Chapter Eight - Apologies
When I woke up the next afternoon, I checked my phone as I laid in bed. It always helped me wake up if I knew there were calls or texts to return. There were two texts, one from Quinn, and one from Eric. Quinn's was just a simple apology and asking if he could see me tonight, and Eric's said he wanted to talk. I texted him back first.
Of course we can talk. Usual place?
Then I texted Quinn back.
I have to work tonight, but I'm not closing, so we can get together after?
If things went well with both of them, then maybe tomorrow would be a better day. My phone beeped at me when I rolled out of bed, so I checked to see which one had texted me back. Not surprisingly, it was Eric.
Yes. For lunch?
I smiled and replied, Of course. See you in an hour.
I showered quickly, and got dressed, then headed out to meet Eric. He was already there when I arrived, and he'd already ordered for us. I loved that he knew I'd not be in the greatest mood, and as such, would want pancakes. When I was in a better mood, it was always some form of eggs.
"Hi," I signed as I sat down.
Thank you for coming, he signed.
"Why wouldn't I? I'm so sorry about last night. I never should have said what I did about Sophie, and I certainly shouldn't have tried to kiss you. I don't know what I was thinking."
Are you done? he signed with a smile, and I nodded sheepishly. You don't have to apologize. I understand why you said what you did, but in the future, just try to let me make my own mistakes. What Sophie and I have isn't serious, and I know that. I would still like to enjoy my time with her. I hope that you know deep down that what you have with Quinn isn't going to last forever either, and you should decide if it's worth sticking with him or ending it now.
Well... that was straightforward. When I didn't respond, he continued.
Just think about it. Do you really see yourself with him forever? The only thing you two have in common is bartending.
"I really don't know what I see in my future, but I do know that I don't think I'll be with Quinn forever. I just... I haven't really given him a chance, Eric. We've only been dating for a month. He'll be at the bar again tonight, can you get along with him?"
He has to earn my respect, Sookie. He doesn't have it with what I've seen of him. I don't like him, and I won't pretend to like him, but I can be civil to him, so long as he respects you.
"That's fair," I said. "Will you be bringing Sophie tonight?"
I hope to, and I hope that you will return the favor and be civil to her. She hasn't done anything wrong.
"Okay."
~o0o~o0o~o0o~
I was just handing over the reigns to the other bartender when Quinn came in. It seemed silly to pour my tips right back into alcohol at my own place of employment, but it really was the best bar around, and all my friends hung out there. Tray and Amelia came in with Felicia, and Eric and Sophie showed up shortly after. I felt better about him and Sophie after our talk. Eric viewed his relationship with her much differently than I tended to view mine. He knew it wouldn't last. He had no illusions about a ring, a tux, and kids.
It made me really think about my relationship with Quinn, too. Was bartending really all we had in common like Eric claimed? I had only agreed to a second date because he was cute, and acted like a gentleman. Had he since then though? In a way, but it seemed like after around the third date he started getting a little more handsy with me, and always seemed to be angling for sex. He hadn't gotten any yet, and the more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that perhaps he shouldn't. I was with Quinn because I was lonely, and I had a need for companionship with a man who wasn't just a friend. I certainly wasn't dependent on a man, I just wanted one available. Maybe that was wrong of me. Maybe I just needed to be on my own for a while.
"So, Sookie," Quinn said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders as he led me to the dance floor. "You got out of work early tonight, we're having some drinks, it's been like two months..."
"It's been a month, and what's your point?" I asked, stopping before we entered the crowded floor of awful dancers.
"Has it only been a month? It feels like so much more to me, which is why maybe we should seal the deal."
"Really, Quinn? Seal the deal? That's just how to get a girl in the mood. Excuse me, I need to use the ladies room."
I left him standing there before he could say anything, and took the trip to the full bathroom to attempt clearing my thoughts. There was really only one thing I knew for sure. I was done with Quinn. Completely. It was frustrating knowing Eric was right, and that he read Quinn so easily, but then again, it wasn't really a bad thing to have a good, intuitive friend in my life who would be honest with me. I'd have to take him to dinner as a thank you.
When I came out of the bathroom I searched for a tall, bald head, and made my way towards it. I mean, the guy was bald... really, self? Then, before I reached him, I finally saw what Eric knew. Quinn was a sleaze. He was checking out one girl's rack and slapping a waitress on the ass as she walked past. That was it.
"Quinn, I need to talk to you," I said loud enough for him to hear me. He turned around in surprise, and then smiled.
"Sure, babe."
"I just wanted to tell you that you're free to go hit on that waitress whose ass you just slapped."
"Excuse me?"
"We've dated a month, and I still don't want to sleep with you. It's pointless for us to keep dating. You're free, go enjoy it, since, clearly, you want to anyway."
"What the hell, Sookie!" he yelled, and I turned to walk away. I wasn't looking to get into a public screaming match with him. Unfortunately, he followed.
"Did that retard tell you something about me?" he asked, which made a cold chill run up my spine. If he was referring to Eric, I'd kill him.
"What did you just say?" I asked, turning again to face him. We had been almost to the table, and everyone could see us at this point.
"I asked if your friend, the fucking retard, told you-" he started, and stopped abruptly when my open palm connected with his big, stupid face.
My hand stung, but I felt very, very satisfied.
"Don't you ever call him that again!" I yelled, then turned and headed for the table again before I kicked him.
Tray, Eric, and Amelia were all standing up, ready to come and help me if I needed. Sophie and Felicia were chatting happily in the booth. You find out who your friends are, I guess. When I got to the table, Eric asked me if I was okay, but before I could answer Quinn was turning me around roughly.
"What the fuck did you slap me for? You're nothing but a big cock tease, you fucking cunt!"
Before I could even react I saw a fist come around me and pop Quinn right in the eye. He jumped back and I turned to see Eric with his fist clenched, his eyes huge, and looking angrier than I'd ever seen him. I didn't turn around again, but I did hear Tray move quickly and growl at Quinn, "Just leave, asshole. Stop embarrassing yourself."
A moment later, Tray put his hand on my shoulder and asked if I was okay.
"Yeah, I'm fine. He just doesn't take breakups well. I'm more worried about Eric's hand," I said, and lifted the hand in question by his wrist.
He finally met my eyes then, and his expression said it all. He was apologizing for hitting Quinn, but he wasn't really sorry.
"It's okay," I said, and gave him a hug.
Eric was barely able to hug me back before Sophie shot out of the booth and pulled him away from me.
"Oh your poor hand! I hope it's okay. Let's get you home, and I'll make it all better," she insisted with a voice full of implication, then led him away. I offered him a small wave when he looked back, but as soon as they were gone I wanted to cry.
~o0o~o0o~o0o~
I was alarmed when Sookie was storming back to the table, and when she hauled off and slapped Quinn across the face, I stood up, ready to attack him if he hit her back. I wasn't sure what he'd done to earn that slap, but she wasn't easy on him. Then, when she got to us, he put his hands on her, handled her roughly, then proceeded to insult her.
I didn't even think before I made a fist and punched him in the eye. If I'd read his lips correctly, he'd called her a cock tease, and a cunt. Not only were neither true, and not only do you just not say things like that to a woman, but you definitely don't say that to Sookie. Not in front of me.
I was a little peeved that Sophie didn't give me time to tell Sookie goodbye before pulling me out of the bar. I wanted to talk to her, ask her if she was okay, and to find out what happened, but on the drive back to my apartment, I got a text from her.
I'm fine, I promise. We'll talk tomorrow over brunch, okay? Go enjoy the rest of your night. xoxo
After sending her back a quick affirmative for brunch, I took a deep breath and smiled. All in all, things were better. My best friend was finally rid of her douche-bag boyfriend, and I was about to get lucky.
Which brought me to Sophie... I looked over at her in the driver's seat, singing along to whatever she had playing on the radio. She had the music up so loud I could feel the vibrations in my feet, and through the seat. I wondered if she had a bad singing voice. I didn't much like being a passenger with Sophie driving. She completely ignored me, whereas Sookie would leave the music turned down, and try to engage me as much as possible while driving. And when Sookie really liked a song that was playing, she'd turn it up, then finger-spell the title and artist for me so I'd know what it was.
Before I knew it, Sophie was parking the car at my building. I'd let myself get too lost in my thoughts, thoughts about Sookie... I shook my head slightly before getting out of the car. I had a girlfriend I needed to be thinking about, one that was hot, and ready to take me to bed.
Yup, life was pretty good for Eric Northman.
Hey guys, hope you liked the chapter! Unfortunately I'm probably just going to be one of those super slow updaters until I get all my current ongoing stories completed. When the muse goes, the writing slows. Thanks for sticking with me if you're still here!