The Beginning of Us (225 page)

“Well, hello there, Jessica.” I smile at her.

“Nice to meet you, Slade,” she purrs like a kitten in heat, placing her hand on my chest.

I look over at Josh. “Let’s have a few more beers and then head to my house,” I say, unwrapping my arm from Jessica.

“May I come?” she asks, smiling softly while eyeing me up and down.

This is why I don’t fight over any woman. There’s no need for it. There will always be another one willing to lie down and spread her legs. Jessica’s cute, but I’m still kind of pissed off about the bitch that had me knocking her boyfriend’s head into the table. As much as I fuck around, I can’t stand bitches who won’t be faithful. If you want to fuck someone different every night, then stay single. It’s not fucking rocket science.

I turn to Jessica. I’m still horny as fuck, and I’m not going to let
Mr. Clean
keep me from getting a piece of ass tonight. I place a charming smile on my face and take a step towards her. “I assume you’re single?”

She takes a deep breath as her eyes meet mine. “Of course.”

I push her hair away from her ear as I lean down to whisper, “Then yes, I’ll have you coming all night.”

Samantha

Where in the hell is he?

I roughly place my phone on the bar and run a hand through my ponytail.

“Jax still not answering your texts?’’

Holly always seems to know when I’m in a bad mood. I can’t hide much from her. I haven’t really made friends with anyone other than Holly here at Larry’s. I’m a part time bartender and waitress and I’ve only met the owner, Carlson, once. Holly pretty much runs this bar herself, including all the scheduling, so she always makes sure to schedule me on a day when she will be working. Holly and her boyfriend Micah have become my best friends in the last few weeks. They are actually my only friends in this town.

When we moved here, Jax didn’t want me to work. He said I didn’t need to, and I didn’t think twice about it. I’m a bit of a loner and like to keep to myself. I’ve dealt with a lot of loss in my life. If you don’t get close to someone, then you won’t miss them when they’re gone. It was different with Holly, though, she is too sweet not to be friends with. And Micah has been helping me out since the moment I met him.

I look down at the clock on my phone.
Almost ten.
Last time he texted me was a little after six, and I could barely read that text because he had already been drunk off his butt.

I hope nothing has happened to him.

“He’s either too drunk to feel his phone vibrate in his pocket, or he is ignoring me.”
I’m thinking the latter.

I look up from my phone and catch Holly’s sympathetic eyes staring at me. She is about my height, 5’4, and petite in size. She has thick, black hair which she wears in a short bob. Her hair frames her heart shaped face, accentuating her big, creamy brown eyes. Right now, those eyes are telling me that she thinks Jax is up to no good. I’ve thought the same thing in the last couple of weeks, but wouldn’t I know if he was out with another woman? I’m sure word would get back around to me, or someone at Larry’s.

Someone would tell me...

Don’t get me wrong. We’ve had a pretty good relationship, even if it has
been
only been eight months. We had never even really had an argument until we moved here. Just in the last couple of weeks, something has changed and I have a feeling that he is up to no good. He would rather go out and party with friends that I haven’t ever met than be with me. I tried going out with him a couple of times, but it didn’t go very well. We ended up getting into it, both times, so now I stay home if I’m not already scheduled to work.

“Know what I mean?” Holly interrupts my thoughts.

I shake my head no, not having a clue what she has been saying to me. “I’m sorry?”

I take two Bud Light out of the cooler and scan the bar, checking on my customers. A few more regulars walk in and seat themselves.

Holly lets out an exasperated sigh, telling me she has something to say, so I put down the beers and turn my body to face her. My friend is obviously going to tell me how she feels about
my
situation.

“I don’t want to put bad thoughts into your head, but I don’t know how you can put up with all this shit. He goes out every night, comes home late, and ignores your phone calls and texts.” She crosses her arms over her chest, and I get the feeling it is so she does not start shaking me.

Maybe I need to be shaken.

“Not everyone has a perfect relationship like you do, Holls.” I grab the bottle opener out of my back pocket and pop the top on the beers. Holly and Micah have been together for three years. They have a wonderful relationship and are madly in love.

“I’m not saying it needs to be perfect. Look, I don’t know how to explain what I’m trying to say. Let me try again.” She takes a deep breath. “You’re beautiful and could have any guy you want. When you first started working here, you guys were a little rocky, but you were still smiling and happy. This past week, you’ve seemed so…..down.” She frowns.

“Geez, thanks.”

I know she’s right, but I just can’t seem to get out of this funk that I’m in. It’s hard to be happy twenty-four seven when you’re always wondering what, or who, your boyfriend is out doing.

“I’m sorry,” she says sadly. “It’s just that—” She uncrosses her arms and slumps her shoulders, clearly defeated.

“No, don’t worry about it, Holly.” I put a hand up, interrupting her. “I promise to work on my happiness.” I give her one of my big fake smiles as I walk out from behind the bar to deliver the beers. I hear Holly laugh.

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

I deliver the two beers and check on a new table that was just seated. “Hey, Sam. What’s going on tonight?” Henry, one of my regular customers asks as I walk up to their table.

“Not much, Henry. Just trying to stay busy working.”

I give the three business men a smile. I waited on them the first night I worked and have seen them every night I’ve worked since. They always come in together and they are always dressed in suits. I don’t ask questions, but I’m guessing they tell their wives they are working late and hit up the bar instead. “The usual?”

“You know it,” Henry nods, and I head back to the bar.

“Holls?”

She looks up from the cash register.

“After I deliver these three beers, I’m going to run to the restroom real quick. Everyone should be ok, but can you just keep an eye out for my tables? I only have the two.” I pop open three Budweiser.

“Sure, no problem.” She waves me off.

I pick up the beers and place my tray on top of the bar. “Here you go, boys.” I place each beer in front of them.

“I’m buying the first round, Sam.” Henry pulls out his wallet, handing me a ten. “Keep the change, darling,” he adds, giving me a smile.

“Thanks, Henry. I’ll be back to check on you three in a few minutes.” I turn and walk off, heading for the restroom.

For a bar restroom, it is very clean. Well, it is when Holly and I work. I walk over to the counter and take my phone out to check for messages.

Nothing.

I’m really starting to get mad. You know when you’re so mad that you want to cry in frustration? I’m almost there.

I put my phone in my back pocket and close my eyes, taking a few deep breaths. I need to calm down. I have a long night ahead of me, and it’s a little too early to freak out.

I open my eyes and stare at myself in the mirror. My bright green eyes look like they are on fire, and my long dark hair is up in a messy ponytail. I should redo it, but I just really don’t care what my hair looks like right now. I sigh as I put my head down. I need to get out there and visit with the customers. It will help keep my mind off of Jax.

The rest of the night goes by pretty slow, considering how busy it got. They say that before you die your life flashes before your eyes. Well, my relationship must be about to die because I start to think about the last eight months.

*****

I had just graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in business. It was that night, after my graduation, when Jax told me about his new job offer. I could tell something was bothering him, he had been acting strange all night. Not necessarily different, per se, but quiet.

We had just pulled up to my apartment so we could change for a graduation party with some of my classmates. As soon as we walked in, he turned me around and put his hands on my shoulders. I remember looking over his features thinking how handsome he was with his blonde hair, chocolate brown eyes and light complexion.

“Sam...”

I tensed. He never called me Sam unless he had to tell me something I wouldn’t like. I could see he was anxious, nervous.

“I got a job offer today. No, wait. That’s wrong. More like a promotion,” he continued as he pushed a stray piece of hair out of my face.

“That’s fantastic, honey.” I smiled at him brightly, still trying to figure out why his face has a sad look on it when he just told me he got a promotion. When did a promotion become a bad thing?

“You know I love you more than anything, baby.”

My smile falls off my face. My heart begins to race, and panic starts to set in.

“I can’t pass this up. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. They picked me out of four other guys to do this job.” His sad brown eyes bore into mine as he ran his hand over his cropped blonde hair.

“You’re scaring me, Jax.” My voice was shaky, and my palms were sweaty.

He took a couple of breaths while looking into my eyes. “It’s in St. Louis. I have to be there by mid-June.”

“You already accepted the job?” I couldn’t keep the hurt out of my voice. He hadn’t even bothered to talk with me about it first. Of course, I would have told him to take it. I would never hold him back when it comes to his career, but he should have spoken with me about it before agreeing. He had just moved in with me, for Pete’s sake. We were supposed to do things as a team, as a couple.

“Yeah.” He released my shoulders and stood up straight, rubbing a hand over his chin. He looked nervous all of a sudden. “I want you to come with me, Sam. We won’t be there for more than a year. You can get a part time job if you want, or hell, you don’t have to work at all. You can just live off the money from your dad. Plus, you’ve worked so hard these past several years to get your degree. You can just take a year off and just enjoy it. I’ve thought about it all day. Please, baby. Say you’ll go with me. I can’t be without you. I love you so much.” He placed both hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes, waiting for me to answer.

I couldn’t keep the tears from building, burning my eyes. He didn’t want to go without me. “Yes, of course I will go with you.” He pulled me up into a big hug, his lips covering mine. “I love you.” He kissed me, then pulled me toward our bedroom. “I love you, too,” I breathed as we laid down on our bed, thinking it wouldn’t hurt to show up at the club a little late.

*****

I pull myself out of that memory, remembering how much love he once had for me. That was just over two months ago. Now I feel like I’m in an imaginary relationship; always texting and calling an imaginary boyfriend who never responds. He never makes time for me, or even pays attention to me when we happen to be in the same room together. The only time I ever see him is when we’re in bed, but he’s always asleep.

I guess I was wrong when I thought that love could last. I don’t know why I ever thought it would anyway. I come from a broken home, child of divorced parents; I should know these things don’t work out.

I catch sight of Micah walking into Larry’s. He’s tall, just over six feet, with hair so dark that it sometimes looks black. His eyes are dark blue, shockingly blue, against his olive skin, and he has the body of an athlete. Not only is he good looking, but he is a really nice guy which is kind of a rarity these days.

“Hi, Micah.” I finish wiping down a table and turn around to walk behind the bar.