowd dancing together.

Everyone was just living their lives, screaming in excitement…while my own life was crashing and shattering in pieces.

It was like the universe was simply moving on with zero care of the despair I was in.

I’d walked in forty minutes ago, taken the first empty stool I found.

I took a long pull of my drink and let that sit.

Not just a waitress. I wonder how long he had looked at me that way. How long he had looked at me and seen nothing but a waitress.

I wonder how long I had ceased being someone he loved…and became just a waitress.

Or had he never loved me?

Was I just some desperate chick who loved him so much that she was willing to give up everything to help him grow…and he took advantage of the stepping stone presented freely to him?

I had given up my education…my career, my passion for him. Five years of my life I had poured into him.

For what?

Just to get a phone break up, after having to watch him publicly propose to another woman?

The bartender reappeared. “You eating anything tonight?”

“No.”

“Kitchen’s still open if you change your—”

“I won’t. Thank you.”

He moved away, leaving me alone with my pain and broken heart.

༺༺༒༻༻

“You’ve been staring at that drink for twenty minutes,” I heard a voice say behind me. “Either it owes you money or you’re working up to something.”

I turned slowly and my eyes widened when I saw the owner of the voice.

A very tall and huge man, who had a face and body that could only belong to a perfect sculpture because….what?

Or was it the effect of the alcohol that was making my mind exaggerate how hot he was?

Well, I sure hope not because the man peering down at me with dark eyes was a delicious eye candy!!

He was just what I needed, to truly and completely numb the events of today.

“Neither,” I responded, and mentally applauded myself for maintaining my cool. “I’m just drinking it.”

“Well you’ve been looking at it like it personally offended you.”

“I’m sorry, who are you?” I asked, tilting my head, “and why have you been staring at me for the past twenty minutes? Do you have any idea how creepy that sounds?”

The corner of his mouth twitched like he was fighting back a smile. “Forgive me, pretty. But actually I’ve been staring at you for the past one hour since you stepped into the club.”

I swallowed…not because of his words but the look in his eyes, the way they were glued to my face like he was trying to dig into my head and discover every dirty secret I’ve ever hidden in there.

“So…do you want to talk about it?” he said, pointing at my glass, and I scoffed.

“Do YOU want to talk about it?” I shot back.

“Trust me, I’ve got several other things I’d rather be doing right now that don’t involve talking,” his voice dropped, becoming husky in a way that sent shivers down my spine, “but if what a damsel needs is a shoulder to cry on, or ears to listen, I’d be glad to lend mine.”

“Well, aren’t you the perfect gentleman?”

“Trust me, love, there’s nothing gentlemanly about the things in my mind right now.”

I swallowed again, my heartbeat beating fast for an entirely different reason. Suddenly Frank was not in my mind anymore, and the only thing I could think of was this stranger, the heat in his gaze, his scent which was strangely driving me nuts, and the way my body was yearning for him.

Right now this is what I need.

“So tell me what you need. To burst out of this joint with me, or a listening ear?” he asked, still holding my gaze.

This is crazy.

I have never, ever done something crazy like this. But tonight I needed crazy.

I’m tired of feeling like my chest has been scooped hollow.

I was tired of sitting and dwelling inside my own devastation.

I set my glass down.

“Let’s get out of here,” I said, and he grinned.

“That’s all I needed to hear.” Then he grabbed my hand and tossed a few notes on the table for the bartender.

༺༺༒༻༻

When I opened my eyes the next morning, my head was already screaming from a very ugly hangover, but every part of my body was aching in a very delicious way that instantly reminded me of the night I had and the man I had it with.

It was the best. night. Ever!!!

I turned slowly with a smile, but saw my stranger already dressed and sitting by the edge of the bed, opening his wallet and bringing out some hundred-dollar bills.

What was he doing?

He counted a few…eight, ten? Then tossed them beside me.

“‘Twas a fun night,” he drawled. “This is all the cash I have on me right now.”

I stared at the notes on the bed, then back at him, my chest tightening.

He was paying me??

I quickly sat up from the bed, gathering the sheet around my naked body, and ignored the banging headache as I stood up from the bed and faced him.

Before he could raise his eyes to look at me, my hand already shot out and I slapped him hard…with all the strength and anger I could muster.

“FUCK YOU!!! You bastard,” I yelled, panting. “What do I look like to you? Some hooker?! Fuck you! And you know what?”

I grabbed the notes and threw them at his face. “You can take your stupid money and shove ’em all up your ass. Bastard!!”

He didn’t move, didn’t say a word as I hurriedly got into my clothes and left the room without looking back.