“No.”
He holds my gaze and smiles. “You can play your little girl games, but I will see what you’re hiding under all that flannel.”
“They’re call boobs, Ford. I think you’ve seen plenty of them before.”
Letting go of my wrist, he leans back in the booth. “Never yours though. A man needs goals to keep life interesting.”
Standing now, I really look at him. Man, I wish I could hate him. He’s a pig, but he’s also smiling in a rather appealing way. Not cruel, but amused as if we’re playing a game. I suspect he thinks I just won this round. This idea makes me smile.
Before Ford can make another move and change the momentum, I head for the door. I can feel him on my skin and his voice is in my head. I want to go back to the booth so badly and let him make me feel special. I know he’s had every girl and he’ll have a million more. Yet when he focuses on me, I feel like the only one who matters.
Once outside Suede, I ignore the horny couples surrounding me. The girls are pinned to the walls while the guys press against their wiggling bodies. I’d think they were unwilling, if not for the moans and giggles beneath the sounds of smacking lips.
Suede doesn’t have enough parking spaces for the crowd packed inside, so I parked Darby’s light blue PT Cruiser in the adjoining lot. As I walk across the first parking lot, I caress my wrist where Ford’s fingers held me. His touch felt good and I realize I’m lonely.
Darby and Lucky made my move to Little Memphis as easy as possible, yet I feel lost. Without my brothers, I’m left with only my dull life to manage. Ford promises fun and passion. He’ll give me at least one great night of sex. Is that really too much to ask?
I step over broken bottles and fast food trash. The Cruiser is still a bit of a walk when I sense I’m being followed. I glance back to see a guy feet behind me. His keys are out as if going to his car. Yet he smiles quickly and I know he’s been waiting for me to turn around.
I don’t react to his smile except to walk faster. We aren’t alone in the evening. I see people across the street plus the parking lot of Suede is packed with those horny couples. Traffic races past too. This isn’t a dark alley and I’m not the damsel in distress.
The guy walks faster too and I know I won’t get to the Cruiser before he reaches me. Turning around to face him, I stare hard while he smiles again.
“Cold out, huh?”
“Are you following me?” I ask, adjusting the keys in my pocket so the largest one is ready to act as a weapon.
“Guilty as charged,” he says, still smiling as he inches closer. “I noticed you at the bar and wanted to introduce myself, but you took off too fast. Pretty sad, huh?”
I step back. “I’m not looking to meet anyone. No offense.”
“You’re new to town. Couldn’t hurt to meet a nice guy.”
“I’m going to my car now. Leave me alone.”
“Tell me your name.”
A moment passes while I debate playing along and hoping he backs off versus running for the car. The guy has a big warm face, not at all threatening. On my first night in the strip club, my mentor Lori told me to be careful around the nice guys. They were usually freaks.
Before I step back, he’s already on the move. I turn and make a run for the Cruiser, but my tennis shoes slide on the gravel covering parking lot. Stumbling, I hit the panic button on the Cruiser’s keychain right before his body pounds into mine. The alarm is obnoxious and I don’t know if anyone will pay attention to it.
“Why you gotta be so bitchy?” he says, struggling to pin me face down against a car. “I just want to get to know you.”
My mother is an idiot about everything. Money, parenthood, men, everything, but she gave me one good bit of advice. Something my grandmother told her and grandma knew her shit.
Mom told me never to cry for help when attacked. People don’t want to get involved. Instead, she said to scream cuss words and make loud threats. After all, people love watching fights.
So as Nice Guy holds me against the car and kicks open my legs, I cuss as loudly as possible. Fucker, bitch, cunt, twat, herpes, shit eater… I scream anything I can think of. Nice Guy shoves me hard against the car and my hat goes flying. He seems to take particular offense to the mocking of his mama’s giant worn-out pussy.
Once I get my pinned hand free, I shove the key into his hip bone and he wails. Jabbing wildly and aiming for his crotch, I yell more obscenities. Nearby, people move closer. While they aren’t sure what’s going on, they want to see the show.
Nice Guy doesn’t notice them or maybe doesn’t care. Pissed now, he is close to taking away my keys. I throw back my head and nail him in the jaw.
He yells then I yell louder.