THEO

 

 

Why the fuck are some people unlucky in love?

I had the girl, she loved me, why couldn’t it work? Now, with the news of this turtle sanctuary, my anger surfaced. Turtles, really? I could go to the pet store and get her a few. Hell, I’d work three jobs to help her achieve her dream. What I would never allow was for her to marry Dex to get it.

Part of me wondered just how far Penny would go to save some fucking turtles. Sure, don’t get me wrong, turtles are cool and all, but come on.

It was her dream, though, and ultimately her decision. Who was I to judge?

I pulled my phone from my pocket as I left Lopa. Anger, confusion, and other emotions I never felt before, and more importantly, couldn’t identify, warred beneath my fire hot skin.

Fuck, it was hot outside. It was hot inside my mind too. Everything turning into this fiery inferno ready to explode to a rising temperature of molten lava. I got carried away, and what I needed to focus on was this shit with her father.

That needed to end, immediately. I wanted to keep the fucking Lopa. If Penny could have her dream, then why couldn't I? Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to give up my dream if she wasn’t going to sacrifice anything for me. It was that selfish thought which had me in turmoil. How could she be so selfish? Fucking turtles.

All I ever wanted was to own a club. But, everything was so confusing now. I didn’t know what to do anymore. So, instead of thinking about it, I headed down Ocean Drive in search of some afternoon solace to keep my anger at bay and something to douse this heat blazing within.

I landed myself on a barstool at The Mango Tropical Cafe and ordered up a drink. You fucking guessed right...Whisky neat, as always.

I tried to swallow the warm liquor, but something wasn’t sitting well with me.

Would Penny throw her life away over some silly turtles? Again, turtles are cute, but fuck.

Love, oh, what a tangled web we weave. I heard the saying before, may have even gotten it wrong, but the meaning was crystal clear.

When you love someone you go to great depths for that person. You move mountains, you write love songs. You weep over poetry written. You don’t fuck them over for turtles. Again, not the turtles fault, I know.

Ah-a, a list was in order. But what about? My life was in shambles. A web of lies and deceit. Ok, maybe not that dramatic, but I was drinking and feeling sorry for myself.

How To Fix This Shit

•     Run away with Penny
•     Break Dex’s face
•     Win the lottery
•     My head feels fuzzy

 

All viable options, highly unlikely though. I studied the last option. Was that an option? I was no closer to figuring things out when a hand slapped my shoulder.

“Hey, man,” Xavier said as he sat on the stool next to me.

“Hey.” My voice felt foreign. How many drinks did I have? My vision blurred slightly.

“How many have you had? You don’t look so good.”

“How’d you know I was here?”

“Theo, you called me.” Xavier’s laugh sounded distant, and I tried to focus on my phone. Had I called him?

My brain felt clouded, and I tried to shake it off. What the fuck was wrong with me? My limbs weighed close to a thousand pounds.

“What’s wrong with me?” Those four words were the last thing I remembered before closing my lids. I thought, maybe, just maybe, I saw Dex’s bright blue eyes shining down at me.

 

*** 

 

Seconds, maybe minutes later, I awoke. My head pounded. I scanned the empty parking lot of the club and tried to place where I was. Definitely not minutes, I would guess hours, judging by the empty parking spaces.

My lip felt huge, and I pressed my finger to it and brought back blood. My head split down the middle. I wanted to die.

Laughter behind me, a kick to the ribs, and I thought maybe I just might. Still unsure as to what the fuck was going on, I held my ribs as my attacker kept kicking. Disoriented, I tried to grab at the force behind my pain.

The gravel from the pavement pierced my cheek, as I curled along the pavement. Another blow to my face and pain erupted everywhere. There was nothing I could do to stop the onslaught of blows.

My left eye was swollen shut and out of my right I could see both attackers. Dex and Xavier.

Fucking shit.

I struggled to fight back but failed miserably. My body was weighed down by the alcohol or drugs they must have slipped me.

“Stay away from Penny,” a voice said, sounding like Dex.

I felt as if I was under water as the kicks continued against my back rendering me helpless. I needed to get up. Get to my feet.

Trying once, twice, and a third time, I failed. Nothing worked.

What the fuck was Xavier doing in on this?

The warm metallic taste of blood burned my mouth, and I leaned over spitting it out. When I stared up to Dex, he laughed.

“Theo, man, just stop and give it up.” Xavier moved to where I could see him clearly.

I tried to choke out some words, but nothing came out. Drugged and beaten to a bloody pulp by my brother and best friend. Could life get any worse?

“Why?” I shouted to Xavier.

“Fuck you, do you really think he’s your friend?” Dex laughed like a hyena. It really was quite annoying. Even bloodied and bruised, I still wanted to bitch slap him.

“Why?” I repeated for Xavier.

“Pardo just pays better. They hit me up while you were buying the Goat.”

“The P.I.?” I had to know if he was for real.

Xavier laughed. “Who Stephen? Yeah, that fucker is a janitor at a high school.”

Fuck. My mind couldn’t process what I was hearing. I’d been set up. From the very beginning. Was Penny a plant? She dated Dex before. Before I could even complete the thought in my brain, Dex kicked again. “Just stay away from her.”

They both left as I lie there, hurting. A good ten minutes went by before I tried to sit up. Not a soul around to even help.

I needed a hospital or something. I couldn’t even comprehend what I needed.

Managing to call a cab, I went to the only place where I would be able to assess my wounds.

“Blair, thanks for letting me come here.”

“Holy shit, Theo. I think you need a doctor,” she said as she led me into her two-bedroom house.

“I just need a minute, and then I’ll explain everything.”

She nodded as I walked past her to the bathroom. Lucy was asleep, thank God. She didn’t need to see her father in this condition.

I just hoped I didn’t need medical attention.

Fuck, the eye was definitely swollen. Busted lip. I raised my shirt and noticed the black bruises already showing along my ribcage.

“Do you have ice?” I asked, leaning my head out of the bathroom door.

She went into the kitchen, and I moved back to study my reflection in the mirror. The damage was bad but not hospital worthy. Just rub some dirt in it. I heard the saying many times before and laughed when I thought about actually doing it.

Ok, it hurt to laugh, so I wouldn’t be doing that anytime soon.

Blair entered the bathroom with a bag of ice, some pills, and a concerned look on her face.

“Here, take these. You’ll thank me in the morning.” She dropped two pills in my hand. “Well maybe not. Might kill you to say those words to me.”

“Oh, ha ha.” I filled a tumbler with water from the tap and swallowed the pills down. “Hey, Blair,” I said as she walked away. She stopped and peeked over her shoulder. “Thank you,” I whispered.

Another pity party began to unfold when I realized the thoughts I had while lying on the pavement.

Penny. Was she involved somehow? It would be really fucked up if she was. Was that why she didn’t tell her father to fuck off? I was an idiot.

Blair left, and I tried to take a shower. And by try, it was difficult to not wince in pain the entire time.

When I toweled off, I wrapped it gingerly around my body and headed to clue Blair in on what was going on.

She had already put my blood stained clothes in the laundry. I told her the important parts of the story as my eyelids grew heavy.

“Blair, thanks for letting me stay here.”

“Sure. And Theo, I’m sorry. Maybe this is in some weird way a plan to lead you back to what’s important in your life.” She laid some pillows and a blanket on the couch, and I thanked her. Her complete cryptic message lost on me.

The night’s events, maybe the drugs still floating through my veins, or the pain medicine Blair gave me had me passing out the minute my head hit the pillow.