Sambuca was a little crowded. She had never been here before but it was exciting. She looked at the sign. Tonight was a throwback night. All the old favorite songs would be played. She looked over at her date. As he led them to their table his hand found its way to the small of her back. It didn't feel right. It wasn't Brock's. Tonight was not about Brock. She was here to forget him. She took her seat.
" This place is really nice."
"I knew you would like it. Tonight is karaoke night."
"Karaoke night?" She took a sip of her water.
" I took the liberty of signing us up." She almost spit her water out.
"What? Why?"
" I thought you would enjoy it. I also heard from a little birdie that you sing."
"I can't.Im way too shy."
"Come on Reba. Nobody knows us here. Take a few shots, let loose. "
"Blake. I really can't."
"Come on. You have to. We will be up in 10 minutes. It's fun. I thought you were fun Reba. Guess I was wrong."
He knew that would get her. He saw the determination in her eyes and knew he'd won.
"Alright I'll do it, but first I need 3 shots of whiskey."
"Whiskey?"
"I'm from Oklahoma. I started drinking Jack Daniels at 15. If I'm going to do something crazy, I have to be lit first." He flagged a waitress down.
"3 shots of Jack Daniels please. Here's my ID and keep the change." He handed her a 50 bill.
"I can't believe I'm doing this." Her shots of Jack Daniels were on the table in no time and he marveled at the way she threw all 3 shots back and downed them all one after another.
" You weren't joking.I didn't think you'd do it."
"I was not joking. Now I need to go to the ladies room before we get up on stage." Across the room Brock was watching her. He nearly fell out his chair when she threw back the whiskey. He knew she was gearing up for something he just had no idea what.
"Brock. If you stare any harder at her you might as well
fuck her on the table. You already are with your eyes."
"Carla. I am not. I'm just curious as to what she is doing. She only shoots whiskey when she is going to do something she doesn't want to do, but is goaded into. I need to know what she is going to do."
" She is going to the bathroom. I'm going to follow her. Keep your eye on Dr Jackass. " he got up from the table and followed behind her. She never heard him sneak up behind her as she made a turn toward the hallway to the ladies room.
"Reba." She jumped a foot and smacked him hard across the chest.
" You Moron. You damn near gave me a heart attack."
"Ow. I'm sorry."
"Shouldn't you be with your date?" Jealousy ran through her as she said the word date. It infuriated her. She didn't want to feel jealousy. After all he was her Ex. Yes they had sex a few times, but it meant nothing. At least that is what she kept telling herself. She had to distance herself from him.
"I told Carla I had to go to the Bathroom. I really just wanted to know what was with the whiskey shots. We both know you only shoot whiskey when you are challenged, or nervous."
"Right now I'm both. Dr. Jackass signed us up for karaoke!" He laughed. He knew she loved to sing, but not in front of large crowds. He looked at her and she was not amused.
"You'll do fine. Who knows. It might even loosen you up."
"I do not like this, but I'm going to do it. Damned if I do, Damned if I don't. I'm warning you Brock. If you so much as tell anyone of the kids about me singing tonight I'll smother you in your sleep." He held his hands up in mock surrender.
"Fine! You'll do great though Reba. You have a beautiful voice."
"Just shut up. I'm not in the mood to be on good terms with you tonight." She rolled her eyes.
"You were on great terms with me last night. What's changed."
"My mind is clear."
"So your saying you needed a good fuck to clear your head?"
"Will you be quiet!" She slapped his shoulder and shuddered as she remembered them together. " That is not what I'm saying. We shouldn't be spending so much time together. We are Ex's for a reason."
" Well ex's don't usually become Fuck Buddies do they Red?" He was a little angry now. He knew she felt the pull as strong as he did. She was just being stubborn.
" You know what Brock, go fuck yourself." He backed her up against the wall, and pinned her in with his arms. He whispered in her ear.
"You know what Reba.I think the reason you don't want to be close to me is because you are afraid. You are afraid that you are falling in love again. You can push me away all you want.I don't know what it is with you lately. You push me away, then you tease me, and pull me back in. When you figure out what's going on with you, then you can talk to me. I refuse to talk to you when you are like this. You enjoy your night."He pulled back to look her in the eyes. Her eyes were as black as night and her breathing was labored. He knew she was just as effected by his closeness as he was hers. " Good luck Reba." He backed away and let her go. She saw the hurt in his eyes. This is why she never drank Jack Daniels. She got angry everytime. As he walked away she felt guilty. She needed to apologize but right now she had to empty her bladder. She had to be on stage in 5 minutes.
She returned to her seat and smiled at Blake as he pulled her chair out for her. " Thank you."
"Your welcome. Are you ready. I think they are about to call our name."
"Ready as I'll ever be."
Up next we have Reba Hart and Blake Raymond doing The Heart won't Lie
"I'm not sure I can do this."
"Yes you can. Come on."
He took her hand and led her on stage. She took her microphone and waited for the music to start she could her heart beating in her ears. She heard the start of the music and waited on her cue.
Looking back over the years
Of All the things I've always meant to say
But words didn't come easily
So many times through empty fears
Of all of the nights I tried to pick up the phone
So scared of who might be answering
You try to live your life from day to day
But seeing you across the room tonight
Just gives me away
Cause the heart won't lie
Sometimes life gets in the way
But there's one thing that won't change
I know I've tried
The heart won't lie
You can live your alibi
Who can see you're lost inside a foolish disguise
The heart won't lie
Her eyes found Brocks as she sang the last words. He was smiling but she could see she had hurt his feelings. She needed to make it right before the night was out. She listed to Blake sing his verse and thought about Brock and herself.
Long after tonight
Will you still hear my voice through the radio
Old desires make us act carelessly
Long after tonight, after the fire
After the scattered ashes fly
Through the four winds blown and gone
Will you come back to me?
You try to live your life from day to day
But seeing you across the room tonight
Just gives me away
Cause the heart won't lie
Sometimes life gets in the way
But there's one thing that won't change
I know I've tried
The heart won't lie
You can live your alibi
Who can see you're lost inside a foolish disguise
The heart won't lie
As they finished their song everyone applauded and they received a standing ovation. Her eyes caught Brocks and for a few minutes they were the only two in the room. She broke from her trance when she saw Carla put her hand in Brocks. He was here with someone else and she was jealous. She grabbed Blake's hand and they both bowed. Blake turned to her. "You did great Reba. You have an amazing voice. Come to think of it. You look like that one country singer. What's her name? Something McEntire!"
"I thank you but we don't look alike. Her hair is longer than mine. "
"Well your voices are practically identical"
"Thank you Blake, but we had better take our seats. the next act is due to come on."
"I have a better idea.you want to dance."
"I don't.."
"Come on. One dance."
"Ok." He led her off the stage onto the dance floor. Brock, realizing what he was doing led Carla out as well. He was going to make her jealous. " I think I see my ex husband here tonight."
"Where?"
"Coming onto the dance floor."
"So what's the deal with you two?"
"We are friends. Surprisingly we somewhat get along.You have nothing to worry about. We are divorced after all." She lied a little.
"Glad to hear. Wonder what song these two will be singing?"
"Not sure but I hope it's a little upbeat."
She laughed to herself when the music came on. She began to let the music take her away.
She watched Brock out of the corner of her eye. He looked like he was having fun. This song brought back memories. " Me and Brock used to sing this in college. We pretended we was Olivia Newton John and John Travolta."
" Sounds like you two had a lot of fun." He looked across the room. He caught Brocks attention and waved him over.
"Hello Reba. Didn't know you would be here tonight." He lied. "Carla this is Reba, and..."
"Dr Blake Raymond. Reba tells me this used to be one of your college favorites!"
"Yeah. Let me tell you. She made a great Olivia Newton John."
"Well go on you two. Show us how it's done." Carla said.
Brock and Reba both looked at one another and started to decline until Blake spoke up. " Come on. Let's have fun."
"Alright." They both have in at the same time."You got the first verse Brock. We have to do it like we used to. Don't mess up Moron."
I got chills they're multiplying
And I'm losing control
Cause the power your supplying
It's electrifying.
He put his arms out and sang to her.
They imitated the movie as they sang and as he fell to his knees she knew it was her part. She took her high heel and pushed him up and back with her foot. She turned and he followed her as she sang.
You better shape up
Cause I need a man
And my heart is set on you
She turned to him and put her arm on his shoulder. Staring into his eyes she sang the next line. By this time a crowd had gathered to watch as they danced and lip sang..
You better shape up
You better understand
To my heart I must be true
Nothing left, nothing left for me to do.
Brock came in again.
Together they danced and sang like they did in Grease. She couldn't help but laugh. They hadn't done this in years. She was having so much fun.
You're the one that I want. Ooh hoo hoo
The one that I want Ooh hoo hoo.
The one that I want ooh hoo hoo
The one I need oh yes I'm deed
They continued to dance and sing until the song was over. They had gotten so lost in the music and each other they hadn't noticed the crowd until they heard a round of applause. They turned breathless and returned to their dates who were waiting together.
"You two were amazing Reba. You two were great. I wish I had that kind of friendship with my ex wife. We cant be in a room two seconds without wanting to kill each other.
"Well, after a while Blake you get tired of fighting. We have moved on past our issues. It takes a while though." Brock looked at Reba as she spoke. He knew this was her way of saying she was sorry about earlier.
"Well Blake, I really feel like we are intruding on your date. You two have fun."
"You weren't intruding at all Brock. In fact, why don't you join us for dinner. We can have a double date." Reba rolled her eyes as Brock accepted.
Dinner went fairly good and she was very bored after Brock and Blake hit it off. Who knew they would actually like each other. In fact you would have thought those two were on a date. They talked about guy stuff, golf, sports, cars etc. Reba was never so glad to see a date end.
As Blake pulled into her driveway she was happy to see home. He stopped the car and turned toward her.
"Will I see you again?"
"Probably not. I'm sorry Blake. I just think we are two different people. I had a nice time tonight but I'm not ready for commitment of a relationship. I hope it works out for you."
"Ok. I kind of sensed you got a little bored when me and your ex husband got to talking. It's just I've never hit it off with anyone like I have him. I don't really have a lot of friends in this town. Not any I trust anyway. I'm sorry Reba. I wish you the best. "
" Goodnight Blake."
"Goodnight Reba."
She stepped out of the car and walked to her front porch. She almost did a double take when she saw her front door. It was slightly ajar with bright red paint on it. It read
Whorein big letters. She panicked. Someone could be in her house. She pulled her phone out. She dialed the only person she could think of.
"Hello?"
"Brock." She began to get hysterical.
"Woah Reba. What's wrong. Slow down. I'll be right there. I'm leaving Carlas now."
"Don't hang up Brock."
"Reba, you need to dial 9-1-1. You have to hang up and dial them. You here me."
"But Brock."
"Do it Reba. Now." She hesitantly hang up the phone and dialed 9-1-1. A cop was being sent to her home and what was only a few minutes felt like forever. When the cops arrived they told her to wait outside and checked the house. They found no one inside upon inspection, but whoever had been here had smashed her vase of roses on the floor, and left a rabbits severed head with an envelope and a note written in blood. Her bedroom had also been trashed. Her various undergarments lying around her room. The cops taped off the scene and brought in forensics.
By the time Brock got there cops were everywhere. He got out of his car and started to cross's the lines but a cop stopped him. " This is my ex wife's house. Please officer." Reba saw him and yelled for him. The officer let him pass, but not before telling him not to tough anything.
"Reba. What happened." He pulled her into his body.
"Someone broke in. They left a rabbits head and trashed the place. Why? Brock I don't know who would do this!"
"Mrs Hart?" The lead detective called. "May I speak with you privately."
"Whatever you need to tell me, you can tell him."
The officer looked at Brock and recognized him immediately. The officer blushed slightly.
"Come with me Mrs Hart. He is?"
"Brock Hart. My ex husband."
"I take it you two are working things out again?"
"What do you mean?" Exclaimed Reba
"Mrs Hart. I'm going to show you what the person who done this left for you." He showed them the pictures and Reba blushed. The officers saw her naked, and Brock. She was tied to the bed and he was fucking her.She was dying of embarrassment until it hit her someone had taken these.Someone had been watching her. " There was also a note, with the rabbits head we found severed on your bed.
If you want to act like a playboy bunny, I'll show you what happens to them
"What does that.." it hit her. They end up dead. "Brock."
"It's ok Reba. I won't let anyone hurt you."
"Mrs Hart. I am going to disclose this information to you and then we will be placing you in protective custody. We believe the man who done this is connected to a series of murders across Texas. He stalks his victims, and usually leaves a severed animal head with their bodies. He has a taste for red heads, some young, some older. He is a very sadistic man Mrs Hart. We will be placing you and your family in protective custody. I already have your family at the station. We will be placing all of you into custody until he is caught. We will be separating you all into different states. You will have no contact till this is over. You and Brock will be placed together, and hopefully we will catch this man before he hurts anyone else. We will be escorting you to the station shortly so you can say goodbye to your children."
"We will be placed together? How long?"
" Till this bastard is caught."
"Omg. Can this day get any worse. First the lousy date, then stalked by a mass murderer. Of course Reba, your day is just fucking fabulous." She put her head in her hands and Brock couldn't help but laugh a little.
"What she means officer, is thank you and your men. She is very appreciative."
" let's go before I throw up." She glanced at the rabbit head and it made her queasy. The ride to the station felt like it took hours. When in reality it was only a matter of minutes.
…….………
Soon my love. You may have the nice detectives on your side, but no one will save you. We will soon unite, and you will know who I am
To be continued...