“Nope, that’s not it. I tried to get into those tight pants the other night, but she started crying and begging me to stop. Now, the only reason why she would do that, I can think of, is because of you.” He poked me hard in the chest.
I clenched my jaw; this guy was asking for it, and he was going to get it if he didn’t back the fuck up. I took another swig of my beer.
“Well, if she isn’t interested, maybe you should just leave her alone, Ray.” The few people who were in the bar were starting to take notice of us.
“Fuck you!” Ray shouted into my face. That caught the attention of a few more people in the bar and the bartender.
I was about ready to pummel the guy. My patience was being tested. Ray turned to take a step away from me.
“Let me ask you, why didn’t you tell me where she was that day?”
“What fucking business was it of yours, come in asking after my woman?”
“She’s a friend, and I asked you a question.”
“I’ll tell you a little secret, no one in this town comes asking me about anybody, especially about the woman I’m seeing. Now, I’m not going to tell you again, leave her alone.”
“Or what? What the fuck you going to do? She doesn’t want you, Ray, so you may as well give up now!”
“Get. The. Fuck. Out.”
Two men approached from the back of the bar and grabbed hold of Ray. “Ray, let's get you out of here, man, before you do something you’re going to regret.”
“Fuck you, too!” He pulled out of their grips. “This asshole is living with that fucking broad I’m banging. I don’t like it, and I’m going to put an end to it.”
“You’re drunk, Ray, let’s go, you need to sleep this off,” the one guy said. Ray glared at me, his pupils dilated, his breathing rapid, his body completely tense. “You’re not putting an end to anything, come on Ray, let’s go, man.” Ray finally turned and headed toward the door.
I took another swig of my beer, then decided to provoke the old ass some more. What can I say, I can be an asshole as well?
“You’re banging her, that’s a fucking joke,” I laughed. “I seriously doubt you can even get it up any more, old man, and if you can, what, you last all of four minutes?” I shouted. “Does she even get turned on by you? Cause I know she had no problem getting turned on when I kissed her the other day. Right. Under. Your. Nose.”
Ray stopped in his tracks and turned. “What did you say?” Ray said through clenched teeth, his fists tight, forming two balls.
“You hard of hearing too, old man? I think you fucking heard me. I fucking kissed her.”
Ray charged forward, heading straight toward me, taking a swing. I ducked and came up under him punching him in the gut. Ray buckled over, coughing and spitting.
“Unless you can talk about her with respect, I don’t want to hear you say another fucking word,” I spat.
I thought Ray was going to walk away, but he took a cheap shot, punching me. As his fist connected with my mouth, I felt a searing pain and could taste the rusty metallic taste of blood.
“Get him out of here, I’ve had enough of his behavior,” I heard the bartender yell from behind me, directed toward Ray and the two men. For a small woman, she sure had lungs on her. I watched as the two men took Ray outside. I got up off the floor and took the towel the bartender offered me to clean the blood off my split lip.
“You alright?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” I said sitting back down.
“You shouldn’t provoke him, he’s got a temper.”
I wiped my mouth with the towel, and the next thing I knew the door opened and Ray came flying back inside. He staggered over to me, grabbing me by the jacket collar and pulled me off the stool I had been sitting on. As soon as he let me go, I hauled off and punched him in the gut again, forcing him to let me go and buckle over in pain.
“Get your fucking hands off of me, and if you know what is good for you, you’ll leave her the fuck alone.”
“That’s it, Ray, get out of here, or I’m calling the cops.”
I wasn’t waiting around either. I punched Ray one more time and walked out of the bar, leaving him curled on the floor while I headed for my truck. I was in no shape to drive even the short distance to the fire department, never mind all the way back to the house. So, I quickly opened the browser on my phone and looked up the local cab company.
* * *