Pushing Limits (25 page)

***

The club is crowded, and Sally finds us a table in the back.  The
speakers are playing some band I don’t know.  “Hey, who is this
playing?”  I point to the ceiling.

“Florida-Georgia Line,” Sally answers.  “Do you like them?”

“Yeah, they’re good,” I say, “When does your friend’s band take the
stage?”

Sally checks her watch and says, “About ten minutes but who knows? 
These things are a bit impromptu, I think,” she says, looking for the waitress
and flagging her over, “Let’s get some drinks.”

“Patty, what would you like?” Sally asks pulling her credit card out.

“No, you don’t.  You whip your plastic out every time we see each
other.  Does she do the same thing to you?” Aunt Patty asks me.

“Yeah, you have to be fast draw with Sally,” I say with a smile.

“My turn, sweetie,” she says, her hand on Sally’s.

“Ok.”  Sally shrugs.  “I’ll have a Jack and Coke. “

“Same for me.”

“Make that three,” Aunt Patty says, handing the waitress her credit
card.  “Let’s run a tab and if you notice someone is low on a drink, keep
‘em coming.”  The waitress nods, smiling.

The band takes the stage, and we are chatting it up and a familiar voice
says, “How’s everybody doin’ tonight?”  My head turns to follow the voice,
my heart thumping into my throat.  Under the spotlight at the
mic
, is a singer with dark curly hair peaking from under a
blue ball cap, with a light beard and sensual lips.  Dressed in a dark
blue shirt and blue jeans, Tommy starts to sing a song I don’t know, but it
doesn’t matter.  His voice is strong and sexy and the sound sends chills
up my spine. 
Damn, he’s really good
.  I glance around me and
notice everyone is watching him.  He commands the stage as his voice rings
out garnering all the attention in the room.  The quiet is strange for a
bar, but hell, everyone’s listening.

I feel like I’ve been kicked in the stomach.  Couples merge onto the
dance floor doing the two-step.  The first number ends, and a group of
women scream and shout.  My back is up and I’m surprised at the searing
sting of jealousy I feel.  I have no right. 

The next number starts, and it’s another full rock out tune.  A
group of girls dance together on the dance floor in front of the stage trying
to get his attention as they dance shaking their asses and doing their sexiest
moves.  My heart feels a stab of pain and a hardening. 
What the
fuck am I doing here?
  I don’t feel like witnessing firsthand how many
groupies throw themselves at him. 
I need to go.
  I study my
hands intently, my heart pounding.  The next song is about a love he wants
to be in.  More screams and rowdy women, the waitress sets another drink
in front of me.  It’s gone moments after she sets it down.

Why did Sally bring me here?
  I don’t remember asking her to
watch while my heart was ripped out.  Shit, I thought she was my
friend.  I look at Sally, and she smiles. 
Why the fuck is she
smiling?
  Does she think she’s doing me another one of her
favors?  Watching him perform while all these girls throw themselves at
him, oh yeah, this is fun.  What about when they finish their set? 
Do I get to witness the exchange of numbers, the flirting, and the heated
looks? 
I need to go.

I bend in.  “I’m leaving.  This is too hard.  I’ll catch a
cab.”  My eyes feel hard and narrow, my mouth a thin line, my voice
doesn’t even sound like my own, the deepness and fury seeping out with every
word.

Sally looks like I’ve slapped her.  She says in my ear, “Settle
down.  Sit down and wait.”  She glances uncomfortably at my aunt.

“Fuck no.  I can’t believe you brought me here,” I say, my voice
rising as my eyes narrow.

Aunt Patty touches my arm, and I instinctively yank it away.  She
stands facing me, standing her ground.  “Sit down, Amber.”  Her body
doesn’t budge.  “Now.”

“You knew about this, too?” I say startled.  “What the fuck?”

“Sit,” she says, her voice in the firm tone from long ago when she used
to babysit me.  Commanding.  Forceful. 
Infuriating
.

I obey as he takes the
mic
again with the next
number.  “This one’s a slow one and not our usual style.  Hope you
like it.”  A beautiful brunette joins him up front and he sings “Beneath
your Beautiful.”  She’s fucking gorgeous with a voice to match.  Long
legs in a girlish flowered dress, dark hair cascades down her back. 
Bright smile and she looks about his age.  Is this why he hasn’t
called?  Looking at her, I realize we were never going to work
anyway.  This is the type of girl he likes obviously.  Tall and thin,
long legs and not a curve in sight except for all the ones on top. 

They harmonize perfectly, staring into each other’s eyes.  There’s a
definite connection.  I wonder if he’s slept with her, too.  Oh,
yeah, he sure as fuck has. 
This is so fucked up.
  Why do I
need to stay and listen to this?  It’s obvious they are sharing some kind
of intimate moment.  Fuck this shit.  I look at Sally wincing at the
betrayal.  How could she bring me here?  The song ends, and the band
breaks.

“I’m leaving.  I can’t watch any more of this.”  I sneer at
Sally.  I turn to Aunt Patty, “Why would you stop me from leaving?  I
never took either of you for cruel, but I guess I was wrong.  Take the
hotel room.  I’ll stay at the dorm.  I-”  

A hand grabs me and yanks me forward, a familiar back leads me,
Tommy’s
long legs drag me behind as usual.  All without
a word.  I yank my hand back, and it doesn’t give.  He chuckles and
shakes his head, continuing to drag me through the club. 

“Let go of me.”  I yell as I struggle to keep up.