He was busy with Mila and managing his old man’s construction company as a project manager, and I wanted to catch him up on my life.
Chugging down my fifth Jack of the night, I slammed it down on the counter. It was only Leo and me. Sawyer was at the hospital being their bitch for the night.
“You’re drinking too much.”
“Nah.” I gestured for another. “Not nearly enough. I just got dumped because Haiden the Hellion decided that I wasn’t good enough for their mom. I literally lost to two seven-year old’s. Can you give me a fucking break?”
“Sage may come around. Maybe the kid will come clean.”
“Have you not heard a word I’ve said? He fucking hates me, Leo.”
The bartender set my drink in front of me.
“You know what? Bring me the whole damn bottle.”
“Ashton, do you really think getting hammered at a bar is going to make you feel better? It’s not going to change anything.”
“I guess we’ll see after I drink the bottle.”
“Man, I never thought I’d see the day when you’re crying over a woman.”
“Man, I never thought I’d see the day when you’re being an asshole.”
“Dude, don’t fucking come for me because I’m not telling you what you want to hear.” He nodded toward the drink in my hand as I chugged that one down as well. “I’m not rubbing your back when you’re throwing up your liver.”
“That’s a myth. You can’t throw up a liver.”
“No shit—it’s a figure of speech.”
My bartender was on point, bringing the bottle fast. I smiled pleased, and she winked at me before she turned to her next customer.
“Bro, she’s interested in licking your wounds. Why don’t you take her up on her offer? Getting your dick wet is the best remedy for just about anything.”
I glared at him. “You’re the worst friend ever.”
“I’m trying to help you.”
“I don’t want random pussy, Leo. I want Sage.”
“I know, but right now she doesn’t want you.”
“Dude! You’re fucking fired, man. No more talking. Just sit there and pretend to care about what I’m going through.”
“I do care. Of course I care. I’ve never seen you like this, not even when your dog died.”
“I miss that bitch.”
“Sage is—”
“She’s not the bitch, dipshit. I’m referring to my dog.”
He shrugged. “You can understand my confusion.”
I averted my eyes off of Leo, mostly because I wanted to knock him upside the head.
What the fuck kind of sympathy is that?
Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw someone at the bar who caught all of my attention. The motherfucker was sitting on a stool, hitting on the bartender, and I abruptly stood.
Driven on pure impulse and anger for the last three hours, I let the fury ride out. It seemed like the best idea at the time—take out all my frustrations on Sage’s babies daddy instead of my body.
“Where are you going?”
“To take out the fucking trash.”
“What—”
Without giving it a second thought, I made my way to the other end of the bar, coming face to face with the man I hadn’t seen in years. The last time was at a party, and his face was buried in a pair of tits.
Was Sage pregnant when I last saw him?
The son of a bitch looked the same, and I wanted nothing more than to knock him out again.
I wasn’t surprised he was hitting on the bartender, but that didn’t stop the rage I felt knowing he’d dipped out on Sage and their kids. I decided it was time for someone to put this piece of shit in his place.
Me.
Maybe it would make me feel better?
Leaning in, loud enough for him to hear, I spoke to the chick whose tits were now in my face. “I’d stay clear of this one. He’s not much of a man, sweetheart. He abandoned his own twins.”
“Who the fu—”
I stood tall, facing him. Counting on him getting pissed, I provoked him. Knowing it would push his fucking buttons. Men like him didn’t change. They wanted to feel big and almighty, and I couldn’t wait to knock him down a few pegs.
With his truths and my fists.
Part of me knew he was still salty about that night; what guy wouldn’t be when I embarrassed him in front of everyone, and I was about to do it again.
I grinned. “Those are fighting words, Memphis. Tread fucking lightly. You remember what happened the last time you ran your mouth? I made you eat your words.”
He snidely chuckled, recognizing me. “Doesn’t change the fact I had Sage first, and she has my kids to fucking prove it.”
I was in his face, yanking him up off the chair by the collar of his shirt.
“Truth hurts,” he baited. “Don’t it, motherfucker?”
Leo rushed to my side. “Dude, what the hell are you doing?”
He wasn’t there that night. Leo didn’t know Memphis from a hole in the wall.