Chapter Four
Mark
“ W ho was that?”
I shoot McLanahan a scowl as I hang up the call and stuff it back into my pocket. “No one,” I tell the nosy fucker.
“Come on,” he groans, tapping on the bar. “Tell us. We’re old.”
I pause cleaning the bar to arch a brow at him. “And this is going to make you young all of a sudden?”
“Hell yeah,” Johnson says, agreeing with the old fart. “We need to live vicariously through you. We’re old and married. Our life is over. You’re still young.”
I almost scoff at the ‘our life is over’ comment. That’s what marriage does to you, I guess. I wouldn’t know since I was smart enough not to go through with it. Or dumb enough to get cheated on. Jury’s still out on that one.
“I’m thirty-four,” I point out, returning to cleaning up the table. While these guys might consider that to be young, seeing as they’re well into their fifties, there’s a certain someone who would call me old. My mind drifts to her immediately, and I guess I can kind of see why she’d think that. I’m ten years older than her. She wasn’t even alive when my favorite movie was in the theatres.
Christ.
“It was the girl from last night, wasn’t it?” McLanahan asks with a laugh as he shakes his head. “I swear I called it the moment I saw you talking to her.”
I keep my damn mouth shut, not wanting to give him the satisfaction.
“Wait. What girl?” Johnson asks, his curiosity peaking as he glances at me for information. “He met a girl?”
“I didn’t,” I cut in. No one fucking listens to me, apparently, because McLanahan nods.
“He sure did. Cute young thing. Danced with her and everything.”
That gets Johnson going, a smirk spreading across his face as his eyes twist to me. “You danced with her?” he asks as if I’m allergic to the word.
“She’s twenty-four.” I glare at them both. “Have some respect.” McLanahan lets out a low laugh, gulping down his beer. “And I didn’t meet a girl. She was a customer. Came to get a drink. She was drunk, and sad, and…” I breathe out a sigh. I’m never going to live this down. Am I?
“I’m drunk and sad all the time,” McLanahan says with an amused look on his face. “I don’t see you dancing with me.”
I shoot him a glare, pulling his glass away. “I’m cutting you off, old man.”
“Fuck no.” He grabs the glass, pulling it back toward him. “This is my only happiness right now,” he says before letting out an aggravated exhale. “Maurine wants to adopt another cat.”
“Lord have fucking mercy,” Johnson joins in, shaking his head. “How many do you have now?”
“Five.” The poor fucker shakes his head. “I swear I have a furball permanently lodged in my throat.”
“Meow for me,” Johnson replies.
McLanahan flips him off. “Fuck off.”
I shake my head. “You two are like ten-year-olds.”
“And you’re deflecting,” he says, lifting his beer at me.
I glance at the door when it swings open, and shoot him a glare. “I’m working,” I say, turning around to grab a clean glass.
McLanahan nods, letting out a low hum. “You know you can work and talk at the same time, Mark. It’s the beauty of being human.”
I cast a sideways glance at them, a crease forming on my forehead. Fuck it. They’ll never shut up otherwise, and it’s not like I have anyone else I can tell this shit to. Well, there’s always Murray, but all he does is bark, eat and sleep.
I place the empty glass on the table. “She wants me to help her get a date.”
McLanahan whistles.
“Oh, boy,” Johnson says.
“What?” My face falls into a frown. “You don’t think I can do it?” I mean, I didn’t think I could do it, but now these guys are agreeing with me, and I don’t fucking like that at all .
“Your last girlfriend was five years ago,” McLanahan points out, stating the fucking obvious.
“And it went horribly wrong,” Johnson adds.
“You know damn well that wasn’t because of me,” I reply, my brows dipping. Everyone here knew what happened with Sasha, and honestly, it was a fucking kick in the nuts to have my life spread out for everyone to see like that.
“True.” Johnson taps his glass. “But what the hell do you know about dating?”
“Have you even dated anyone after Sasha?” McLanahan asks.
My teeth grind against each other. The answer to that question is a big fuck no . They’re right. I know they are. I’m not even close to being the right person for what she’s looking for. But Bambi doesn’t fucking give up, and it’s impossible to say no to her.
“I told her that.” I lift my shoulder in a defeated shrug. “She just won’t listen.”
“Hell.” McLanahan laughs. “I’d be better than you. At least I’m married.”
“Do you know why she wants you to help her?” Johnson asks.
“She said she can talk to me. Whatever the hell that means.” I’ve only met her once, but I doubt she has a hard time talking. Both times I’ve talked to her, the girl doesn’t seem like she has the capability to shut up.
“Maybe she’s lonely,” McLanahan points out. “She did get dumped.”
“She wasn’t dumped. He just didn’t show.” And it fucked with her head. I could tell when she was downing drink after drink, and spilling her guts about how she was going to end up alone.
I know what it’s like, being alone. And while I might prefer having my own space, and living in peace and quiet, that shit gets lonely sometimes. Someone like Holly doesn’t deserve to live like that.
“So, what did you say?” he asks.
“I said yes,” I admit.
“Really?” Johnson asks with a laugh. “You said yes?”
“It was hard to say no, okay?” Like really fucking hard. It was a challenge last night when she asked me with those big, sad eyes, but hearing her the next morning telling me I was exactly what she needed…
She might regret asking me later on, but if she wants my help, then I’ll fucking do whatever I need to help her.
“How hard can it be?” I say. “Any guy on the street would fall face first at a chance to be with her.” There are worse women out there. That girl can’t have this much trouble getting a date. “I doubt it will take me long.”
“Good luck,” McLanahan says with a laugh.
“With what?”
“If she doesn’t end up killing you by the end of this, I’ll be surprised,” he says, shaking his head.
“She won’t kill me,” I say dryly. “She’s a short little thing.”
“With a big personality,” the old man points out. “She’ll drive you nuts. Trust me on that.”
He might be right about that. I’m used to peace, and quiet, and Holly is anything but. “It won’t be for long,” I assure them. “I’m sure this whole thing will end in a week, tops, and then she’ll be out of my life.”
“Oh shit,” McLanahan says, glancing behind me. “Heads up, bud.”
Twisting my neck, I glance up and my stomach churns when I see Mia climbing down the stairs. “Fuck.”
I race out from behind the bar, and rush toward her, grabbing onto her frail arm on the railing. “What are you doing here?” I ask her, my heart pounding out of my chest. “I told you if you wanted something, to call me.”
“Oh.” She pats my cheek. “You worry too much.” For good reason . “I was looking for Charles.” I squeeze my eyes closed. Shit. “Do you know where he is? He hasn’t been up for his tea yet,” she says, looking around the bar.
She was having such a good fucking week, and now we’re back to square one. I gulp as I glance back at the guys, whose face has dropped. I fucking hate them seeing her like this. I glance down at her nightgown. “He’s…” Dead . “He went to get some food,” I say instead. “He’ll be right back.”
“Oh.” The wrinkles on her forehead deepen as she frowns. “That’s good. I’m starting to get a little peckish.”
“I can make you some food.” My throat constricts as I try my fucking hardest to let some air into it. “What would you like?”
“I’d love some tomato soup.”
“Okay.” I nod, forcing my lips to twist into a soft smile. “And a grilled cheese with that, right? ”
She smiles. Breaks my fucking heart. “That would be lovely. You know, Charles made me a grilled cheese on our first date.”
“Yeah.” Can’t fucking breathe. I swallow hard. “I know. Why don’t I take you back upstairs, and I’ll make you some food. Okay?”
Her frail hand reaches up, tapping my cheek. “Such a lovely man,” she says. “I wish we had a kid like you.”
My fucking throat still won’t move as I nod, blinking away the stinging feeling in my nose. They never had a kid of their own. It just wasn’t in the cards for them. So they took me in like I was theirs.
“Why don’t I take you upstairs, Mrs. Benson?” Johnson asks, lifting off his chair.
I swallow, glancing at him. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” He shoots me a sympathetic smile. “C’mon,” he tells her, wrapping her arm around his while he helps her climb the stairs.
“She isn’t doing better?” McLanahan asks.
I shake my head. “Some days are better than others, but…” Eventually, they’re all shit.
“You ever thought of putting her up somewhere?”
“Fuck no.” I glare at him. “That’s not even an option.” I would never put her in the hands of someone who doesn’t even fucking care about her. She took care of me when she didn’t need to. So I sure as fuck am going to take care of her.
“Sorry man,” he says, raising his arms. “I was just throwing ideas out there. ”
I shake my head to tell him it’s fine when my phone rings again. No one fucking calls me, which means there’s only person it could be.
I’m in a shit fucking mood but I reach for my phone anyway and read her text, seeing a dropped pin location.
Holly :
I know old people wake up at like 4am. But I don’t function before 9am and a bucket of coffee.
I press my lips together, amusement flashing in my eyes. I doubt she needs any more energy.
McLanahan clears his throat, making my head lift, seeing him smirk. “Are your cheeks… red?”
I lower my phone and glare at him. “Drink your damn beer.”