Chapter 1:
He’d been driving for hours, furious still about how the night had transpired. Ashley had meant the world to him. He revealed his inner most self to her. After this last breakup he thought it would be the same routine, sometime apart, some angsty text messages or dirty voicemails, a couple chance meetings with some post breakup sex, a new first date, then finally getting back together. Brandon couldn’t see himself without his little spitfire. Her 5’2” stature disguised the Tasmanian devil she really was. She looked like she was sweet, but Brandon knew the ferocity of this little blonde’s character. When pushed, she pushed back twice as hard, when confronted or cornered she attacked, he loved how sweet she could be, but understood what happened when you crossed her. This was basically how it’s gone every other time-after every angry breakup. Where she accused him of being too sensitive or too emotional because he saw some friendship get too friendly, where his inner dialog and jealousy got the better of him, but this time she got too far under his skin with her words, cut to deep, and he cut back. Maybe it would just take a little longer for her to forgive him, maybe he’d have to send a few more “I’m sorry” texts before she’d hear him.
All the maybes came crashing into a hard ‘no’ when she came in the bar tonight, their bar. Previously his bar, with his friends, his beers, his haunt. Tonight, it seemed like her bar, everyone trying to talk to her, to meet the new guy she came in with. The sharp dressed guy with the quick wit and cool easiness that everyone seemed to instantly be attracted to.
She caught Brandon’s eye for only a second, gave a very sheepish look that seemed apologetic before turning her gaze back up to the new guy. Brandon stood, having got that queasy sick feeling that comes when the center of your world shuts you out for good. “Hey Growler, can I get my tab?”
“Yeah man, sorry you had to see that” Growler said, punching in the last drink and hitting print. Growler was a nickname, one that everyone in town called the basketball player sized bartender at the local tavern. Although Brandon had known him since high school, the name Growler had been around since before middle school. He thought Growlers real name was Nick or Mike, but he wasn’t sure enough to ever say it out loud. “They’ve been coming in here for week or two, but I haven’t seen you much. You OK?”
“I’m fine.” That was a lie, the knot building in his gut was overwhelming, Brandon felt like he could pass out or scream at any moment. “I got to meet my cousin across town, otherwise I’d stay.” Another lie. He wanted out of this building, faster the better.
“I’ll charge her for one of your beers, fuck that bitch, you deserve better.” Growler was a good friend, a guy who loved being a bartender and had found himself stuck in a shit relationship. But if you needed to get blitzed to get over something, or nothing at all, Growler was there. Even if it meant getting wasted on a Tuesday afternoon risking DUI’s to do it. “Stay safe man, text me after my shift if you want to get tore up, I got tequila at the house.”
That sounded tempting to Brandon, but for now he just wanted to get out of town, get out of the glow of the lights, and drive a little to fast down dark country roads. Brandon avoided Ashley and everyone around her by taking the long way around the bar, past the restroom door and out the side. He dug for his key fob while quickly walking past the front windows. There was a brand new SUV parked next to his decade old Toyota. He figured it was probably the new guys, the only other German car in the lot was Growlers, but that was a sort of well maintained classic. Brandon thought about sliding his key down the passenger side before getting in but decided against it, when he turned the key and his headlights came on, he saw Ashley turn her head. No way she could see him from inside, but he felt as if she was peering directly into him. He slid the car into drive and decided to get as far away as possible.
Claimed In Stars and Chains
By: Joseph Gelinas
