Back to Life (8 page)

She
glared at Brody and then Marissa before she held her hand out to me. “Cool. It’s
nice to see you again, Liam,” she said tersely.

I
took her hand in mine, and shivers ran up my arm and straight though me. She
had goose bumps on her arms. “You too, Rory.” She took a seat next to me and
immediately grabbed a shot glass. Pouring herself a shot of Tequila, she
slammed it back quickly and blew air out through her lips, and then poured
another one. This girl could drink with the best of them, that’s for sure.
“Rory, you might want to slow down,” Brody said.

Slamming
the shot glass down hard on the table, she glared at Brody. “I’ll slow down
when I’m dead,” she said, looking at him in the eye. He looked angry for a
moment, and Marissa looked worried. It suddenly got a little too quiet.

“Hey,
are you okay?” I asked, placing my hand on hers.

She
quickly snatched her hand away and her eyes quickly shot to mine, fire burning
in them. “I’m fine. Never better,” she said. She looked away and began to pour
herself another shot, but Marissa stopped her.

“Rory,
come with me. Now,” Marissa said sternly. She seemed like the type that was
sweet and calm but could be tough when she needed to be.

Rory
sighed and sarcastically said, “Yes
mom
,” and stumbled behind her to the
bathroom. Either those shots must have gone to her pretty quick or she’d been
drinking before I showed up.

I
turned to Brody. “What the hell was that about?”

“She’s
pissed at me. Knowing her, she probably thinks I brought you here to set her
up.”

I
felt a little stab of disappointment. “Why would that piss her off?”

Brody
looked a little at war with himself for a moment. He looked toward the
bathroom, and sighed. “Rory’s had some bad shit happen in her past. About four
years ago, she had a boyfriend. He was a good guy, a lawyer.”

“Really?
Lawyers don’t seem like her type,” I said, surprised.

“Well,
this one was different. They were definitely different, but that’s what made
them unique.”

I
poured myself a shot and quickly tossed it back. “So, what happened?”

He
sighed. “She’d kill me if I told you this…” he trailed off. “She doesn’t like
to talk about it. At all.”

“Well,
then don’t tell me. I don’t want her to hate me. I like her. Let her tell me on
her own.”

“What
if she doesn’t want to do that?”

“Then
she just won’t.” In all actuality, I was intrigued. This guy must have done a
number on her for her to swear off men altogether. I really wanted to know
more, but honestly, even though I was a cop that carried a gun, I had a feeling
that if I pried into her romantic history all I’d get was a hard kick in the balls.
The thought made me smile to myself. “I can be her friend and not know
everything about her. She can tell me what she wants to tell me.”

He
smiled at me. “Dude, where the fuck did Liam go? Why are you all sensitive and
understanding now? As much as I love you, man, you were kind of a dick to girls
in college,” he admitted.

I
shrugged my shoulders. “I know I was. I’m just growing up, I guess. And, while
we’re at it, let me ask you a question. Why the hell don’t you go for it with
Marissa already?”

“What
do you mean?”

“You’re
kidding, right? That girl is so into you it’s ridiculous. Hell, I’ve only met
her once and I can see it. Why can’t you pull your shit together and go after
her? Because if you don’t, I might just go for it,” I said, teasingly.

He
narrowed his eyes at me. Jealous rage was boiling under the surface in them. “You
wouldn’t dare.”

“You’re
right, I wouldn’t. But the fact that you looked like you were going to kill me
just now means you have feelings for her too. So, come on, what gives?”

He
rolled his eyes and sighed. “It’s because I don’t want to fuck things up, all
right?” I just blinked at him and stared. “Look, that girl is important to me.
She’s been my best friend since high school, and I love her to death. Believe
me, I’ve thought about it, especially since I came to the city. I actually
can’t stop thinking about it. I just don’t want to start something with her
knowing it might end badly because if it does, I’ll lose her and it would put
Rory in a bad position having to choose either her best friend or her brother.”

“I
get it. You don’t want to risk losing a friendship. However,” I paused, “it
might turn out to be the greatest thing that’s ever happened to you.”

“Okay,
who invited Dr. Phil?” he joked.

“I’m
serious, man. Just think about it. She’s a great girl, and she’s right there
waiting for you. All you have to do is go for it,” I said. I wish I had Brody’s
romance problems right now. A beautiful girl I was into that had the hots for
me too? I was dreaming, well wet dreaming, every night about the most smoking
hot woman I’d ever met that didn’t want to give me the time of day all because
of a bad breakup. I had my work cut out for me. But, no woman had ever made me
feel this way, and even though it was going to be hard work, I could tell she
was definitely worth it.

Rory

“Rory,
what the hell is wrong with you?” Marissa snapped. “You were being really rude
out there.”

“Me?
Don’t you think it was rude for Liam to happen to show up here the first night
I went out since we were at Shadow? I know either you or Brody tried setting me
up with him!”

“No,
Rory, we didn’t. Brody knew he might show up here, but we didn’t think you’d
actually come with us because you’ve been a total asshole for three weeks!
Besides, I don’t see what the big deal is. You two seemed to hit it off that
night. I thought you could at least be friends," she said.

I
saw the fear in her eyes, and I immediately softened. I knew she was telling
the truth. She of all people would know not to set me up with anyone,
especially Liam. She didn’t know that I had been having unwelcomed fantasies
about him for almost three weeks. I would be lying in bed, trying to fall
asleep, and just as I was about to drift off, his face would flash into my
mind, leading to some very potent, sexual dreams. It was bothering me to no
end, and I was feeling so guilty. “I’m sorry, Marissa. He is a nice guy, I’ll
admit that. I just…”

She
pulled me into a hug. “I know,” she said, smoothing my hair with her hand.

“I
just still miss him.”

“I
know you do. Please don’t be mad at me for saying this, but he’s not coming
back, Rory. Stopping your life won’t change anything.”

I
felt a pang in my chest, and I thought I was going to start crying. I took a
deep breath and stowed my emotions away. “I know,” I whispered. “I just don’t
know if I’m ready for anything again. I’ve lost so much. I don’t know if I will
ever be ready.”

She
pulled away and looked at me, eye to eye. “Rory, there’s only one way to find
out. He seems to like you, and you know if Mason were here he would be kicking
your ass right now if you didn’t take a chance to make yourself happy.” Marissa
said.

“I
don’t know if Liam can handle what happened,” I admitted.

“Rory,
he’s a cop. He’s seen the worst of the worst. I’m sure he can handle anything.”

“I’m
afraid he’ll look at me like I’m damaged goods.”

“Rory,
you are nothing like that. You are an amazing woman and if you let him in and to
the core of you, I bet he’ll be the best thing to ever happen to you.”

I
sighed nervously. “All I can promise is to try, okay? I’ll try being nice, but
I can’t shake this guilt I have. I lost more than just Mason, you know,” I
said.

“I
know. But I think if you let Liam in, you can finally begin to move past it and
heal. He might help you be the old Rory again. So, what do you say? Are you
ready to go back out there?” she asked, holding her arm out.

“Okay.
Let’s do it,” I said, and I followed her out the bathroom door. When we came
back out, there were two women sitting in our seats at the table. God, I can’t
even leave for five minutes without bar skanks pawing all over the guys!
Marissa looked down at her shoes, frustration and hurt in her eyes. I grabbed
her arm. “I’ll get rid of them, just go along with me, okay?”

She
nodded and we walked to the table. Liam’s face broke into a grin when he saw
me, but his face turned into surprise when I nudged past the skanky brunette
that was coming onto him and snaked my arm around his waist. Before I could
think, I leaned into him and kissed his scruffy cheek. “Hey, babe, sorry I took
so long in there.”

He
tightened his arm around me and traced his fingers along the bare skin of my
lower back. I felt goose bumps forming again. “It’s okay,” he said. Marissa
stood by Brody timidly, not knowing if she should make a move or not. I nodded
at her, but she stayed still.

I
shot my eyes at the woman. “Um, you’re in my seat.”

“Doesn’t
have your name on it,” the woman said, acidly.

“Well,
I’ll write my name on it in your blood if you and your skeazy friend don’t get
the fuck away from my boyfriend right now.”

The
bitch rolled her eyes. “Please. He’s not your boyfriend. Why would he want
trash like you when he could have treasure like me?”

Liam
gripped me tighter…probably because he knew I was about to rip this girls face
off. “The only thing trashy here is you, believe me. I could smell the dumpster
road whore smell wafting off you from across the bar,” I shot back.

Keeping
the show going, Liam leaned in and lightly brushed his lips across my neck,
making my heart beat faster. “Good one, babe.”

The
skanky woman looked over at her friend, and then back to me. “Well, if he’s
been sleeping with your tatted up ass I’m definitely not interested now. I’d
probably get an STD.”

“That
I probably got from the toilet seat you used in the bathroom.” I looked over
and saw her friend trying to touch Brody, and fire shot through me. Brody was
always too nice of a guy to tell a woman no, but actions speak louder than
words. I was about to tell her off too when he all of a sudden stood up and
grabbed Marissa around her waist, pulling her close to him. She gasped audibly
as he grabbed her face and pulled her into a hot steamy kiss. I had to play it
cool so the women would leave, but internally I was dancing a jig at the sight
of them kissing for the first time. I could hear Liam chuckle under his breath.

Rolling
her heavily made up eyes, the woman turned to her friend and said, “Let’s get
the hell out of here,” and they walked away. I took a napkin from the table and
wiped my chair before I sat back down.

“Just
wiping the herpes off the seat,” I said, and Liam laughed, releasing me. I sat
down in the chair and grinned at him. “Sorry for being so forward. You both
looked like you needed some help,” I said, thumbing over my shoulder at Brody.

“Oh,
I think Brody’s doing okay on his own,” he said, nodding his head in their
direction. I looked at him and hadn’t even noticed that he and Marissa were
still kissing. Making out hardcore was more like it. Liam tapped my arm, and
pointed toward the door. “Why don’t we give them some privacy?” he asked,
holding his hand out to me.

Smiling
widely, I said, “Okay,” and took his hand. His hands were warm and big; my
whole hand fitting inside his perfectly. He helped me off my chair and I said,
“Hey, you two, we’re going to wait outside. Come find us when you’re done
sucking face.” All I heard was a moan from Brody as we walked outside the bar. “So,
now that my brother and my friend have ditched me, what do I do now?” I asked.

“Well,
you can hang out with me. I won’t bite. Not unless you beg,” he joked.

“That’s
not likely, pal.” I laughed, and then sighed. “Hey, I’m sorry about being a
bitch before.”

“Oh
you weren’t being a bitch. It’s okay.”

“Yes
I was. If you hadn’t seen it, it’s because Marissa knew it was coming and saved
me from myself. It had nothing to do with you.”

“So,
why don’t you tell me then?” he asked.

“Come
on, you don’t want to hear about my problems on a Friday night.”

“Actually,
I do. I want to get to know you, Rory. Believe it or not, I actually like you.
I think you’re awesome and I’d like to know you better. Tell me,” he prodded.
He likes me? Suddenly, I felt like a teenager, blushing about ten different
shades of red.

I
looked down and sighed. “I thought they were trying to set me up with you. I
thought that’s why you were here.”

“And
it bothered you that they wanted to set you up with me? Why? Is that a bad
thing?” he asked me softly.

“No,
not a bad thing. I just…I have a lot going on in here,” I said, pointing my
index finger to my head. “Stuff I’m sure you don’t want to know about.”

“I
bet you’re wrong. Try me,” he said. I realized we’d stopped at a bench outside
the club, and he motioned for me to sit.