Flicker, p.6
FLICKER, page 6
“Can your boyfriend come down and tell us?” The valet seemed perplexed.
“It's a Mercedes with a vanity plate BTR THN U,” I said.
Monday turned slowly before looking up to my face.
“You.”
She was going for a buttoned-up receptionist look. It was harsh. Her hair was pulled tight and her makeup was an expert level of shading.
“Me,” I responded. I wanted it to come out as a wiseass, but instead, I sounded super grateful.
Her cheeks flushed as she looked me up and down. “Are you following me?”
I folded my arms so I wouldn’t pull her in for another kiss. I would wipe all the lipstick off first, though. With both my thumbs. Then I would taste her mouth. Her anxiousness. All this pretend stuffiness.
“Not today. I’m meeting a friend for drinks.” I tilted my head in the direction of 3 Bends.
Her mouth made a little O, but she said nothing.
“You and the guy here?”
She touched her hair like she forgot that it was pinned up. Her fingers fluttered before falling.
“Yes. I forgot to get the valet ticket, so I’m trying to remedy that.” She spun back to the valet.
The valet already had the ticket in his hand from my description. She took it gratefully and then patted her dress for pockets. A tip. She wanted to give the guy a tip and I bet she left her purse up at the table, with her lazy ass boyfriend and her phone.
I dug into my pocket and coughed up a five. “Thanks, man,” he told me.
“Oh. Thanks. I’ll pay you back.” She looked at me again. The up and down again. Hesitating at my forearms, flicking back to my lips, then my eyebrows. Checking out my piercings.
It sent a flicker of lust through my body. Shit.
“Why is the douchebag not doing this?” I motioned to the valet stand.
“Uh, Poncy? Um. Well, it’s my job as the navigator…” her voice trailed off, possibly hearing how much bullshit was packed in those few words.
“Wow. Poncy. Never heard that one before. You cold? We should get you back inside.” She shivered as if my suggestion made it true.
I walked over and held open the door to the restaurant. She touched my hand. “Thank you. I amended the picture last night. It’s very tasteful. Just so you know.”
“Oh good. Thanks. I appreciate that.” I let my tongue peek out as I thought of what it would be like to kiss her again.
Banks yelled out from in front of me, “Wait up, Bear!”
I watched as Monday slipped through the open door. I wanted to follow her. Take her to her table and pull out her chair. Instead, I nodded at her like I was the official doorman and released the handle. I wasn’t here for her, or with her.
Banks came down the stairs and slapped me on the back. “You old fucker. How the hell are you?”
I grabbed his hand and used it to pull him in for a half man-hug. Banks and I had gotten into a lot of trouble together in college. I had a feeling we would be recounting a few of those stories over tonight’s pints.
“I’m great. No complaints. How are you? How is Merry?” I sidestepped so that our reunion would not be in the way of new patrons trying to get to their tables.
“She’s fantastic. Busts my balls every day. Always has a honey-do list.” Banks pulled out his phone and showed me his lock screen. Banks had met Merry two weeks before graduation. I’d never seen a man fall so fast or hard as when the redheaded bookish girl had taken Banks’ hand.
“As it should be. Hell, should we take this upstairs? You know once we get talking we’re bound to not even take a breath.” I pivoted toward the stairs.
“Oh yeah. I want to taste some hops on the back of my tongue while I look at your baby blues. And I have two waiting at our table. I’ve been keeping our table warm until I saw you through the window.” Banks strode confidently into the restaurant and up the stairs. We’ve had drinks here on occasion since college, and it’s always a favorite. Their sliders are epic.
When we got to the top of the stairs, Banks nodded at the host as we headed to the table. I scanned the room looking for her. I hadn't realized I was doing a spot check until I found her. Rage flooded my eyes and fists. I just hated Poncy on sight. He was talking loudly on his phone, his heavy, large watch pulling on his arm. I hoped some of his arm hairs would get caught in the links on the band. He deserved that.
Monday locked eyes with me and I let part of my smile pull up one side of my lips. She looked far too good to be ignored, but that was certainly what was happening.
Banks pulled on my shirtsleeve. “Bud, you let me know when you’re done staring daggers at that couple and I'll send you a text about a hitman—if you need one.”
I forced my gaze to Banks. “Nah, I’m not up to anything, I swear.”
I followed Banks who led me out to the balcony. I checked again. I couldn’t stop myself. Monday had whispered outside that she’d changed the portrait and I was surprised to feel a touch of regret. I liked the fighting version of Monday. The mad version. She was fun and scary.
“So, is that girl an ex or something?” Banks pointed to the table that had my attention as we sat down.
“Or something. Tell me about your job. How’s the insurance world treating you?”
Banks started in on a story about a cow breaking into his neighbor's house and mounting the kitchen island like a prospective bovine lover. The neighbor had so many house alarms and cameras that the whole thing wound up going viral on the internet. Banks had the case. His co-workers were giving him the business by leaving milk and cheese on his desk. Because he was sort of famous after the homeowner made a video of Banks’ very serious face taking notes on hump swings and hoof marks.
“Well, it’s never a dull day.” A round of apps arrived at our table. Monday was still surly looking. Poncy was still on the phone.
Not my place. Not my girl. Mind your business. Mind your manners.
The pep talk was working so far.
“So give me the update on your dad. I saw on social media that he was working on rehab.” He leaned in and snatched a nacho.
“I forgot that Mom posts updates. I told her to keep that on the down-low so customers don’t get nervous.” I pulled out my phone and navigated to the social media app in question. Sure enough, Mom had asked for prayers, a ramp for the stairs, and a peanut butter cookie recipe.
“I wouldn’t concern yourself with it. Everybody trusts the hell out of you. Shit, you’re like having a Disney World's firework technician light a birthday candle. Overqualified.” He took a swallow of his beer.
I shrugged. He was probably right. What I did with my art was insane. I had to understand the basics of electricity, do the math, take into account the wetness of the wood—all of it to make a table.
“I heard someone down at the hardware store talk about getting some new fancy LED yard lights and they mentioned your company. One of them even said now that you were on board, he was pretty sure Hanning would be even more tech forward.” Banks scratched his neck.
It was nice to hear that I had a good reputation—well, at least for now. I looked back over at Monday. Until she revealed her naked picture of me, or it was found out, then my reputation would take a dive for sure.
She’d taken out her phone and was scrolling on it. The server was standing near their table, and I watched as something finally caught Poncy’s attention. He was giving the server a very thorough once-over. Or twice-over.
Monday glanced up from her phone and her face changed as she observed Poncy staring at the server’s ass like he was trying to use telekinesis on it.
She stuck her tongue in her cheek and shook her head. I could almost hear the last straw breaking in her head. She slammed her palms down onto the table and the silverware hit the glass.
She didn’t yell, but I was also intently staring at her so I knew she had directed an “Enough” in Poncy’s direction.
Monday gathered up her purse and tucked her phone into the front pocket as Poncy did his very best to look like an innocent angel. “I can’t even look?” I heard him say.
Banks cleared his throat. “Hey, do you need to get involved over there in Angel Face’s situation?”
I grimaced as I thought about it. I mean, if Poncy tried anything dodgy, clearly I was going to make sure he didn’t touch Monday. But this was her boyfriend, who had come to visit. Sure, she and I kissed, but I had no idea how serious Monday had taken that.
She rested her palm on her forehead and took a deep breath before telling him, “That’s it. Don’t come back to my place. We’re done.”
Monday turned on her heel and headed for the door. Poncy tossed up his hands but stayed where he was, trying to catch the eye of any fellow diners. I dropped my gaze. It wasn’t cool of me to be prying in Monday’s life just because we were in the same restaurant and we’d kissed. Poncy snapped his fingers at the server and then downed the rest of his drink. “I need a refill. Now.”
I watched as the server pasted a no teeth smile on her face. No one liked being treated like a servant. Many occasions people referred to me as the help while I was working on their electricity and the tone went right through me.
“Let me just make sure that she has a ride home.” I pushed away from the table.
“Good, man.” Banks nodded at me.
I got to the front windows in time to see Monday sliding into the back of a vehicle. She had called a ride service. She would get home. Poncy was still here. I liked that I could keep an eye on him while Banks and I caught up with each other.
I loved that Banks worked through my distraction because he knew I was preoccupied. We’d known each other for far too many years. He knew I had my heart somewhere else.
CHAPTER 10
MONDAY
I was sitting on the floor, looking at the painting of Bear on my wall. I’d locked my front door. I was done with Poncy. Enough was enough. I was facing some real hard truths tonight. I was going to have to tell my mother that her dreams of a Nutwell wedding were very far off base, and it wouldn’t be easy.
I had real joy here in Midiville. I was staring at this painting and thinking about going back to school after the break. I had a student that was in a wheelchair and had a lot of difficulty communicating. His special education teacher had worked wonders with communication buttons and his adaptive iPad that was really letting us have insight on his personality. Leo’s excitement had been getting more and more apparent in art class. And I didn’t know why but looking at this painting gave me an idea. An electric idea. I’d love to make a painting and have Leo’s adaptive buttons painted on a large scale. A huge scale. A mural.
The satisfaction of painting things on walls felt powerful. It was like shouting. And Leo might never be able to actually shout, but for a while it’d feel like he was. I loved it.
I loved the idea and was instantly excited to think about the logistics of making it happen. I could design a whole lesson for the kids that emphasized memorializing their ideas, their opinions, or even just their likes.
I’d need a co-collaborator, of course. I’d have to be wired. Electricity. I snorted. Bear would be perfect. I wondered how I could bring that up.
That gave me joy. Not thinking about a fussy wedding to a man that had eyes for everyone but me in the restaurant tonight. It wasn’t that I was jealous, it was more that I realized I was wasting time. His and mine. Poncy wasn’t what I needed or wanted in a partner. Maybe being on my own had cleared my vision. Mom’s pressure that the Nutwells were a perfect match just wasn’t that important when I was dreaming up ways to help Leo make his art.
Earlier, Bear had met my eyes every time I dared to look over in the restaurant. That rush was something else. He was… dreamy. I touched my lips, thinking of him. I wish I weren’t letting my mother down so hard, but I knew now that it just wouldn’t work.
At that exact moment, Poncy slapped on my apartment door hard. It’d started raining. I mean, it was the middle of the night. I had to let him in to sleep, right? Right?
* * *
BEAR
I was sitting in my work truck watching this dick potato slam on Monday’s door. He’d drunk himself into a stupor while making snide remarks to the servers about how he was a man of means.
The valet wouldn’t give him his car keys when he was finally ready to leave.
I timed my departure with his, and Banks slapped me on the back on our way out. “So let me know when you get married to the chick that left him, or if you need to bury his body. I’ve got time.”
I stuck out my hand and we shook on it. We’d had a great night, and I appreciated his full support.
I followed Poncy’s Uber back to Monday’s apartment. And listen, I know that has a stalker flavor to it, but I had to be sure she was safe. Hanning men just don’t leave a lady hanging out to dry. I felt like she was a little trapped in the situation. And a chick that would bury a roasted chipmunk with a spatula was different. Caring.
I wanted to pound on Poncy. Maybe I had a little aggressive rage left over from Dad’s health incident. It’s really hard when someone you love is in pain and their worst enemy is their body.
I got out of my truck and walked in the direction of her apartment. All bets were off now. I was going to make sure she was okay.
CHAPTER 11
MONDAY
Poncy’s eyes were pointing in two different directions. It’s what happened when he drank. He had a lazy eye that was mostly kept in line, but if he was tired or inebriated, he seemed to have difficulty straightening them out. It occurred to me that he’d been drinking to that point at every date we’d had so far. Well, that dinner had been our last.
“Listen, I don’t understand why you have to be such a bitch. A man’s gonna look. That’s what a man’s going to do. You better be used to it when you’re dating me.”
He was pointing at me, his finger inches from my nose.
“No.” I slammed the door hard, and I heard him squeal on the other side. I was done making excuses for his behavior. I walked into my bedroom and dragged his suitcases through the apartment. I opened my sliding door and brought them out onto the porch. I lifted the smaller one first. I checked over the railing and saw that it was clear—no one would be injured after I chucked this luggage.
Then I picked up the second one. It was far bigger. Instead of pulling my lower back with the weight of it, I unzipped it and began pulling out clothes like a magician with a scarf in his sleeve. It was freeing. Expensive pants? Overboard. Polo shirts with the yacht club embroidered on it? Yeeted. Million-dollar electric toothbrush for his self-proclaimed movie star teeth? Heave-ho.
Then, when I’d lightened the load, I was able to tip the large suitcase into the yard. I was smiling. I wasn’t angry anymore. This was great. Later. Goodbye. Never again.
Poncy joined me on the deck.
“What the hell?” I stepped back.
“What the hell? You tossed all my shit out there?” He gestured to the yard.
“I locked the door.” I put another few feet between us, looking to get back into the apartment.
“Your mother gave me the key. Of course.” He held up the offending piece of metal.
“Of course.” That would be Mother’s way of trying to encourage Poncy to spend more time with me. Literally an invitation to her daughter. I snatched the key from his hand. His reflexes were slowed by the drinking, so it wasn’t hard to do.
“Give that back.” He was pointing again. “And you’re going to pick those up and take them to the dry cleaners tomorrow. That’s expensive stuff.”
Two more backward steps and I was able to get inside. As I started to close the patio door, Poncy grabbed the edge, preventing me from slamming it shut.
“Monday, stop this.” He tilted his chin up and tried to stare me down. Only his left eye was cooperating.
Movement behind Poncy made me flinch. A tall, dark figure spun Poncy and coldcocked him right in the face.
I screamed as Poncy fell to the porch like a boneless porkchop. The man that was the puncher leapt off the porch like Spiderman.
I felt my jaw drop, but then had the wits about me to close the door totally and lock it. I was saved. And I was screwed. In that order.
* * *
BEAR
I’d landed in the yard after swinging down from Monday’s balcony. My ski mask was in place and my hand was throbbing.
This was bad. Super bad. Not only did I have my naked portrait on the wall of this beautiful girl’s apartment but I’d just assaulted her boyfriend. My hand hurt so much, I was actually a little afraid I might have killed him.
I staggered back in time to see Monday shut and lock the door. The silhouette of her douchebag boyfriend (well, hopefully ex-boyfriend judging from all the clothes that had fallen in front of my face moments before I had to act) was still visible through the slats in the deck. She was safe and I was not. I needed to get the hell out of here.
I tried my best to look like I belonged, and even stopped to investigate a wire before I got to my truck and started it up.
An ambulance’s siren was in the distance. I shifted the old truck into drive. It might be time to address this whole thing with Mom and Dad because I may have just set all their plans up in flames.
Monday was safe, and that was all that mattered. I needed to head home. To my parents’ house, actually. It was time to confess to Mom and maybe Dad how much of a problem I’d created here. But first, I just waited. I couldn’t get myself to leave.
* * *
MONDAY
It was Bear that punched Poncy. I didn’t register it until after I was inside the apartment, but that had been Bear’s cologne that I’d smelled. My lady parts recognized it first, and then I did.
Poncy was flopping around on the porch. I had to call an ambulance for him because the sound of the punch told me it had to have done some damage.
