Chapter 18
Keep Your Herpes
What’s this now? Ending a marriage?
He shoots a quick glance at Charlie, and I see his lip twitch, and then I understand his game.
I yank my hand from his. “Adrian, you need to leave,” is all I manage to say. He’s knocked me off balance again and I have no come back.
He straightens his face, looking like a wounded husband. “Please baby, don’t do anything we’ll both regret.” Then with a sad smile, he turns, hanging his head, and slowly makes his way to Gemma and Max.
He’s good, I have to give him that.
Several people are watching me, obviously having heard the exchange. I turn back to Charlie and he gives me an insincere smile. He believed that shit.
Oh whatever.
I say an uncomfortable goodbye and make my way back to my table where Adrian is now sitting.
He’s leaned back in his chair watching me the whole way. His smile is not as satisfied as I expected, it's more like a boyfriend watching his girlfriend return to him. His smile reaches his eyes and I almost get sidetracked from my mission. Almost. When I reach the table, I give him a super sweet smile right before I pick up the almost full picture of beer and dump it over his head.
As he sputters through the beer dripping down his face, attempting to wipe it away, I lean down, getting my mouth close to his ear.
“You were pissed, I get it. Now we’re even,” I say, thinking I don’t have to apologize now that he pulled that crap.
Adrian stands quickly, surprising me, and wraps his arms around me, soaking the front of my clothes. "Baby, I'm sorry. I swear I’ll never talk to another girl again. I told you she means nothing to me. Please forgive me."
He says all this loud enough for the entire bar to hear, leaving everyone to believe I'm some crazy jealous girlfriend. This guy is good. I'm almost tempted to high-five him for a well-played comeback, but I still have a fight to win.
I push at his chest. “Maybe you were just talking this time, but the herpes prove you've done more with her than talk." This was also said loud enough for everyone in the bar to hear.
Everyone in the bar has gone silent, watching this drama unfold. When a chair scoots out from a table behind me, the sound echoes through the room. I look over my shoulder to see Katie standing, gathering her friends to leave. She shoots me a nasty look, then gives Adrian a sad one.
Nate speaks up from behind the bar. “Adrian, how about you take this conversation outside.”
Adrian smiles and glances quickly at Nate, before leaning between two guys, at a table next to us, and grabbing their pitcher. He lunges toward me in an attempt to dump the beer over my head, but I throw up my hands in defense, knocking the pitcher from his hand. It goes flying toward its unintended target—Katie’s table. I hear her scream before I turn to find her white tank top, soaked with beer, now completely see through. When her eyes meet mine, I see the fury.
“You bitch,” she bites out, before picking up the pitcher on their table and coming for me.
I have to force myself not to laugh at how ridiculous she looks rushing toward me. I easily deflect her attack, sending her pitcher into a table of guys. From there, chaos ensues. People begin dumping drinks on other people, who in turn, dump theirs on someone else. Most people are laughing in the midst of this beer fight, but not Nate. Over the laughter, and the sound of glasses hitting the floor, the bartender yells for Adrian and I to get out, making this my first official ejection from a bar.
I give Adrian my most irritated look, as I turn to shoulder my way through the room full of alcohol soaked patrons. I see his lip twitching in amusement and I have to fight back my own smile.
***
Adrian
I watch as Keegan stomps off across the parking lot. She’s trying to look pissed, but I saw her smile.
Okay, so showing her I didn’t care by allowing Katie and her friends to hang all over me didn’t work. I was already getting irritated by Katie when I saw Keegan heading toward the other guy. I was at Gemma’s table before Keegan’s ass was on the barstool.
Once I had confirmation that Keegan didn’t know the guy, I knew she was trying to make me jealous. So, I put a stop to her flirting before it went too far—purely for her own good.
I knew the marriage story would piss her off, but I’m starting to like pissed off Keegan. She’s adorable when she looks ready to kill me.
“You realize you’re crazy,” Max asks, interrupting my thoughts of my beautiful homicidal neighbor.
I nod. “What if I told you I’m gonna ask her out?”
I just decided I have to have more of Keegan Hughes.
Max laughs. “I’d tell you to be sure and wear a cup… no, wait… full body armor would be better.”
I know Max is right. She may be attracted to me, but Keegan does not like me. Plus, I still have to focus on my schoolwork, and chasing her would take time and energy.
Time to think creatively.