Chapter 28 #2
Over the next hour we indulge ourselves with so much food.
Sharing the pulled pork wontons and sweet chili brisket egg rolls.
We decide to try new drinks from their signature menu.
I pick the Spicy Peach. Which had the perfect combo of spice with the sweetness of peach.
You couldn’t even taste the alcohol, which is dangerous.
Harper decides on the Smoke Show. She drank it, but quickly reverted back to her usual drink. I give her points for trying, because I know she doesn’t always try new things with the fear of not liking it.
“Should we try some dessert?” I ask Harper, as I sip back the last of my third Spicy Peach.
Leaning back in her chair, Harper blows out a breath before she replies. “I think if I try to eat anything more I just might explode.”
“Fair enough, our eyes were drunker than our stomachs.” I remark, then laugh. I’m feeling good, the buzz of alcohol washing over me. Not too much where I’m sloppy, but just enough to relax me and have a good time.
A shadow covers our table and I look up to some big brute standing there with two drinks in his hand. They look like the drinks that we’ve had throughout the night. He places them on the table with this cocky smirk on his face as he straightens up.
“I saw that you beautiful ladies were all by yourself, and I thought it would be such a crime if you didn’t have some drinks bought for you.” He says with assured confidence that I do not appreciate it. “My name’s Trent.”
My nose scrunches up as I look this guy up and down. He’s average height, shaggy brown hair, with some five o’clock shadow appearing on his jaw line. He’s wearing jeans and a shirt that looks like it was picked up off the floor because it’s wrinkly and there appears to be… a stain on his chest.
“Hi.” I indulge him, “I’m Evie, that’s Harper.” I point my finger at the girl in question. Not taking my eyes off this guy because he gives me an uneasy feeling.
“Nice to meet you.” He says, grabbing a chair from the next table over and placing it backward before straddling it.
Oh, great. He’s staying. I internally cringe and hope he doesn’t stay long.
“So what brings you beautiful ladies out here to Westroth?” He asks, that cocky smile coming back to life.
“What makes you think that we aren’t from here?” Harper asks, no malintent in her tone, just a genuine question. That doesn’t stop Trent from glaring at her.
“I didn’t say that.” He grunts, “But I would recognize you if you did live here. I’ve been here my whole life. Besides, I’d have remembered your friend if she was from here.”
This mother fucker.
I watch as his eyes trail over my best friend, not with interest, but with distaste. I watch Harper fall into herself, arms wrapping around her midsection and I’ll have none of that shit.
“Is that so?” I start, Trent’s eyes fly to mine, and he puffs his chest, like he just gave me the best compliment ever.
“Well yeah, a gorgeous girl like you. I would have definitely remembered you.” He leans on the chair, locking his stare on me. “How come you’re here all by yourself tonight?”
“I’m not.” I state. “I’m here with my best friend and we’re trying to have a nice night out. Just the two of us. Without our partners, so that we can talk about how good we’re both getting fucked. Instead, we’re sitting here listening to you try to hit on me after you just insulted my person.”
Trent's face flushes slightly and I see the anger in his eyes, but I’m not done yet.
“Now, if you don’t mind. We were enjoying our nights, waiting for her boyfriend to come pick us up.” I wave my hand in dismissal, hoping he just gets up and leaves.
When does it ever go that way though? Our table rattles, the drinks Trent brought over here spilling over the table top as his fist slams down on the table.
I feel my body freeze, heart rate sky rocketing as I watch this guy throw a fit. Maybe I took things too far, but he made Harper feel self conscious and I don’t put up with that shit. I expected to be called a bitch or a tease.
Trent chose violence.
“You fucking bitch.” He seethes. “I come over here offering you drinks and conversation and you dismiss me? Who the fuck do you think you are?”
I bring my hands into my lap to hide the shake in them. Memories of broken dishes, screaming and belittling spiral forward but I quickly shove them away.
“I’m someone who doesn’t need your company.
Especially after you insulted my best friend.
” I can hear my blood pumping in my ears, so I don’t hear what he says next.
I watch in horror as things escalate and he stands up, while sweeping his hand across our table sending whatever’s in his wake in my direction.
My arms fly up to my face, and I hear Harper scream.
I’m up and in his face before he can even think and I’m shoving him back.
“You need to leave.” I demand, but he gets back up in my face and grabs my elbow in an iron clad grip. I try to pull out of his grasp but it's futile.
“Get your hands off me.” I grunt as I try again to pull out of his grasp.
Instead he pulls me forward so his mouth is right next to my ear. “Listen here you fucking cunt. I came over here to give you a drink and you insult me? You’re going to thank me for those fucking drinks, you hear me?”
I just nod my head, reverting back to what I know works with men like this. My elbow throbs as he moves me back and waits.
“Get your hands off her.” A voice booms across the restaurant. I look around Trent and see the chef who came out earlier storming across the dining room. Fury is falling off him and his eyes are set on the man who’s still holding my elbow.
“You come into my fucking business and not only did you break my shit Trent, but you’re putting your hands on a woman? Let her go and get the fuck out of my restaurant.” He seethes, the deep timber of his voice holds no room for arguments.
“You’re kicking me out Blaise?” He gapes, “Seriously? This bitch was being unappreciative and insulted me.”
“I don’t give two fucks if she told you you smell like shit.
You don’t put your hands on a fucking woman ever.
Period.” Trent lets go of my arm and I stumble backward.
In the next second Harper is by my side with her phone to her ear.
I’m assuming she’s telling Xavier to get his ass here now so we can leave.
“Man fuck you, and fuck this.” He goes to walk away, but the front door opens and two uniformed officers come walking through.
“Someone called in a disturbance?” The female officer says. Quickly assessing the restaurant and zeroing on the fuming man who’s storming through the dining room.
“Hey Georgie,” Blaise sighs, “Trent caused a scene and put his hands on a customer. He’s done, I want him out and charged.”
“Alright, I’ll need to get your guys statements, but let me get him in the cruiser.” She sighs, “Come on Trent, turn around, put your hands behind your back. Let’s not make this night any worse than it needs to be.”
“Fuck you Georgie, I didn’t do shit.” Trent slurs, he continues to yell and make a big deal.
I watch in horror as the officer and her partner end up having to pin Trent to the ground to cuff him before dragging him outside.
Harper hasn’t left my side, she holds my hand in hers as we stand off to the side. Kieran runs over with some ice for my elbow and some water. He talks quietly to Blaise for a couple minutes before Blaise pats Kieran’s shoulder and makes his way to us.
“I’m sorry for what happened tonight.” He starts.
“It’s not your fault, I –” I’m cut off before I could say anything.
“This happened in my place, I take this kind of thing seriously.” Blaise runs a hand down his beard, he has a blond patch in the middle of his beard, like a little white out area that differs from the brown of the rest of it.
“As a way to make up for it, your meal tonight is on the house, and next time you come here, if you choose to, that’s covered too. ”
I stare wide eyed at the man before me. “Oh you don’t have to do that.”
“No, I insist.” He tells me. “Do you guys need a ride? I can call you a cab if you need one.”
“We’re okay, my boyfriend should be here any minute to drive us home.” Harper tells him, “Thank you for everything you did, and for coming in when you did.”
“It’s no worries at all. I wish it didn’t happen at all, but …” He lets the sentence end, before shrugging.
Xavier busts through the door and heads straight for us. He takes Harper’s face in his hands and looks her over before he looks at me. He sees the ice on my elbow and his eyes wide before fury fills them. Nostrils flared, he looks past me to the cruiser outside and he goes to take a step forward.
Harper grabs him, “That won’t help anything, babe. We just need to give our statements then we can go.”
We spend an extra forty minutes outside the restaurant giving Officer Shae and Officer Quinn our statements. By the time we’re done, I’m sober and exhausted. My elbow has a soft throbbing, and I just want to get home and crawl into bed.
Climbing into Xavier’s truck, I rest my head on the cool glass of the window and close my eyes. Before I know it we’re pulling up to Monty and Josie’s and I see a figure pacing up and down the front path before they stop and the truck's headlights shine over the person in question.
Monty stands there rigid, but he jumps into motion when the truck parks. I watch as he rounds the truck and then my door is flung open. My eyes connect with the panicked chocolate ones of Monty’s.