Louisville Slugger

I leave Zacky’s early in the morning and managed to get home with just enough time to get home, change, and head to the bar to open up for the lunch rush.

“Where we you last night?” Richard, a regular, asks. “Don’t get me wrong, Monica is nice but I missed your beautiful face.”

“Aw, thanks.” I smile. “I was in Huntington Beach for a small barbeque with a few friends. They were celebrating the completion of their newest cd.”

“Friends with musicians, huh?” He smirks.”Would I know the band?” Before I can answer, Trey walks into the bar looking pissed off beyond all belief. And if looks could kill, I’d be six feet under and rotting. Richard notices it and frowns, “you deserve better Lex.” I offer a weak smile as I make my way over to Trey who is sitting at the other end of the bar; his usual spot.

“Where were you last night?” He asks through gritted teeth. “And why didn’t you call me back?”

“I told you I was heading to Huntington Beach for the afternoon,” I reply as I put a pint of Stella in front of him as well as a shot of Jose Curevos. “And my phone was dying so I couldn’t reply back or even tell you that I was spending the night.”

“Why did you spend the night? You fucking one of those faggots?” His hand starts to turn into a fist, causing me to roll my eyes.

“I’m not you,” I hiss at him. “I don’t cheat. I stayed the night so you wouldn’t have to get the call saying the cops found me wrapped around a fucking pole. I’m sorry my safety is more important than your fragile ego.”

Fury burns in his eyes and if we were at home, his fist would have already collided with my face. “You’re lucky we’re in public, Alexandria. You’ll pay for that comment when you get home.”

“And who says I’m coming home?” I ask. “No girl in her right fucking mind would go home after her boyfriend makes a threat like that.” My voice raises. “Trey, I’m done. I’m done with the black eyes and bruised ribcages. You’re a fucking asshole that needs to seek help. I’m through being your punching bag.”

“And where the fuck do you think you’re gonna go?” He spits. “Zacky’s? You’re nothing but a piece of ass to him.”

“Zacky isn’t that type of guy.” I scoff. “He’s been my best friend since we were freshmen in high school. He’s never saw me as anything anything else.”

“You’re so naive,” Trey chuckles. “You’re so blind. Zacky has been madly in love with you for years. He’s been waiting for his chance with you. And want to know what will happen once he gets you? You’ll be thrown away just like every other girl he manages to bed. You’ll be some broken doll to him. You’re worthless; you know that? He’s this big time rockstar and you’re just a bartender at a dive bar. You dropped out of school because you got knocked up and what happens? You lost the child.”

“Because of you.” I hiss as I pull him away from the bar and towards the back room. “What do you think you’re doing? Trying to get me to stay with you? I’m not that weak minded. I know manipulation when I see it.”

“No. One. Wants. You.” He states, getting closer to me with each word. “I’m doing you a favor by being with you. You’d die alone if it wasn’t for me.”

“Stop doing me favors then.” I spit at him. “I’m through. I want you to get your shit and leave. I’ll give you the weekend to get everything out. I’ll be out of town. When I get back, I don’t want to see you or any evidence that you were in my life. You killed the only thing that binds us.”

Trey cock backs his arm and delivers a punch to my face. “You kill our baby, Lexi. You did. You pushed me too far. You made me drink too much. You made me hurt you. You did all of that; not me.”

“Fucking leave!” I yell, clutching my jaw with one hand and pushing him away with the other. “One weekend; you have one weekend. If you’re still in [i]my[/i] house; I’ll call the cops.”

I rush past him and head straight for the kitchen area. I grab a rag and toss a bunch of ice in it as a makeshift ice pack for my jaw.

Maggie, another bartender, comes over to me; pulling me into a hug as I ice my face. “Where are you going to go? You know Trey isn’t going to make this easy for you.”

“I’m going anywhere but here.” I sigh, knowing there is one person that’ll shelter me from this storm….

Notes