The Silver Lining (18 page)

“Yeah, buddy, hop in,” Mike said, as he pulled his car up to the curb.

I faintly smiled as I slid in.

“We’re meeting Jack and Ryan there.”

“Cool. So, this new place just opened, right?” I asked.

“Yeah. I thought I should go see what all the hype is. The bar will be fine if we shut it down for one night. We can go check out my competition, ya know.”

“No harm in that.” I stared out the window.

“And while we’re there we can have a little fun as well.” Mike chuckled.

“I could use all the fun I can get.”

“Now that your cast free, you can get your dance on.”

“I don’t think dancing will be anywhere on my agenda tonight.”

“Come on. It’s been eight weeks. A hot little number will do you good.”

I nodded, but I wasn’t ready for any woman. Emily seriously fucked up my head. The last text she sent to me was devastating. She basically said, have a great life and by the way I’m killing the baby. That was all it took to shatter me. I was a mess. I had been drowning out any thoughts of her with as much liquor as I could find. Poor Mike had seen me at my worse. He had cleaned me up for my parole officer meetings and come over to bring me food every morning before work. He had argued with me to kick my ass into gear and here we were. I was definitely in better shape than I was last week or the week before that and it was all because of him, and the threat of him calling my brother and my mother over to deal with me. If Chad knew how bad I had gotten after he left, he would have never gone home.

I’d lied when he was here. I’d told Chad I was fine. I’d smiled and faked it when he asked if I would be okay once he left. I’d just wanted to be alone through all of this. The look that Chad gave me the day he packed up was one of uncertainty, but I insisted he should leave. I had a system down pat now with the wheelchair and a refrigerator full of Tupperware filled food made by Chad. “I’ll be fine,” I’d repeated to him. I don’t think he believed me, but he left anyways.

“Maybe you’re right,” I mumbled.

“Damn right, I’m right.”

We pulled up to what looked like a typical club. An insanely huge sign read The Jungle. I could hear music blaring from out in the parking lot. I looked around, the placed was filled with cars. A long line of people waiting to get in, wrapped around the building. Mike walked us right up to the bouncer. The bouncer looked Mike up and down and then stared over to me.

“Mr. King from King Hotels, should be on your waiting list.” 

I stared at Mike in irritation. Did he just use my name to get us into this place? The bouncer nodded just once and opened the bar for us to go through. I kept looking at Mike as we walked.

“I’m sorry. Did you want to wait in that long line?” He laughed.

“No. It would have helped if you told me. I usually don’t go places and throw my name around.” I laughed back.

We stepped in and the place was wall to wall packed. There was a dance floor and Go-Go cages surrounding it. In the corner there was a group of tables where Jack and Ryan sat. They stood up and flagged us down as we made eye contact. Both of the two men bartended at the Blue Moon Bar, and seemed like pretty cool guys. As we made our way over a round of fist bumps and handshakes took place before we sat down.

“Someone get these guys a drink,” Jack shouted over the music and pointed to us as a waitress walked by. Jack was tall and thin and completely bald already, even though he was only about thirty years old.

“Hell yeah. Nobody works tonight. Let’s tear up some shots. You guys in?” Ryan questioned. Ryan was shorter than any of us, but his red mo-hawk made him look taller than what he appeared to be. He had tattoos and piercings covering most of his body, which the female patrons of the bar just loved.

“I’m in.” I raised my hand.

“You know I’m in.” Mike smiled.

The waitress approached the table. “What can I get you, boys?” She smiled and looked around at us. She had a pretty face and a cute body, but so did half the girls in the room.

“Bottle of tequila and four shot glasses,” Jack shouted, and slid her his credit card. He winked at her, but I pretended not to see.

“You got it,” she said, as she walked away.

“I would so like to eat that cookie,” Ryan said, pointing to the waitress.

“You can’t handle that cookie, my friend,” Jack teased him.

We all laughed at Ryan and waited for the waitress to return. Mike was dancing in his seat when she arrived.

“Here you go, fellas. Enjoy.” She placed the tray of liquor down with all four glasses and slid Jack his credit card and another paper. I assumed her phone number was on it, but again, I pretended not to see. She smiled and walked over to the next table.

“You see this, boys.” Jack unraveled the paper and held it up, which showed a phone number and a name. “See, she knows who can handle that cookie.” He laughed hard and shoved the paper in Ryan’s face. Ryan just shook his head and grabbed the shot glasses and started pouring.

“Fuck you, bro. There are plenty other cookies up in here,” Ryan said, as he slid the glasses to us all.

We clinked glasses, before we all threw back the tequila and then slammed the empty shot glass on the table.

“How have you been, James? Cast are both off now. Are you coming back to work?” Ryan asked, pouring more shots.

“Yeah. I’ll be in tomorrow night. My arm and leg are still sore and stiff, but I’m good.”

“Nice. The bar has been busy as hell. It will be good to have you back.” Jack smiled.

Just as Ryan slid us our shots, a brunette in a tight black dress walked up to Mike and asked him to dance. We all looked at Mike with wide eyes.

“Who me?” he asked, and looked around as if he was surprised she was talking to him.

She nodded.

“Yeah sure. Why not?” he answered her. He downed a shot first, before he stood up and that’s when she grabbed his arm and dragged him away. We waved and Jack whistled.

“Shit. Do you see that hot piece of ass by the bar? Blonde hair. Long legs.” Ryan nodded over to an area.

We all turned to see what he was staring at. She must have felt us looking at her, because she slowly rotated her neck and glanced at us. I looked away so we wouldn’t look like a bunch of starving vultures after fresh meat.

“She just smiled at you. Go get you some.” Jack elbowed Ryan. Ryan downed his shot and took off to go talk to her.

Now it was just me and Jack sitting there. He poured another shot for us and slid it to me.

“What’s new, man? What have you been doing during your recovery?”

“This.” I pointed down to the liquor.

He laughed. “I don’t blame you. Stuck in the house with a bunk arm and leg, I’d probably drink away the time too.”

I didn’t want to talk about it so I pulled a detour. “Where’s the bathroom around here?”

“I think I saw it over there, behind the DJ booth.” Jack pointed across the room. I jumped up from the table and stared across the dance floor to what might be the restrooms.

“If I don’t return in ten minutes, send back up,” I joked.

Jack smiled and saluted me.

I worked my way through a crowd of people when I was stopped by young woman. She grabbed my arm. “You’re that guy.”

I just shrugged.

“No, you’re him.”

I stared at her, hoping she wasn’t a King family stalker. I’ve had my share of obsessed fans in the past and most of them were pretty scary. I’ve had letters from women claiming to be my wife and pregnant with my child. I looked down at the woman praying she wasn’t a nut job.

She had blonde, short hair that was shaved on one side. My observations told me she liked to stand out and that she was probably an attention getter based off of the way she was dressed. I didn’t mind her outfit. It was a tight black dress that had lace around the mid-section. There was no hiding anything in that dress of hers. Within three seconds, I had already checked out her breast, her legs and a peek at her ass when she slightly turned. She was shorter than the average height, even with her high heels on. She took a swig of her beer while I stood there patiently waiting for her to either remove her hand from me or say something.

“I know you.” She nodded.

“No you don’t,” I responded.

“Yeah I do. You were in that car accident.”

I rolled my eyes. Fuck. I can’t get away from this shit for anything.

“I’m sorry. I should explain. I was one of the paramedics on site that night. There was quite a few of us.” She patted her chest.

“Thank you for helping me.” I paused. “I appreciate everything you guys did.”

“I’m glad to see you pulled through. You look great.” She smiled. “I remembered you, because you were all over the tabloids and reporters were on the scene. It was a big thing. I know you were out of it and don’t remember me, but I always remember a handsome face.”

“Can I buy you a drink for saving my life? We also have tequila shots back at my table.”

“Tequila shots work for me.” She smiled.

We walked to the table, where all three guys were seated again. Mike had that girl he danced with on his lap. Ryan had the blonde from the bar on his lap and Jack looked up at me and smiled.

“Well who is this pretty, young thing?” he asked. His eyes drank her in.

I looked over to her, because I had no clue what her name was.

“I’m Diana.” She went around in a circle shaking hands. I looked around at the nearby tables to grab an extra chair, but they were all taken.

“There’s no more chairs. You can have mine,” I shouted over the music.

“Oh no. I like to stand anyways. Go ahead.” She smiled.

I sat down. Jack then motioned to the waitress. “Another shot glass, please,” he yelled to her. She nodded. The waitress was back in a minute with an extra glass. Jack started pouring and we kept drinking shot after shot until the room was fuzzy. I stared over at Diana, who was switching her weight back and forth. Her feet were obviously killing her. She smiled through it all, laughing at the jokes the boys were making.

“Are you sure you don’t want a seat?” I asked.

She was tipsy as she turned to me. I could see it in the way she held on to the table.

“No. I’m fine.” She pushed away from the table which somehow caused her to lose her balance, and then her ankle wobbled. It looked like she was about to fall. I quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her toward me which sent her flying into my lap.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. Thank you. Liquor and high heels are a no go.” She shook her head. I just smiled at her. “I do have to say your lap is really comfy.”

“Feel free to use it then.” I motioned to my legs.

I looked over at Mike, who was giving me a go get her stare. I shook my head to say that nothing was going on. I was just giving the poor girl a place to sit. Diane adjusted herself on my lap and her hand rested on my leg. She pushed her ass back against my crotch and I pretended to be un-phased by this. Now that she was sitting on me, I could smell her perfume. Fuck she smelled good. She took one hand and flipped her hair, causing the scent to linger around me.

“More shots?” Jack asked. Mike and Ryan both shook their heads and I waved both of my arms with a clear no. Three of us were liquored out.

“I’ll have one,” Diana replied.

“Yes. That is my type of chick,” Jack hollered as we all laughed. He slid a glass to Diana and she downed it like nothing. I looked over to see that Mike and his date were just going at it. They were fondling each other and kissing and they didn’t give a shit who saw. This was about to be the best night of his life. Go Mike.

Jack slid the bottle to the center of the table. “I’m done. No more shots for me.”

Diana looked at him. “That’s all you can do. Pshhh. Give me that bottle.”

She took the whole bottle and lifted it up to her mouth. I stared in amazement. This girl was going to be wasted soon. She took it to the head and downed a good portion. Jack stood up and started clapping. He was clearly impressed that she could drink more than any of us.