Chapter Five
Caine
I have never in my life wanted to punch my brother more than I do right now. And that’s saying a lot because he pisses me off daily, maybe hourly. The need is so strong, my jaw is hurting from repressing the urge.
“You want me to leave you here and pick you up in the morning?” Patrick asks me with a wink after Pamela walks away from our table again. “Might do you good to get your dick wet.”
“I thought we decided to not go after Salad McCrazyson,” Micky says as she slices into her steak. She’s not even offended by his crude words. “Oh my God, this is so good!” she moans with her mouth full, completely unperturbed by my brother’s crass statement. She shuts her eyes and chews.
I adjust myself uncomfortably in my seat at the sound. This woman is killing me.
“He’s not leaving me here with Pamela. And don’t call her names,” I say and inwardly wince because I sound like a parent.
I tense when Micky leans into my shoulder, turns her head and whispers, “If you don’t want me to call you Daddy, stop acting like one.”
Fuck me!
This has to be the most painful dinner I’ve ever experienced in my life, yet as Micky said, it’s certainly entertaining.
Patrick surprises our little dinner guest with a cake and a candle. Her smile when Pamela walks over with it is just beautiful.
“Happy Birthday!” Patrick yells like they’ve known each other their entire lives.
Then they take a selfie, and Patrick sends it to his wife!
“Thank you,” Micky says, both hands on her face as she blushes. “I can’t believe you did this!”
It’s impossible not to smile as she laughs with my brother. And I can tell it’s genuine. Her earlier discomfort and distrust are gone.
After all she shared, while we didn’t get deep into everything, has clearly taken a toll on her. But right now, even after all the weird shit from this dinner, Micky seems happy. And I find I feel lighter for it.
“This was one of the most bizarre experiences of my life, but at the same time it was absolutely wonderful,” Micky says as we walk out of the restaurant. “Thank you for including me and paying for my dinner, which you didn’t have to do.”
“It really was weird, but also a lot of fun. And I absolutely had to pay. Happy birthday,” I say in return, a smile on my face. I wave and walk to the sidewalk toward my truck.
I stand at the end of the parking lot as Micky gets into her car. It’s an older vehicle, but seems to be in good shape. I don’t know why I’m focused on that, but I am. She waves and shuts the door.
“You’re not even gonna ask for her number?” Patrick asks as we walk to our truck.
“For what purpose?”
Patrick shakes his head and jogs over to her car and knocks on the window. I watch as he talks to her, waves and walks away.
“What was that about?” I ask as I open the passenger side door and get in.
“I wanted to say goodbye and tell her happy birthday,” he says before he turns on the car and we drive out of the lot.
I nod and frown. I should have wished her a happy birthday again. I should have actually said goodbye rather than just wave at her.
Fuck! Should I have asked for her number?
I watch from the passenger window as Micky drives off. And I wonder if I just made the biggest mistake of my life.