I was about to whirl when my eyes caught on something all the way across the bar.
Lounging, shoulders against the wall, was Lee Nightingale. Next to him, at first horrified glance, I thought was Hector. Staring in shock, I realized it wasn’t, it was someone who looked like Hector but was just a shade less rough around the edges. By the look of him he had to be related to Hector however. There was no way they weren’t blood.
The Rock Chicks hadn’t seen me but Lee and his companion most definitely did. Both of their eyes were locked on me and after a second Lee started to push away from the wall.
I decided it was time to go.
I whirled. “We have to go,” I said to Buddy and Ralphie.
They were both stopped just inside the door, looking down at me and I saw the surprise hit their faces.
“Go? Why? We just got here,” Ralphie said.
I put my hand to his chest and leaned in. “We have to go. Now. Just go.”
Ralphie resisted the lean, his eyes scanning the bar as Buddy asked me, “Are you okay?”
No, I wasn’t okay. But I wasn’t going to explain it, not now. Maybe I’d do it later, like tomorrow or, say, when I could explain it (which might be never).
I knew the moment Ralphie saw the Rock Chicks, I saw his face register recognition. He smiled over my shoulder then he waved.
I grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand down. “Don’t do that! Turn around and go!”
“What’s goin’ on?” Buddy asked.
“We are not going,” Ralphie said to me, his voice telling me he was digging deep into his battle trenches and when Ralphie dug in, Ms. Townsend, Ice Princess or even Sorceress of the Antarctic would never win the battle.
“What’s goin’ on?” Buddy repeated.
I didn’t give up. No, actually, I couldn’t give up. Too much was at stake.
“We’re going,” I said to Ralphie.
“Are not,” Ralphie returned.
“Are so.”
“Are not.”
“We’re going!” I yelled.
“What’s goin’ on!” Buddy shouted.
“Sadie,” Lee Nightingale said.
I looked to my left then up and saw Lee standing there.
Someone, please tell me Lee was not standing there.
Someone else, please tell me that Had-to-Be-Hector’s-Relative was not standing beside him.
This stunk.
I dropped Ralphie’s wrist and turned to Lee.
Luckily, I wasn’t casual, barefoot and in a huge sweatshirt. I had on my armor. A bone-colored, pencil skirt, a matching, fitted, silk-knit turtleneck and a pair of lush, beige, spike-heeled Jimmy Choo boots. My hair was pulled severely away from my face but burst in a riot of waves and curls from the clip at my neck. I had a thick, heavy, pure gold bangle at my wrist and long, wide, gold hoops at my ears.
Barring the cast on my wrist it was the Ice Princess Outfit to end all Ice Princess Outfits.
Therefore, as I was unsuccessful at avoiding it, when the time arrived, I was ready.
“Lee,” I said, assuming Chill Factor Sub-Zero.
Lee ignored the Chill Factor Sub-Zero something, by the way, which was happening all the time these days and it was beginning to get on my nerves.
“How are you?” Lee asked, his voice not professional or cordial but warm and genuine.
“I’d be a lot better if people would stop asking me how I was,” I replied immediately and icily. “I got raped. Unfortunately, it happens every day.”
“Sadie!” Ralphie hissed angrily from beside me as I watched Lee flinch.
He actually flinched, like I’d slapped him across the face. Which, verbally, I had.
I was such a bitch.
My stomach clutched and if I didn’t get away I was going to start crying. And that could not happen.
I turned to Ralphie and announced, “I need a drink.”
Ralphie was having none of it.
He switched on the attitude, complete with hand on hip and clipped, “What you need to do is apologize to Mr. Hot Guy here.”
I glared ice daggers at Ralphie but he didn’t back down.
“Fine,” I declared, giving up in order to get away. “I’ll get my own fucking drink.”
Then without looking at Lee or Hector-Relative-Guy, with back straight and head held high, I walked to the bar.
I stopped at the bar telling myself I could do this. This was a walk in the park for me. I’d survive this and whatever next torture life had to offer me. I could survive it all.
The bartender asked me what I wanted and I told him, “Three lemon drops. No wait! Four.”
I was going to double up. I’d need serious vodka flowing through my veins to get through this night. And get through the night I would.
Fuck them. Fuck them all. Fuck the world!
“What was that all about?” Buddy asked from beside me and I looked at him then over my shoulder toward the door.
Ralphie was talking to Lee and Hector-Relative-Guy and now Indy and Daisy were with them.
Darn.
I turned back to the bar.
“That was Lee Nightingale,” I informed Buddy.
“I know, after you played the screaming-bitch-from-hell and flounced away, he introduced himself,” Buddy replied.