“Can I take you two home?”
“Ummm, I thought we were going back to your place,” the blonde said to me. I wished to God I had not decided to take her home with me. I noticed Natalie roll her eyes, with a stellar look of disgust written all over her face.
“Look, sweetheart. It's not gonna happen after all. I need to make sure I take care of my friends here. So why don't you either go back in the club or catch a cab home. But either way, you're not coming home with me.”
The girl's mouth hung open. She was pissed, and I couldn't really blame her. She spun around and marched herself back to the club. I watched her until I saw her go inside; I didn't need to deal with another mugging.
“Nice.” I spun around when I heard Natalie's voice. She was watching me carefully, not in the least bit impressed.
“How about you guys come back and stay at my place for the night? That way at least I know you made it somewhere safe.”
Natalie snorted despite her condition, but she held back whatever it was that she wanted to say to me.
“We have lots of room.”
“I think you should go, Natalie, you seem pretty freaked out. I'm going to go back to our place, though. I would feel more comfortable doing that,” Julie said.
I looked at Natalie, and she just nodded. She must have been freaked out, because I was shocked that she would agree to go with me alone back to my place. Every time I saw the blood on her face, though, anger surged through me all over again.
“Okay, let me get you a cab then, Julie. I'm not leaving you here alone.”
“Thanks.”
I turned toward the street to hail a cab. It wasn't long before one came down the street. The later it got, the more cabs arrived to bring all the drunks home. A cab pulled up to the sidewalk and I tugged the side door open for Julie. I handed the driver a bunch of bills and gave him Julie's address.
“Thanks, Jet, I appreciate your help.”
“No problem. Take care of yourself.”
“I'll see you tomorrow, Natalie!” she yelled from the cab. Natalie only waved. I watched the cab pull away and I looked to flag down another. I glanced over my shoulder to make sure Natalie was still there, and I smiled at her, hoping it eased her stress.
Another cab drove up, and I opened the side door once again. I motioned for her to come to me, and I let her get in the cab first. I followed in after her, and we sat side by side on the middle seat of the van. I gave the driver my address, and the cab pulled away from the sidewalk. I wrapped my arm around her. I was surprised when her body shook with sobs that she must have been holding in until that moment.
I held her as tightly as I could, and watched the city pass by through the window of the cab. I kissed her on the top of the head before realizing what I was doing. She didn't pull away. Instead, she snuggled deeper into my chest.
Chapter Thirteen
Natalie
We walked into Jet's place; it was quiet for the time being, since his roommate was still at the club trying to find a girl. He had a really nice place, a lot nicer than my cramped apartment that I shared with Julie. The decorations were a little tacky, but what could you expect from an apartment full of guys? I walked into the living room and sat on the couch. When I looked up I was surprised to see my drawing hanging on the wall. It brought a smile to my face. I really had thought that he had thrown it out?that he only paid for it to get in my pants. I didn't expect that he had hung it up already, but it hung proudly on the wall, and the fact that it was there touched me deeply.
“I told you I kept it.” He came over and sat with me on the couch. He smiled at me, and I remembered what a nice smile he had.
“It looks nice up there.”
“Yeah, I thought it was time to get rid of all the hockey posters. Maybe I will get a few more pieces from you.”
I just nodded.
He got up and went into the kitchen. He poured us a drink, whiskey and Coke, just the way he knew I liked it. He brought over the glasses and gave me one. “It will help calm you down.”
“Thank you.” I drank half the glass before I set it down, causing him to chuckle.
He got up again and went into the bathroom. I heard the tap running, and it wasn't long before he came back out. He was holding a wet cloth. He sat back down and leaned into me. He grabbed my chin in his hand and turned my face to him. His gentleness surprised me, and tears sprang up in my eyes once again. He took the cloth and dabbed at my lip, cleaning the blood away from the cut.
“It's not deep, so you don't need stitches.”
I smiled. “That's good.”