"Hey!" I said as Steve came up to me. He gave me a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek.
"How is my beautiful redhead?" He asked
"Shes bored and she needs a beer." He laughed.
"Mike! Get this woman what she needs." He called to the bartender who was eavesdropping. He nodded and turned away to get me something. We walked closer to the bar and took a seat. Mike handed me my beer and I turned back to Steve.
"So. How's Nancy? Haven't seen her in almost a month! Is she gettin bigger?"
"Oh yeah… She has her baby bump. She's okay, emotional, hormonal, everything's my fault one second, then the next she's practically tearing my clothes off of me." I laughed.
"Where is she tonight? You didn't leave her at home alone, did you?"
"No. She's stayin with her sister tonight. They're having a 'girls night' with her nieces."
"Aw…"
"So, married life for you…?"
"Well, I love being Reba Hart. I really do. But, I just stay home. There's no jobs anywhere. Brocks been working his butt off, he gets home usually around 5 if he doesn't work late, comes home, eats dinner, then falls asleep watching golf. Don't get me wrong, I do too, but that's only cuz its so boring. Then I'll wake up about a half hour later, try to pull Brock off the couch cuz that's all I can do to get that man to wake up, and lead him into the bedroom. Where we sleep." He chuckled quietly.
"So you have no life." I nodded once.
"Right."
"Hmm…"
"But! I am out tonight. And I'm here to have fun with you and my husband… wherever he ran off to." I said, looking around.
"I think he went to the little girls room."
"He's been gone pretty long…" He laughed.
"You sound more like a mother to me, Red." I nodded.
"I feel like it…" He turned to Mike.
"Get this girl some whiskey." I watched him pour it right in front of me, then I turned to Steve with a small smirk.
"And who do you suppose is gonna be drivin us home tonight? Certainly ain't gonna be you!" He waved me off.
"We'll worry about that when the time comes, now take it!"
"No. We'll worry about it now. Looks like you're my responsibility tonight too." He rolled his eyes.
"I got my own wife for that, Reba. Or should I say mom?"
"Ha. Ha. And no, you're not callin you're pregnant wife, drunk, late, and makin her come get you. You take the shot, I'll be drivin."
"One shot never hurt…" I looked at him like he was stupid.
"You know me." That's all I had to say. I wasn't the biggest woman on earth and I don't drink much, just the occasional beer or glass of wine at home. I don't handle my liquor well, especially hard liquor.
"You gotta point…" He said into his glass of beer. He took a big gulp. "You just gonna waste it?" I shook my head and handed it to him. "That's not what I meant. Do you have any liver problems?" I shook my head. "Pregnant and lord the answer to this question better be no, or I better be the first to know…" I chuckled and shook my head again. "Recovering alcoholic?"
"No, Steve."
"Then you need a drink."
"I need supportive friends!" He turned his stool, mine was already facing him. He put his hand on my knee.
"Baby. Would I ever let you in a car with a drunk person behind the wheel?" I thought about it, trying to think of something clever to say back, but I couldn't because no matter what, the answer would be no. I shook my head. He smirked. "Good. Because Christopher's here and he doesn't drink. I already talked to him and Nancy said she'd come get you first thing tomorrow and bring you to the truck." I let out a sigh of relief.
"What would I do without you?" I asked, then gabbed his face and kissed his cheek. I jumped down from the barstool, quickly took the shot, let the shivers run through me, then went to find Brock. I looked everywhere and couldn't find him. Everywhere but the bathroom. I went to the bathroom and knocked softly. I heard his voice.
"You the only one in there?" I asked opening it slowly.
"Come in." I stepped into the bathroom cautiously, nobody at the urinals. I bent down, nobody in the stalls. I heard Brock laugh. "Nobody's in here." I nodded.
"What're you doin?!"
"I just got in here! I was out there talkin to Chris, did you know he's here?" I nodded.
"He's apparently our designated driver, Nancy already said she'd pick me up tomorrow mornin' and take me back to the truck."
"So you're actually gonna be drinkin… more than a beer or two I mean." I nodded again.
"Yeah, Steve already forced some whiskey down my throat."
"Oh…" He said with laughter in his voice.
"What?"
"I know what whiskey does to you…" He said, grinning ear to ear. I rolled my eyes. "And I'm not objecting…" he said moving to wrap his arms around me.
"I've had one shot, Brock, it ain't magic. It's not workin yet." I said, walking out of the bathroom.
"Oh, we'll see what you'll be sayin after a few more of them, honey." I heard him following me.
"Should I switch alcohols?"
"No! Especially no brandy…" I turned around.
"Why's that?"
"You seem to get angrier at me over small things when you drink brandy."
"Hmm… Brandy's soundin pretty good right now." I said, sarcastically. I saw him sigh and I smiled. "Just don't make me mad, darlin'." I grabbed his hand and walked over to where Steve and Chris were.
"Hey! Theres the redheaded beauty." Chris said. I let go of Brock hand and walked up to him.
"Hey stranger!" I said, hugging him and patting him on the back a few times.
"How're you? I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the wedding but I heard stuttering Stanly put on quite a show, huh Brock?" He asked, looking over my shoulder to my glaring husband. I laughed and swatted Chris's chest.
"Hey now, he had a good excuse."
"Whats that?"
"Well, you weren't there to see me…" I winked and we both laughed.
"I wish I could've made it, Red, I really do."
"Oh, you're fine. You can just come to my next one!" We laughed again and I turned around to look at Brock. He just smirked and shook his head.
"Whatta bout poor ol' Brock? He'll never find another woman crazy enough to put up with him…"
"Yeah… I guess I should probably stick around then cuz that's a good point."
"Ahh… I can just feel the love radiating off of my lovely bride tonight." Brock said, putting his hands on my shoulders. I smirked and patted one of his hands.
"It ain't me, honey, it's the whiskey."
"Oh, okay little Miss. I-Only-had-one-shot." he raised his eyebrow at me.
"That you know of." I raised mine back.
"Am I the babysitter tonight?" He asked me. I shook my head.
"Nope. I rarely go out, and I don't have to worry about driving, so no."
"Well, who's gonna watch me then?" I rolled my eyes.
"Brock, you're 24 years old. Watch yourself."
"I've never had to watch myself when I go out with you."
"I'll still be here, geesh… I'm just not going to be hovering. Most husbands see that as a good thing…?" He nodded.
"Alright…"
"That's not a free pass to get all crazy though." I warned.
"I know…" When I turned back around I saw another shot of whiskey in front of me.
"You tryin to get me drunk?" I asked, looking at Steve. He smiled and shrugged.
"Just doin your husband a favor." I rolled my eyes and tiled my head back letting the alcohol run down my throat. I shivered again and my stomach churned for a few minutes, but it passed. "You're a trooper." I smirked. Brock sat on my other side and between the 2 men I was sitting in between, every time I finished one there'd be another one right there. I took shot after shot until my cheeks were burning and I found myself happy and in slow motion. That was about 7 shots later along with a mixed drink and a beer, plus Brocks beer I was sipping on now. I held my hand out.
"Okay, boys… enough with the whiskey." I burped and closed my eyes.
"Yeah, I was just thinkin the same thing." Brock agreed. I felt his hand on my back. "You alright baby?" I nodded.
"Fine…" I turned and looked at him. "What time it is?" He checked his watch.
"10:18"
"What time did we get here?"
"Bout 8:30." I nodded.
"Kay…"
"Gotta hot date or somethin?" I head Steve asked. I shook my head, little too quickly. I went to lean my head on Brock shoulder but he wasn't there.
"Where'd he go?"
"Just ran to the bathroom, sweetheart, he'll be back." I nodded again. "I'm gonna go find Chris. You be okay for 2 minutes while Brock's in the bathroom?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." I said, waving him off. I ordered another beer and went to take a drink I jumped as somebody came and sat in Brock spot, awfully close to me.
"Hey there pretty thing. Whats a woman like you doin here all alone, drinkin so much?"
"Have you been watchin me?" I asked. He smiled.
"Couldn't keep my eyes off ya…"
"Then you'd know that I most certainly have not been here alone all night."
"Yeah, you're right. I saw those two men, were they botherin ya? I could take them."
"No. matter of fact they weren't botherin me. Thank you." I said, looking straight ahead, taking a drink of my beer.
"Man! Listen to that thick accent of yours. Nothin's more of a turn-on than a thick southern accent and red hair. Not to mention a body of a super model…" I saw him eyeing me. I leaned my face in closer to his and narrowed my eyes.
"Are you drunk?"
"No! God no, any sober man would agree anyway, honey…." His eye were now lowered to my chest and I cleared my throat.
"Eyes. Right here."
"Sorry. You're just so pretty…" I heard somebody clear there throat loudly.
"She's pretty and happily married, buddy." I heard Brock say.
"Well, she didn't seem to mention that as she was sittin here flirtin back." I jumped out of the bar stool, too fast, and had to stop to regain my composure. Once I was seeing somewhat straight I pointed my finger at him.
"I was not flirtin with you, you pig! The only thing I said was that I wasn't alone and that you're drunk."
"If you say so, sweet thang." I practically gagged. He smiled and got up.
"Did you not hear the part where I said she was married?" Brock asked.
"Brock, just ignore him…" I said quietly.
"Oh I heard. Do I care? No. And neither does she either, apparently." Brock glared and I saw his jaw clenching and unclenching. The man threw his hands up in defense. "Hey. Ain't my fault your womans a skank…" He said, then turned to walk away. I closed my eyes, knowing what was coming. When I opened my eyes back up I saw Brock turning the guy around by his shoulder and punching him square in the nose. The guy fell back onto the ground and blood started pouring. People around us got quiet. I covered my face. I felt hands on my shoulders and Steves voice was right behind me.
"Reba, what the hells going on?!"
"He called me a skank." Is all I said. I felt Steve move forward, now wanting to take a punch at him as well, but I held him back and shook my head. "Please. Don't." The guy stood back up and laughed.
"Good one." He quickly punched Brock in the face when before Brock had a chance to even think. Nobody saw that coming with how laid back the guy seemed. I gasped and fell next to Brock.
"You alright? We need to go." When I looked up I saw Steve on top of him, punching him. One. Two. Three. Four. Four times before I ran over to him.
"Steven Mitchell Lang get off of him!" When he heard my yell he stopped. I was pulling on his shirt, but he hadn't realized I was even there till he heard my voice. He calmly stood up and wiped his hands on his pants. This all happened so fast. Within 2 minutes. "We need to go before the cops get called…" I looked back at Brock and saw Chris quickly getting him up and wrapping Brocks arm around his neck. I held onto Steves arm the whole time. I quickly grabbed my purse, laid some money down on the counter and we were out of there. Steve sat in the front and Brock and I sat in the back. I slid the tank top off from under my white shirt and started wiping Brocks face off with it.
"Tilt your head back." I said. He did as he was told and I stared wiping his nose down. He flinched every once in a while and would squeeze my thigh. I found a half drank water on the floor and poured some water on the shirt. "It's not broken or anything…" I reassured him. He nodded.
"Doesn't hurt too bad." I shook my head.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I asked after I was done cleaning him up.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry I ruined your night." I rolled my eyes.
"I'm just glad all you got was a bloody nose. God forbid that guy have a gun on him or somethin! Brock, you really need to start thinkin…" I felt his grip on my thigh get tighter.
"I just got mad…" I sighed.
"I know…"
"Do you hate me tonight?" I shook my head.
"I know you were just protecting me, but really Brock. Think. What he said didn't hurt me cuz its not true so there was no point in hitting him."
"Nobody gets to just sit around and talk about you that way, Reba." I sighed again, but stayed quiet. I tried to focus on not being dizzy but it didn't work. I realized how drunk I still was and that I was just sober for those 5 minutes that they were fighting and that I was cleaning up Brock. I closed my eyes and hiccupped. Brock laughed. "Still feelin it, honey?" I turned and glared.
"Just cuz I'm 'feelin it' doesn't mean your off the hook. I'm going to be more mad tomorrow Brock, so prepare yourself."
"I'm already prepared, darlin…" I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes the rest of the way home.