Page 49 of Collins
CHAPTER 27
collins
NOW
“Wait, don’t I know you?”He looks at me through eyes that just realized something’s familiar.
Fuck.I quickly dart my gaze to Johnnie, whose mouth is slightly open, looking between me and Greg.
“Uh, no, man. We’ve never met, but Johnnie mentioned your name. The fiancé, right?” I brush on the best non-panicked smile I can manage. Meanwhile, my insides are writhing.
“That’s right, the ex.” He shuffles from one foot to the other, placing his hands in his pockets, giving a tight-lipped smile. It’s been five years since I stood in front of this man. Truth be told, I never wanted to see his face again. Even though he had my whole world once, she no longer belongs to him. Reminding myself of that lessens my contempt for the man. A bit.
As much as I don’t want to leave her here with him right now, I’m starting to feel awfully damn uncomfortable with the way these two are looking at each other. Johnnie looks defeated butI’d be lying if I said I didn’t think she was somewhat glad to see him. I have no idea what the hell happened between them, but I can tell I don’t belong here right now.
“Well, good to meet you, man.” I start to head to the door, but think better of it and turn to head toward my girl, wrapping her up in a hug and placing a kiss on her cheek, while eyeing Greg the entire time.
Then, without a word, I slip out the door and pray to God that this situation doesn’t send Johnnie and me backward on any progress we’ve just made.
Well, fuck. My plans just went to hell for tonight. There’s only one thing I can think of to take my mind off the bullshit.
I don’t knowhow I managed to get this drunk, this fast, but it’s not often my brothers and I tie one on down at Houdini’s like we used to. I’d say we were overdue.
I didn’t bother driving here, just walked straight from Johnnie’s door through town to the bar. Crandall was riding by on his motorcycle just as I reached the front of the building. He parked and came in to see what was going on, and an hour later Campbell was here and the three of us were four tequila shots and I don’t know how many beers deep, playing a game of darts.
“Ouch. Fucker!” I turn around and find Campbell hysterically laughing as a dart protrudes from my ass where this idiot lodged it. Freaking out, I reach down and pluck it out, only to realize it was actually just stuck in my jeans, not my skin, thank god. “You asshole, I’m done with this game.”
Both of my brothers are laughing at me as I slam the dart down and go sit down at the bar. Grabbing the phone from my pocket, I shoot off a text to Johnnie.
Collins:
You good?
The tequila running through my veins isn’t enough to dull the ache in my chest. The thought of her being with him right now is about to eat me alive. It’s a special kind of hell. When I don’t see a response from her immediately, every emotion only magnifies. Of course this would happen. The moment I start to think I might be getting her back, fuckingGaryshows up. He’s probably on a mission to get her back. Who could blame him? What if he takes her away from me…again?
I stare at my phone for another few minutes before downing another shot and putting it back in my pocket.
It’s not exactly crowded here, but there’s a decent amount of people. My attention goes to the group of college kids over in the corner, setting up equipment for what looks like karaoke. Oh, great. I better get out of here before Crandall has us all up on that little stage trying to sing Shania Twain or some shit. He’s just drunk enough to do it. That one is always wild, but put a little alcohol in him and a whole new level is unleashed.
“Hey, Marty, can you cash me out? I think it’s time to call it a night.”
The gray-haired man behind the bar smiles at me and grabs my card, punching fingers at the computer.
Just as he’s handing the card back to me, two hands come down on my shoulders. “You wouldn’t be thinking about leaving us, little brother, now would you?” Crandall looks over to the karaoke set up and back to me.I fucking knew it.
Then Campbell puts a beer down in front of me, holding one of his own. “Come on, let’s do this. For old times’ sake.”
Dad used to have a karaoke machine in our basement growing up. We would put on performances for Mom when we were kids. Dad actually had a decent singing voice, but none of us brothers could carry a tune in a bucket. Mom would laugh and clap, watching us with pride, regardless. I miss laughing with them like that. Being a family like we used to be.
The grief of our current reality, no Mom and Dad, hits me, and I say, “Fuck it,” once again tonight, and pick up the beer bottle, heading over to join the twins and grabbing a microphone.
“You know which one we have to do.” Crandall pulls the hoodie he’s wearing up and over his head, throwing it on the closest table.
A few of the younger girls, who must be from the lake campus, are not so subtly swooning over his muscular, tattooed arms out on display.
He walks over to the DJ, starting a conversation we can’t hear over the current beat blasting through the speakers at the edge of the stage. Campbell and I look at each other, knowing what song he’s asking to play. We have a signature karaoke song, or at least we did. I can’t help but smile, ignoring the dizziness in my head and determined to focus on the moment and not the sense of trepidation I have about my love life.
The music fades away, and Crandall has the attention of every female in this place as he taps on the microphone and motions for us to join him.
