I’m roaming the streets like a madman, trying to figure out where Karen went. She just walked out on us at the restaurant. With Daniel finally being true to his asshole colors its no surprise she had to get out of there. But she could've called me.

I don't get it because her car’s still parked in the same spot. I keep going around the block, trying to figure out if she was in a nearby bar or something. I don't know where she could've gone. Her phone is off one minute and then on the next. She doesn’t pick up the phone, but her line is busy and I have visions of her speaking to him.

Daniel.

Maybe she left the restaurant because she regretted being with me. But no, the guy’s a jerk; first he asked us to meet him and when we did, he starts taking personal jabs at us, practically calling Karen a whore. He never said it in so many words, but it was clear what he was getting at.

What was his problem?

Fuck, I don’t know what my mom ever saw in the man. No wonder Clara turned to drugs; all this time I thought that she was the issue, it’s now clear that Daniel’s got issues. Big ones. I decide to stop in a bar. It’s clear that Karen doesn’t want anything to do with me. She was probably talking to Daniel earlier and for all I know, they’ve hooked up.

What an idiot.

All this time, I thought that she was into me. She’s proved me wrong, yet again. As I open the door to the quiet bar, all eyes are on me. The bartender doesn’t even ask me what I’m drinking before I have company by my side. “Hey sexy!” a red-haired beauty says as she stands next to me at the bar. She’s wearing hot pants and her ass is out ready for me to pinch or rub.

I fake a smile, “Hey yourself.”

I don’t feel like talking after Karen left me at the restaurant and I couldn’t find her. Daniel shouldn’t have behaved like that, especially with Karen. I’m not sure why I reacted like I did, but Daniel was winding me up because he was acting like a jealous lover. Not a dad. Karen’s young enough to be his daughter, and he’s acting as if they should be lovers.

She can’t blame me for his behavior, but then again this shit was all messed up. I’m her stepbrother, and he’s her stepdad.

“What’s your poison?” I ask.

I need someone to help me forget Karen. She’s my stepsister. The last few days were magical, but they were a fantasy. One that this redhead may be able to help get out of my mind.

“A cosmopolitan,” she purrs as she comes closer toward me. She’s no way as meaty as Karen in the tits department, but she’s got booty. Maybe that’s why her chest is covered and her butt’s practically falling out of her shorts.

“Classy!”

She’s probably ordered the most expensive drink on the menu. I’m not even sure if this place does cosmos. It’s sporting an older crowd. The type that gets away from tourists and people.

There are a couple of TVs showing sports—one’s showing the basketball game and the other the latest football game. There are a couple of guys who look as if they’re happy to get settled for the night. They’re not talking, they’re just sitting back in the sofa chairs and sipping on their beers.

There’s nothing fancy in this place; they have wooden tables and chairs. It’s all mahogany and kind of basic, yet it feels as if it’s the right place to be.

“You’re new here, aren’t you?”

Her face is so close to mine that one turn and her tongue will be instantly fucking my mouth. There’s no doubt that she’s after something tonight and it’s not a free drink.

I manage to get the bartender’s attention and order the drink, “Cosmopolitan and a couple of tequila shots.”

She laughs, “Someone’s on a mission.”

I’m about to say something; she has no idea what kind of mission I’m on. It’s not just about drinking, it’s about making her so wet that she’ll be able to fill the shot glasses herself. The bartender nods and then he says to her, “Cherry I told you to stop getting customers to buy you drinks.”

That’s when I notice what’s going on here. “Do you work here?”

She nods, “Just finished my shift. Why?”

Damn, so she works here and then after she finishes, she gets suckers like me to buy her drinks.

“Well, we could just get out of here. My place isn’t far.” she nods toward the door. As soon as I finish the drink, that’s what I intend to do. I need to forget Karen, even if it means sleeping with someone for the night.

Anyone who isn’t Karen.

“That sounds like a plan.”

She smiles as if she’s won the lottery. I order a couple more shots; it’s the only way that I’m going to forget about Karen. This red-haired beauty looks nothing like Karen; she’s older, and more sophisticated. Besides, Karen’s most likely with Daniel, I reason, otherwise why would her car still be in the same spot? She’s probably driven him home because he was too drunk to do it himself.

Karen’s not even worth thinking about, I decide, after I look at my phone and after all the messages and calls I made to her when she bailed out of the restaurant. She hasn’t even bothered to call back. So, why does it bother me so much? I know that after a few more shots I seriously won’t give a fuck.

“Have another shot, pretty boy,” Cherry says to me, and a shot glass sets down with amber liquid being poured in.

I pick it up and am about to drink it.

When I think of the next one.

The shot will hit me good.

The next one after that will make looser and freer.

Cherry’s hands are already on my thigh. I know in two more drinks they’ll be in my pants.

I’ll go home with her.

Fuck her.

Make her cum. Hard.

And that’ll be it with Karen.

Daniel? I don’t know what’s going on there. But Karen will definitely be gone for good if I go down this path.

I might be mad at her now. But I’m not ready to throw it all away. Not yet.

I put the glass down back on the bar.

“I gotta go,” I tell a disappointed looking Cherry and I get up.

“You sure?” she asks me, clearly upset. I nod.

In a few minutes, I’ve left.

I need to find Karen. I need to be with her.