Chapter 5
Kimber
I stared out of my front windshield, seeing nothing.
Hearing nothing.
Because all I could vividly still hear was my parents disowning me for embarrassing them.
ME.
I wasn’t the one who was cheating.
I wasn’t the one who acted like I was in the wrong.
No, I was the one who broke up a happy moment.
I was the one who dared to voice our family's issues in public.
I was the one to wreck Holly Anne’s life.
I was the one to wreck Keith’s dreams.
ME.
Bull. Fucking. Shit.
To hell with them.
All of them.
I didn’t need them.
I didn’t need the money.
I didn’t need the prestige of being a Stevenson.
Nope.
I definitely fucking didn’t.
No.... what I needed was to get drunk.
To get drunk and put ice on my face.
And maybe get a burger with a lot of cheese and bacon.
And maybe some deep-fried Oreos.
Those were the things I needed.
And then.... my car came to a stop... my eyes were staring at a building I’ve passed only a handful of times that always seemed to stay busy.
A brick building that was what appeared to be two levels, with a set of wooden French doors right in the center on the bottom level.
Bikes were parked in a row out front, and every time one of the French doors opened, music blasted out.
And it wasn’t the bad music.
Nope.
It was the good music.
The soulful music.
Then I shook my head.
How in the hell had I ended up here?
But with the way the day had gone, I wouldn’t be getting any answers. Not a single one.
And since this day has already gone to complete shit and a handbasket, I mentally said, fuck it.
I opened my car door, gathered the cotton candy material in one hand, and hefted my ass out of my car.
I slammed the door and beeped the locks after I made sure I had my bag.
Then, like a boss, I walked to the french doors with my head held high and ignored the open-mouthed stares I was getting from a few guys who appeared to be climbing on the bikes but had stopped.
I smiled at them and then reached for the door handle on the right side.
The moment I had the door open, I stepped inside and smiled.
Air conditioning.
Fucking blissful.
I stood there as I allowed my eyes to adjust, and then when they did, I scanned the area.
The entire main level looked to be what a man cave would be.
Recliners, couches, and a big television mounted on the wall.
Three pool tables, a little stage, a ping pong table, as well as some arcade games.
The bar ran along the back wall.
And seeing that bar, my eyes never strayed from it as I walked to it.
Seeing a couple of free stools at the corner to my right, I hurried over and then climbed up on one.
They were the good barstools. You know the ones with the comfortable red padded seats that you could sit on for hours and not have your ass go numb?
Just then, a man with long grey hair that was pulled back sauntered over to me.
His face looked weathered and worn, but what had me smiling were the smile lines at the corners of his eyes.
“Well, hey there, little lady. My name’s Merlin. Gotta be honest with you. Not often anyone walks in here with a dress on like that one.” He said.
I chuckled.
Then his eyes narrowed as his head tilted to the side, and his gaze was aimed at the right side of my face, “Gonna ask once. Who the fuck put their hands on you?”
My response was to laugh.