Chapter Eight
Alyssa
“Wow, you look fuckin hot,” Bruce spewed, reaching his hand towards me as I walked by.
“Watch your language,” I warned, pulling away from his hand as it slid across my backside.
“She’s in her room,” he snarled, looking towards the hallway where Holly’s room was the last door on the right.
“It doesn’t matter,” I sighed.
I wasn’t in the mood to go out. Bruce insisted we go out to celebrate his promotion, but I didn’t see the need. It wasn’t a promotion as far as I could tell. It was just a glorified title upgrade. He was promoted to head mechanic: more hours, but no more money.
“I love that dress,” he growled, sucking down his beer and reaching for another one from the cooler by his feet.
Bruce leaned back against the couch cushion, his knees wide apart and poking out towards the coffee table. He grinned, watching me finish brushing out my hair. I knew that look all too well. He was horny, ready to forget the night out and stay in the bedroom, but that would pass soon enough. Another beer in his system, and he’d roar that he was ready to roll, slap me on the ass, and then, of course, have me drive while wearing my high heels. What did I see in this guy?
“Is he here yet?” Holly asked, poking her head from her bedroom door.
“Not yet,” I smiled nervously.
I was still uneasy about sharing my daughter, even though it was with Liam, her father.
“At least I’ll finally get to meet this character,” Bruce smirked in my direction.
“Please don’t be rude,” I pleaded, knowing Bruce had a tendency to come on strong when he was threatened.
“Why would I be rude? I just want to get to know the man that’ll be in my step-daughter’s life,” he winked.
A smile forced onto my face only to be polite. Bruce had hinted about marriage several times, but I knew he’d never ask. What I didn’t know was if I’d accept if he did.
“Just try to be nice,” I sighed.
I stood in front of the large mirror on the living room wall. My blue dress was tight and short, and my fingers whitened at the knuckles as I tugged on it, pulling it down lower onto my legs.
“I can’t wait to get you outta’ that dress,” Bruce hissed.
His charm was lingering as vulgar to me, instead of its usual effect of making me giddy. For the first time, I was beginning to see Bruce as others saw him: as kind of a jerk.
“In fact, let’s just take it off now since you’re fidgeting. I don’t know why you just didn’t wear jeans tonight. You’re making me look bad,” he chuckled.
My long dark hair flowed down my shoulders, perfectly brushed, and my makeup was applied flawlessly. I’d picked this dress, for the reason I thought of Bruce’s promotion, but now I was thinking it may have been for another. Was I trying this hard for Liam?
“I just wanted to look nice,” I muttered, still wondering for who.
Bruce had that ‘ready to pounce’ look in his eye, and I knew he’d be frustrated by my constant rejection. After all, this was supposed to be his night.
A loud knock on the front door, followed by two more, pulled me away from Bruce’s attempts once more, this time with a good excuse.
I moved to the door and opened it to Liam. He stood tall, wearing a button down black dress shirt, black slacks, and gray cowboy boots. My eyes moved up from his outfit to his eyes, so blue they instantly swallowed me like a rogue wave in the sea.
“You look stunning,” he smiled, his voice as thick as honey dripping from his lips.
“Thank you,” I whispered, opening the door to let him inside.
Bruce sat up, scooting to the edge of the couch as he pounded the rest of his beer with one gulp. His eyes were locked onto Liam, waiting for an introduction, a challenge, possibly for him to become intimidated and retreat, never to be seen again.
“Liam, this is Bruce,” I broke the tension with a quick introduction.
Bruce didn’t get up. Instead, he sat in his spot as if guarding the territory.
“Nice to meet you,” Liam said politely, moving towards Bruce with his hand extended.
“Dad!” Holly roared as she rushed down the hall, into the living room, and directly into Liam’s arms.
Liam didn’t seem phased by her overly sweet greeting. Instead, he knelt down to her level, scooping her into his arms with a warm embrace.
“You look amazing,” he whispered in her ear.
Holly gripped the ends of her skirt and twirled with red cheeks to show off her new dress. She’d spent as much time as I had getting ready for her date: a daddy-daughter date, she’d called it.
Bruce looked disturbed by the interaction, and I knew he’d surely say something rude if given any more time to ponder.
“Everything she needs is in her backpack. If you need anything, just call,” I said, handing the bag to Liam.
“Call Maria. We’ll be out late,” Bruce chimed in.
“Unless it’s an emergency,” I corrected, giving Bruce a quick glare.
“We’ll be fine,” Liam assured me.
Holly’s smile was wider than I’d ever remembered it as she took her dad’s hand and walked out of the door. Liam, on the other hand, had a cool face as he gave Bruce a quick nod before exiting.
I was relieved they were gone, away from Bruce’s glares.
Surprisingly, Bruce didn’t comment on Liam after he left. I’d expected a snide comment, something crude, but he just got up and took my hand.
“You ready to go?” he asked sweetly.
I nodded.
Bruce handed me his keys and leaned in for a quick kiss on my cheek. “Do ya mind?” he asked.
I knew he’d already been drinking, so being the designated driver for the night was expected. It was like that most nights.
I was surprised when Bruce told me he’d made reservations at the steakhouse just outside of town. It was new, nice, and a little pricey. We normally grabbed the special at the local diner, and then hit up the bar on the corner for a few beers while listening to the band.
Bruce quickly got out of the car as I parked, moving to my door before I could open it myself. He pulled on the handle and met me with a wide grin and an extended hand, something he’d rarely done before.
The line rolled out of the steakhouse’s front doors and into the parking lot. Bruce gripped my hand tightly and maneuvered his way through the crowd. The woman at the hostess stand looked stressed but offered a smile anyhow.
“Do you have a reservation?” she questioned.
“Yes,” Bruce said proudly, and then gave her the name.
Her exhausted look faded into a more calmed smile as she pulled out two menus from under her podium and ushered us to a small table in the back.
“You do look amazing,” Bruce said as we were left alone at our table.
“Thanks,” I blushed, remembering that Liam used those exact words.
As soon as the waitress arrived, Bruce ordered two drinks, sending her away towards the bar. I was starving, but it was obvious Bruce was more concerned with getting his next beer.
“So, you still plan on trying this carnival thing?” he asked, watching over my shoulder anxiously for the waitress.
“Fall carnival, and yes,” I answered.
I started explaining my plans, but he gave little personal attention to me during my details. His beer was delivered in front of him, releasing his tortured eyes from their daunting job of tracking the waitress in anticipation of it. She placed a yellow cocktail in front of me, something with a goofy name that Bruce ordered for me.
“Are you ready to order?” the waitress asked.
Bruce was ready to send her away, giving him time to down half his beer and order a new one before putting in his meal selection; I could see it in his eyes.
“Yes,” I quickly interjected, stopping him from prolonging my dinner any further.
Had he always been this selfish?
He looked irritated as he picked up his menu for the first time, scavenging through it for something edible from the four-star restaurant.
“I’ll have the catfish,” I smiled, handing the waitress my menu.
“Bring me the lobster tail and porterhouse,” Bruce spouted, leaning back in his chair like a king, leaving the menu on the table for the waitress to lean in and scoop up.
I’d been conservative with my order, deciding on the special that was priced lower than the other meals. I knew Bruce had gotten the promotion, but he didn’t get a raise. He could barely afford his bills. I started to feel guilty about him taking me out to a place like this and not feeling more connected to him. Truth was, I felt very distant from him for some reason.
“Why don’t you just let the old gossip hounds make their pies?” he questioned.
“I think it would be fun to have something new, something exciting. I’m tired of the same old thing,” I groaned.
His eyes widened as they stared across the table.
“I think it’s stupid to try and fix somethin’ that isn’t broke,” he commented.
“It doesn’t have to be broke to be boring,” I argued.
“I just mean, you have enough on your plate already. Why add more?” he questioned.
“I think a change would be good for me,” I snapped back, realizing my tone was harsher than expected.
Was this about the fall carnival still or some other change I wanted in my life?
The conversation halted as Bruce waved down the waitress for another beer.
I looked around the room in our silence, watching other couples smile and laugh as they enjoyed their meals. I wasn’t as happy.
I was grateful when the waitress brought our meals, giving us something to do besides sit there awkwardly.
Four beers, two finished meals, and a skip on dessert later, the bill arrived. Bruce reached behind him, fumbling, and then offered up a wide, nervous grin.
“I left my wallet,” he whispered.
This wasn’t the first time that Bruce ‘left his wallet’ so I wasn’t sure why I was so surprised.
“I got it,” I sighed, snatching up the bill.
It was more than I made in two nights at my second job. Bruce finished his beer as I slid my credit card into the black envelope with the bill.
“Thanks, babe,” he gushed, reaching across the table to hold my hands.
I didn’t want to hold his hands. I didn’t want to be there. I wanted to just go home and climb into my bed alone.