SNAP (The SNAP Trilogy Book 1) (4 page)

"Whatever. It would be hot, and you know it. You just don't like the idea of people looking at you like that. Put it on."

No I don't like the idea of people looking at me like that. I didn't then, and especially don't now. She tosses the dress on the foot of my bed and goes back to digging in my closet. Why she looks is beyond me, my clothes never fit her tiny frame.

"I never would have found that if half your clothes weren't tossed on the floor. It looks someone ransacked the place lately. What gives?" she says from inside the closet.

Last night’s episode replays in my mind. Waking in a panic and wreaking havoc on my room. Nights are becoming a terror for me and my belongings are taking the brunt of my anger.

"Been too busy to clean. What are you wearing?" I ask trying to change the subject. I'm not even going to entertain the idea if she pulls out blue jeans and a tank. To my surprise, she pulls out a short mini skirt, some knee high boots, and an off the shoulder shirt that corsets up the sides. Touché.

"Fine, I'll try it on. Get the acid ready. You're gonna need it after this sight."

She rolls her eyes at me and starts getting dressed. I turn away from her and pull my oversized t-shirt off, slipping the dress on. It's tight, that's for sure, and I have to tug it around to get it where it's supposed to be. I look down at the cleavage that is up for display as I turn toward the mirror. There's a bump where my stomach is, but it's not as big as I thought it would be. I run my hands down my stomach and turn from side to side before turning around and checking out the back.

Wow, my ass does look good in this!

"Daaaaaaaaaaaamn, girl! You are wearing that, no if's, and's, or but's. You're gonna take home any man of your choosing tonight!" She slaps my ass hard.

"Shut up!" I swat at her and laugh. Gripping the hem of the dress, I start to pull it up, but Cady stops me.

"What are you doing?" She purses her lips and raises a brow.

"I'm not wearing this," I scoff. She couldn't be serious. I would not feel comfortable in this.

"Why not? You look hot in it."

"I look like a slut, Cady! I don't want people looking at me like that."

"You look hot. You only look like a slut if you act like one, and you never act like one. But you will get the attention you deserve and have your pick of the men tonight."

I look back in the mirror silently judging myself. This is not my style at all. Give me jeans and a nice top any day of the week. But it is nice to feel sexy every once in a while; to have all eyes on you and feel attractive. Well, it did once. The thought of having eyes on me now makes me nervous. As long as I don't get blackout drunk again, I should be fine.

I can do this. I need to do this. I can rock this dress.

A huge smile spreads across my face as I grab a pair of black platform heels that have a small peep hole at the toe out of my closet. I slide them on, fastening the straps around my ankles. Standing back up to my full height, I reach in the closet and grab a thin, dark red poncho that has gypsy coins dangling from the hem. The thought of hearing them jingle with my every movement tonight makes me happy; such a mellow and relaxing sound. Plus, it covers most of the dress.

Putting some hoops in my ears, I turn to see Cady zipping up her boots. We give each other the seal of approval before switching out purses and heading for the door.

"Tonight we are gonna own this town," she says as she dances out the door.

As hard as I try to avoid it, Maggie Mae's is the first stop of the night. I dread walking through this door. Mostly because I have the feeling I will end up behind the bar working, but also because I do
not
want to go to my place of employment dressed like this. My stomach twists in knots and I'm regretting wearing this dress.

"I wonder if Erick will be here." Cady wiggles in her seat with excitement.

"Maybe," I sing back to her trying to swallow down my anxiety.

The thought of him makes her glow and I'm so happy that she found someone who gets her this worked up. They've hung out quite a few times since I met him. She says there's nothing romantic going on between them, but he's been keeping her interest. That alone speaks volumes. If Cady is spending a lot of time with someone, then she hopes it will become more. I think the main issue is that Erick is a tad shy. Cady has no problem making the first move on a man, but I think she's scared she will chase him off if she moves too fast.

Grabbing our purses, we climb out of my SUV and start walking towards the door. I push the button on my key fob and hear the blip that tells me the car is locked up. I remember when I could leave my car unlocked in this town, but there are far too many druggies as of late stealing anything of value that could get them their next fix. Slowing down, I take an extra moment to settle my nerves and to keep myself from running back to my car.

"I swear to God, Cady, if they make me work tonight, I'm kicking your ass for making us come here," I say as I drop my keys in my clutch, hoping she will say we can leave.

"Tell those fuckers that it's your night off and you are not dressed to work."

"I don't know. I could make them a lot of money dressed like this," I joke with her as I attempt to boost my confidence. We smirk at each other as I open the door letting her enter first.

She stalks in there like she owns the place, and she kind of does. Cady is Maggie's most popular regular. All the old farts that sit around there wait to see her smiling face daily. She is definitely the sunshine of this place.

"Cady!" She gets the response that Norm does on
Cheers
. It makes me laugh.

She makes her rounds giving hugs and saying hello. As she gets to her spot at the bar, I hear, "Where's Hazel?"

"She's right there, boys." She winks at me as she sits on her stool.

"Wow! I didn't even recognize you. You look…hot!" Paul, one of the regulars, says to me making my face burn.

"Are you trying to say that I don't look hot every day, Paul? You better watch what you say; I serve your food and drinks to you." I chuckle at his fearful expression.

"Now you know that's not what I meant, darlin'," he stutters.

I pat him on the back to let him know I was teasing then put my arm around his shoulders. He laughs and puts his arm around my waist giving me a half hug. Paul reminds me of my father in many ways. If my dad saw me wearing this dress, though, hot would be the last word he would use to describe me in it.

"So tell me, are they gonna put me to work or do they have things under control tonight?"

Paul is here daily. He keeps me up to speed on the goings on when I'm not here. If he wasn't almost seventy, I would hire him in a heartbeat to keep these people in line. He gets onto the employees as much as I do.

"Oh, honey, you know this place doesn't run as smooth when you aren't here. They are lucky to have you. Why you stick around is beyond me. You are here 24/7 when you should be out being young, having a good time, snagging you a husband, and having babies."

"She should have no problem snagging herself a husband tonight!" A voice bellows from the other side of the bar.

My head snaps up, but I can't tell who said it. Cady and Paul laugh as my face turns red.

"Not funny!" I walk to the stool next to Cady and sit down. "I knew I shouldn't have worn this dress tonight."

"Take a chill pill, Hazel. That was a compliment." Cady bumps her shoulder into mine and grins.

I light up a cigarette and lay my clutch on the bar. Reaching over, I grab an ashtray off the ledge and sit it between Cady and I. She's busy bullshitting with Paul, so I take a moment to look around the bar at all the faces. It's early yet, so this place isn't packed. I see a lot of familiar faces and some not so familiar. One in particular makes me want to cringe. I try to look away, but Phil spots me and starts making his way over. I elbow Cady hoping she will help me. She glances at me wondering what I need, but before I can say anything, Phil is standing behind me.

He puts a hand on both sides of me trapping me between him and the bar. Leaning down, he rests his mouth next to my ear. The feel of his breath on my ear and neck sends a quiver through my body.

"Well, don't you look good enough to eat." It smells like he's been drinking heavily, and by the way he's acting I would believe that to be true. The only time he's spoken to me in this way was the night we slept together. Remembering it gives me the chills.

"Are you excited to see me?" he asks when he notices me shaking.

"No. You reek of alcohol, Phil. How much have you had to drink?" I glance over at Cady who is watching him closely.

"A few beers," he responds as he slides his hands up my arms.

"A few too many." Cady grabs his right hand to remove it and he slaps hers away. Her eyes are about to bulge out of her head and I swear I see steam coming out of her ears.

"Phil, I think it best if you go sit back down at your table," Cady grinds out.

"I think it's best if you shut the fuck up," Phil spits loudly, making those around us turn in our direction. "Now, Hazel here has been avoiding me long enough and I think it's time for her to realize what a mistake that's been."

Mistake? Oh, there has been no mistake you crazy ass, fucker.

I turn around on the stool bringing me inches from him. I take in his tall frame hunching over me and stare into his face. Ice blue eyes that look like they want to hurt me again stare back, but there's something different about them this time. They look even colder with his long beak of a nose protruding from his thin, gaunt face. The corner of his mouth starts to rise in a sickening smirk, as if he thinks he's won this battle. I hate to break it to him, but he's not winning this battle, and he's definitely not winning this war he started.

"Phil, the only mistake I made was sleeping with you." I try to keep my face calm and void of any emotion, but I can feel my anger bubbling below the surface. Disgust crosses his face as he pulls back a little before hiding it away and shoving his face back into mine. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see the shock on Cady's face. There will be questions later.

"You don't mean that. We would be good together if you would just give us the chance." His desperate plea falls on deaf ears. He tries to school his emotions, but I saw the depth of depravity in his eyes the night he tried to strangle me while we fucked. Nothing says psycho like trying to fight off your lover so you can breathe.

"I do mean that. Please leave."

He doesn't move at first, just continues to stare me down. It's becoming a little unnerving to say the least. My courage is waning the longer he stays. His eyes run through a gamut of emotions before the cold, hatefulness returns.

"This isn't over, Hazel," he whispers to me before turning toward Cady. "Quit dressing her like the cheap whore you are."

Cady's mouth drops open and I reach over grabbing her hand so she'll keep her mouth shut. Roger, my boss, overhears the comment and butts in.

"What's going on over here?"

"Nothing, just saying goodbye to the ladies," Phil answers with a smile. He looks at me one last time before turning to walk away.

As soon as he's out the door, I turn around on my stool and prop my elbows on the bar, hiding my face in my hands. Cady rubs my back letting me know she's there and to talk to her, but I can't. Not now and definitely not here.

"Thought you two broke-up?" 

Dropping my hands, I take a hit off my cigarette before answering Roger. "We were never together. Just went on a few dates. You'd think he'd take the hint. He doesn't like this place, so I know he came here looking for me."

"Well I don't know what's not to like!" Roger takes offense. He does own the most popular bar in town, but that still doesn't mean everyone likes coming here.

"I, for one, am glad he doesn't like it. That means I don't have to see his ugly mug in this place." Taking the last hit off my cigarette, I stub it out in the ashtray as Roger nods in understanding.

"Roger, can I get a gin and tonic, please?" I ask, not only to change the subject, but because after that oh so lovely public display of Phil, I need a drink. I turn to Cady and she is watching me with eyes full of questions. I have to tell her, now that I admitted to something I've kept secret, but it's not happening here. "What do you want to drink?"

Cady sighs and I mouth the word later to her. It seems to do the trick as she leans up against me. "How does that saying go? Beer before liquor…" she trails off.

"And you're never sicker. Liquor before beer…"

Cady chimes in with me, "And you're in the clear. Give me a Dreamcicle!"

"Ooooh, Roger, make that a double. Forget the gin."

"You got it, ladies." He winks at us.

We watch Roger mix up our drinks before popping stir straws in them and sitting them in front of us on a cardboard coaster. The phone rings and Roger turns around to answer it leaving us to our drinks.

"This night has officially begun," I say to Cady with a smile in the hopes of erasing Phil from our minds.

"Here, here!" She bumps her glass to mine and we toss the straws on the bar, tipping back our cups. It's the ceremonial chugging of the first drink. Something that started years ago, and we still do it every time we go out.

Before we are even done, Roger is standing in front of us with a look on his face that I recognize.

"No!" I am standing my ground. I will not be working tonight.

Cady shoots up off her stool and slaps her palm on the bar. "Hell no, Roger! Hazel has worked nonstop for the last two weeks. Plus, she's already started drinking."

We all look down at the empty glasses sitting in front of us.

"I know, and I hate to ask, but I have no one else to call. Everyone else has already pulled a shift today or is working now. It's only for a few hours. My daughter is sitting on the side of the road with a flat. I just need to go get her a tire and get it back on her car."

"A few hours? How long does it take to change a flat?" My voice rises and the other patrons start to look over at us.

"Please, Hazel? She's seventeen and doesn't need to be stranded on the side of the road with all these weirdos out there."

He's got me there. I know one in particular that I hate running into in crowded places. I'd hate for him to be the one to rescue me on a deserted road.

"I know she's only seventeen, Roger." I pout. "Dammit." Cady is telling me no with her eyes, but what's a girl to do?

"I tell you what. You work three hours tonight, and you won't have to come in tomorrow. It'll be slow since it's Sunday. Whatcha say?"

Cady slaps her hand on the bar again, a mischievous smile forming on her face. "Deal!"

What is she up to?