Chapter 12 #2
“I don’t have time for this. The doors open in ten.” I huffed. “So, if you two don’t mind, I have things I need to do.”
Pretending that Rafe wasn’t glaring a hole through me, I turned and went back to filling the prep trays. I was sorting the plastic toothpicks when I felt the heat of Rafe’s breath on my neck. “I don’t know what’s going on here with you, but I don’t like it. I don’t like it one fucking bit.”
“Nothing, Rafe. You’re making a big deal out of nothing. Seriously.”
“I don’t think so.” He stood there waiting for me to open up, but I remained silent. After several minutes, he finally said, “Come on, Marlowe. Just tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”
There was something about his tone that made the knot in my stomach grow even tighter.
I didn’t want him to be angry with me. I just wanted to get through my visit with Kate without my heart shattering into a million pieces.
I didn’t know how to explain to him my appearance was just my crazy way of shielding myself from all the hurt and pain I knew was coming.
It was just too absurd to put into words, so I did the only thing I knew.
I turned the tables on him. “You’re making a big deal out of nothing, Rafe.
It’s giving me a damn complex, so can you please just drop it? ”
I was worried he was going to keep pushing, but he didn’t.
Instead, he simply kissed me on the forehead and walked away, leaving me alone with that ever-growing knot in my damn stomach.
Thankfully, it was a Thursday night, so things were starting to pick up for the weekend ahead, and I was able to keep myself distracted—until Kate and Eric showed up.
The second they walked in it was like a dark, heavy cloud fell over me, and it was all I could do to force a smile as they started towards me.
Kate looked incredible as always. She was wearing a short gold sequin dress that hugged every curve and made her perky breasts look even more perfect, and her long blonde hair was flowing down around her shoulders.
Eric was wearing a freshly ironed, white button-down with a pair of black slacks.
His dark hair was slightly disheveled, but purposefully so.
As they approached the counter, Kate’s eyes were like saucers and her mouth was wide open, reminding me slightly of myself when I first walked into the club. “Hey, Sis.”
“Hey, Kate. Hi, Eric.”
“Hi, Marlowe. You having a good night?”
“So far so good. How about you?”
“We’re doing just great,” Kate answered. “We had a lovely dinner downtown. Had a few glasses of wine, then walked down the strip. And now, we’re here seeing you.”
“That does sound like a wonderful night.”
“It really was.”
“Can I get you two a drink?”
“We’ll both have a vodka martini on the rocks,” Eric answered.
“Sure thing.” I made their drinks, then brought them back over and placed them on the counter. “Here you go.”
“Thanks, doll.” Kate snatched up her drink and took a quick sip. “Not bad.”
“I try.”
“You know, Nashville is really an amazing city. There’s so many great places here.” Kate peered over shoulder with a grimace. “It makes me wonder why you’d choose to work in a place like this.”
“Not sure what you mean. I like it here.”
“Oh, come on, Marlie. You have to be kidding.” Kate rolled her eyes as she shuddered. “Surrounded by stripper trash all night long? How can you like it?”
“Because the ‘stripper trash,’ as you call them, are actually really nice girls. Most of them are working their way through school or doing whatever it takes to provide for their families.”
“Oh, Jesus,” Kate grumbled. “You sound like a spokesperson for strippers everywhere.”
“I find it quite admirable that your sister has such an open perspective for these women.” Eric’s eyes met mine as he said, “Most would simply judge them for selling their bodies for money without considering the fact they are simply doing what they have to in order to survive.”
“Exactly.”
I couldn’t believe Kate’s ever-so-perfect boyfriend had actually agreed with me. Neither could Kate. In fact, she seemed quite shocked and appalled by the fact, which was made evident when she gave him an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “Well, I could never work in a place like this.”
“No, of course you couldn’t, sweetheart.” Eric slipped his arm around her waist as he whispered, “I wouldn’t have it.”
“That’s because you’re amazing like that.” Kate leaned into him and purred. “You take such good care of me.”
“That’s because you make it so easy to do so.”
I almost lost my lunch as I watched him lean in and give her a kiss.
The whole display seemed so fake. I would’ve thought they were just putting on a show for me, but the starry-eyed way Kate was looking at him told a different story.
By the looks of it, she was actually in love with him, which made me ask, “So, how long have you two been dating?”
“A month or so, but it seems like I’ve known Eric forever,” Kate answered as she wound her arms around his neck. “He’s my soulmate.”
I was about to ask where they’d met when Rafe walked up to the counter. We hadn’t spoken since our earlier altercation, so I was feeling a little apprehensive as I motioned my hand in his direction. “Kate, Eric, this is ... R-Rafe.”
“Hmm.” Kate batted her long eyelashes flirtatiously. “Hi, Rafe. Nice to meet you.”
Rafe shook both of their hands and said, “It’s nice to meet you too. Marlowe mentioned you might be stopping by to see her.”
“She did, did she?” She cocked her eyebrow as she inquired, “Does that mean you two are seeing each other or something?”
“You could say that.”
I missed Kate’s reaction to his answer. I was too busy studying the expression on Rafe’s face to even notice—or care.
He was completely void of emotion. No smile.
No kindness in his voice. Just a blank, empty glare.
I could practically feel the tension radiating off him, leaving no question he was pissed, and for good reason.
He’d tried to be there for me, encouraged me to open up and trust him, and I just couldn’t do it.
I’d tried, but I let my fear of rejection or hurt get in the way.
If I hadn’t already lost him, I was well on my way.
I was fucking it all up, and I knew it. I should’ve said something to him and tried to smooth things over, but I didn’t.
Instead, I just stood there like an idiot.
After several long agonizing moments, I looked over to the waitresses gathered at the counter and said, “I better get caught up on some of these orders.”
“You want me to get Lisa to give you a hand?” Rafe offered.
“No, I’ve got it.” I motioned over to Kate. “I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time. It’ll give us a chance to get to know this handsome boyfriend of yours.”
And just like that, I was yanked back in time to that young girl who watched everything she ever cared about get stolen from her.
I wanted to believe Kate didn’t have that kind of power anymore, that Rafe really was a man I could trust with my heart, but as I watched Kate work her magic with Rafe and the brothers who stopped by to meet her, I started to have my doubts.
With every drink I made, I’d glance over in their direction, cringing internally as Kate laid her hand on Rafe’s arm or laugh in that flirtatious way she did.
After a few more stolen glances, I couldn’t take it anymore and stopped looking altogether.
I kept my focus on the orders, and after a while, the knot in my stomach started to fade and was replaced with a numb, empty feeling by the time I finished up the last drink order and placed it on the counter.
I’d hoped another waitress would come along, but when no one did, I had no other choice but to go back over to Kate and Rafe.
“We were beginning to think you forgot about us.” Kate looked over to Rafe. “Thankfully, we had Rafe here to keep us company. I wish we could stay longer and catch up, but it’s time for us to call it a night.”
“Really? So soon?”
“Yeah, it’s kind of late, and Eric has a meeting in the morning.”
“Okay, well ... I guess we can get together another time.”
“Of course.” She and Eric both stood. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow, and we’ll set something up.”
“Okay, sounds good.”
Before they started to leave, Rafe shook both of their hands and said a quick goodbye, then we each watched silently as they headed for the door.
As soon as they were gone, Rafe turned his attention to me.
His green eyes were filled with an intensity like I’d never seen as he stepped over to me and said, “You and I need to have a talk.”