Inky (17 page)

“What did you call me?” I snapped.

“You heard me”’

Only two people in my life have ever called me Annie. One is my mother, the other is Papa Joe. When I hear it, it makes my skin crawl. There are only a handful of people who know this. Evan didn’t even know until after the attack. I’d always told him I hated it because of that damned musical. The truth was, it symbolized the evil from two people who tortured me in unspeakable ways. Things I’d never said out loud to anyone, even Aimes. Lisa had played her hate card and I was gonna make her pay.

“You shouldn’t have said that, Lisa” I yelled out to her as she and Evan walked to the exit. She turned around.

“What are ya gonna do? Kick my ass?”

“You’ll see. See you tomorrow night, backstabber.” It was the best insult I could come up with on short notice.

“Whatever.” She said with attitude and a hand flip as the door closed behind them.

“Oh. My. God. Inky, that was, wow, you okay?” Aimes was flabbergasted.

“Did Rusty call you?” I asked.

“Yeah, he said you and Lisa were about to have a cat fight. That was, like, pistols at dawn. I can’t believe you didn’t beat the living shit out of her!”

“That was not cool, Inky. I’d like to fire her. Hell, I wanted to break it up but…I just didn’t know what to do.” Poor Rusty.

“Don’t worry guys, really. Gerry, Jess, thanks for trying to protect me. I really didn’t think they were gonna be here. Rusty, sign me up for karaoke tomorrow night, nine o’clock.”

Everyone looked surprised.

“You’re gonna sing?” Aimes asked.

“Yep. But I’m gonna finish this beer first and go home. I have some things to do before then.”

Chapter 17

For once, I was up before anyone else. I made coffee, fried up some bacon and made waffles. I turned the oven on low and lovingly left breakfast for my roommates. Gus had been so great about cooking for us and I wanted to give a little something back. I was also pumped about my big karaoke debut.

Lisa was a bitch. Evan was an asshole.

Any residual feelings I had for Evan were gone. I had already decided what my song was gonna be and I couldn’t wait. I wanted revenge. At first I wasn’t sure what to sing but with a little help from my friend, Google, and I was all set. I simply typed in ‘songs about revenge’ and chose one I knew. At first I thought Jolene would’ve been perfect but that implied I still had feelings for Evan and I certainly didn’t give a shit about Lisa now. She’d shown her true colors. What Evan and I had was an illusion and I only had myself to blame. I didn’t let him know the real me for a reason but it made our relationship false. Even if we had gotten married, it wouldn’t have lasted. I could try to convince myself otherwise but there were too many unspoken truths about what made me the person I am. I wanted to be honest with my future husband, whoever he may be. I knew that now.

I also thought about Cole. He was almost my barometer for what a real partner should be. The passion between us was palpable and we hadn’t even kissed. I wanted that special connection. I wanted to experience that intense, deep love I read so much about but I was also terrified. I wasn’t lying when I told Abe I didn’t think I’d recover if Cole broke my heart. The truth was I didn’t even know him. Maybe what I experienced with him was all an illusion too. I’d made him wait; he could be dating someone else by now. He could have changed his mind, as how that’s something guys seem to do. I planned to take my newest painting to the gallery tomorrow to show Abe. I’d try to find out more about Cole then. In the meantime, I just needed to put some finishing touches on my revenge.

***

“What are you planning on singing, Ink?” Aimes was putting on lipstick when I appeared in the kitchen, ready to go to Rusty’s. She told Rusty she’d be in late. I hadn’t expected her and Gus to be home when I was getting ready so I had to hide my surprise under a coat.

“It’s a surprise.”

“Inky?” She asked.

“Yes, Aimes?” I was trying so hard to hide my amusement. I was just waiting for her to ask me about my attire.

“Why are you wearing a trench coat?”

“What’s wrong with it? It’s black. It goes fine with jeans and thongs.”

“If it was the middle of winter, it would be fine. As it is, even in winter, we live in Southern California. You look like a flasher.”

“All will be revealed, my friend. You’ll have to wait until nine like everyone else.”

“I still can’t believe you’re gonna sing. What made you…so brave all of a sudden?” Under normal circumstances, I would be beyond freaking out and Aimes knew it.

“I have no reason to be afraid. I think I may have finally let go of that fear. That all had to do with my mom and I haven’t seen her in years, so there’s no reason to let her have any power over me now. Tonight I’m gonna prove to myself that I’ve come a long way. And I want to give Lisa and Evan my blessing.” I smirked. I couldn’t fucking wait.

“You’re kinda freaking me out right now with your calm demeanor, Ink.”

“I’m not gonna pull a gun on them or anything. However, I did find something I know will devastate Evan and of course, Lisa will suffer indirectly. If she hadn’t called me that name, I would’ve let them walk away. But no, she just had to be a bitch about it.”

“I like this side of you.” Gus interjected. “You’re a firecracker when you’re angry.” He had been watching our exchange silently until that point.

“I’m gonna take that as a compliment, Gus. Thank you. Okay, let’s go. I have ants in my pants.”

After two Coronas and two shots of tequila, my liquid courage readied me for my big karaoke debut. This would be the most people I’d sing in front of, ever. The bar was full. The list to sing was full. All our raffle tickets had been sold for the night. What should have sent me into a full blown panic attack was empowering me. It also helped that I couldn’t wait to see the look on Evan’s face for my big reveal. I even bought a new bra and matching panties for the occasion.

“Hey, Ink. I’m gonna take a fifteen, come out the back with me a minute.” Aimes wasn’t simply requesting my company, she had something to say.

“What is it? I know you aren’t out here for the fresh air. What is it?” I smiled at her.

“Just to be clear, you’re not trying to get Evan back, are you?”

“I don’t even have to think about that. No way. Sure I’m hurt by the whole thing but really, what was I thinking? I loved him, I really did. But it was what I thought love was. I’ll be honest, Aimes. The ten minutes I spent in Cole’s arms at the Harbor were more passionate than the countless hours I’ve spent with Evan. And Lisa…she called me Annie, Aimes. She fucking called me Annie.” She put her hand on mine and gave me a knowing squeeze.

“Well, you’ve got five minutes until show time. I gotta say, I can’t wait. Are you nervous?”

“Not one damn bit. I feel like I could sprout wings and fly around the place. Must be the adrenaline.”

“Or the booze.” We laughed together, a laughter that only you and your best friend can share. A joke only the two of you will ever get and onlookers will be envious that they don’t have a friendship like that. It was wonderful and I was happy Lisa wasn’t a part of it. It was just like that thing Evan and I never had.

“Is Lisa being all weird to you? It’s good you have Jesus between you.”

“Nah, she knows better, I think. Well, since I ripped her hair out of her skull.” Again we laughed and drew attention from a few smokers outside. “I better get back in there. Evan’s camping at a table to the side.”

“Oh, I scoped him out already. Don’t worry about that.”

I came back in behind Aimes, following her to her end of the bar. I was pumped but, oddly, not one bit nervous. I’d expected the closer it got to show-time, the more nervous I would feel but I didn’t feel nervous. I had a purpose for this performance I didn’t want to blow. I had to remain strong.

***

The barstool to the left of me had suddenly become occupied and I felt a tingling at the closeness of the stranger; a familiarity. I knew without even looking that it had to be Cole. He did seem to make it a habit of showing up on Friday night for karaoke although I was positive he had no intention of singing. I wouldn’t, couldn’t acknowledge him or I might lose my nerve.

“Folks, next up is one of our own... Inky! Come on up here, Ink!” The whistles and applause of support were great. I was smiling so wide my cheeks started to ache. I heard Aimes yell out, “Yea, Ink! Woohoo!!”

I checked the buttons of my coat, making sure I would be able to untie the loose knot of the belt and the music began. I’d been listening to the Blondie song on YouTube, I knew how long it lasted and choreographed all my moves.

“This one goes out to Evan and Lisa... no hard feelings, guys.” I let my shoulders move back and forth to the rhythm, held the mic, channeling my own inner rock goddess and, by the time the guitar solo and bridge had passed, I had untied the belt and let it dangle at my sides. As all the “Getcha, getcha, getchas” escaped me with as much female power I could muster, I undid one button at a time with a seductive strip tease and let the coat drop to the floor, revealing my ultimate tool of revenge... Evan’s beloved concert t-shirt. I Bedazzled the fuck out of it. I put big white ruffles on the sleeves, rhinestones around the band logo, and large silk flowers at the top of one shoulder. It was beautiful, and even better was the priceless look on Evan’s face.

When the outro of the song was complete, I grabbed the mic and spoke.

“Here you go, Evan. I thought maybe your new girlfriend would like your autographed Rush concert shirt.” I slipped it over my head to reveal a solid black bra with a red ribbon detail and threw the shirt off the small stage, straight into Evan’s arms. Grabbing my coat, I didn’t even bother to put it back on. I jumped off the stage and walked toward the bar, yelling behind me, “I hope she doesn’t give you herpes.” Lisa didn’t really have herpes, not that I knew of anyway. I hoped she didn’t because that meant I probably had it too but no one was thinking that. They were thinking she had the herps.

I wasn’t surprised that Lisa had met me back at the bar, abandoning her station. “You’re a fucking bitch! How dare you!” She seethed.

All I could do was chuckle, “Give me a shot of tequila, Jesus. Thanks.” I turned my attention to her, well aware that once again there was a crowd gathered around us. “I warned you, Lisa. You shouldn’t have called me Annie. You knew it was the lowest blow you could deal and you did it anyway. Why? I have no idea. You already had what you wanted but you wanted to kick me while I was down. Thanks, Jesus.” I took the little lime and rubbed it across my thumb followed by a sprinkling of salt, ready to take my shot. All I was waiting for was Lisa’s retort. Like a storm gathering momentum, she exploded.

“Look at you sitting there all high and mighty. Did you forget the one thing that makes you into the cheap weakling you are? Did you suddenly forget what everyone else gets to see now?” I stared straight ahead to the bottles behind the bar, beyond them and into my reflection. Up until that point, I thought I looked pretty hot. “You forgot that fucking map of all the times you were someone’s whore, Annie.” Evan even winced at that.

I felt my skin bristle at her words and hadn’t realized, until that moment, that my entire back was on display for the bar to see. I’d been so caught up in my little plan, I forgot just how exposed I was. I couldn’t care less about sitting there in my bra and jeans, but very rarely did I expose my entire back like that. My tattoo wasn’t small. It ran across my shoulder blades, down my spine and onto my lower back. For the moment I had to forget all that. It was clear to me that Lisa had been hurt by Evan, so much so that she was willing to throw away our friendship for a chance at his affection and to hurt me as much as possible in the process. I should have felt sorry for her, knowing what I know now, but that wasn’t the emotion that came to me.

I took my shot of tequila and turned my body around to look at her. She was steaming. Her body language was positioned to take me on. She almost towered over me but I had something she didn’t; rage. I had years and years of fights I never got to have, punches I never got to throw, bruises I was forced to cover up and hide, and now she was going to be the recipient of all my anger.

“You shouldn’t have called me Annie.” When my fisted hand reached her jaw, she absolutely didn’t see it coming. I held my stance, ready for her to come back at me. I waited for her to collect herself as a circle formed around us, reminding me of fights during lunch period in high school. She grabbed her face in shock, turning bright red and lunged at me but I met her in the middle and we collided. I couldn’t believe no one was stopping us, probably too stunned to actually react but it was over as quickly as it began.

I felt arms wrap around me, lifting me from the ground and pulling me away toward the front door. Lisa had Rusty on one arm and Evan on the other and someone was trying to get karaoke going again. Outside, I heard a car alarm chirp and unlock. Once I was settled inside and the door closed behind me, I stared straight ahead, trying to get my head around what had happened. I’m not sure how much time passed but the driver’s door opened and my purse and coat were set at my feet. A hand reached across me and pulled the seat belt over me, clicking it in place.

“You might want to cover up. The windows are tinted, but you can still see through them.” Cole said.

I looked down to discover that at some point during our scuffle, Lisa had ripped my bra. My right breast was completely exposed. I looked over to see an amused grin on Cole’s face, “I don’t mind the view, but I figured you might.”

The car pulled away from the curb, “Where are we going?”

“I’m taking you to my house. We’ll swing by your place so you can get whatever you need.”

“You’re pretty confident. What makes you think I want to spend the night with you? I don’t even know you.” I said the words, and I meant them... mostly, but I was also a bit side-tracked by his tanned skin, strong jaw, full lips, hazel eyes, hair that threatened to fall onto his brow…