Tragic Love (3 page)

Delilah’s mega watt smile is stretched across her face as she extends her hand out to Darcie. “Hi, I’m Delilah St. James. I’ve heard so much about you, Darcie, and it’s so nice to finally meet you.”Her voice singsongs as she introduces herself.

“Yeah, likewise, I guess. Hey Jer, did you meet Presley’s friend?” Darcie eyeballs her up and down, taking in her dress, high heels and perfectly annoying manners. “So, you’re only here for the summer then?” Jeremy sticks his head out of the garage and mumbles a quiet hi before going back to work on my Chevelle.

Delilah waves back at Jeremy and answers, “Oh, well my internship is over at the end of August, so…almost three months. I’m looking forward to spending everyday with my best friend,” Delilah says while hooking her arm through Presley’s.

Darcie rolls her eyes and mumbles, “Right.” She turns to Presley. “So what’s the plan for tonight? Reggie and Jake will be at
The Slab
. We should take Little Miss Sunshine out for drinks. Unless, that would bother you?”

Now it begins. I hope Darcie isn’t like this the entire summer; it would really hurt Presley’s feelings and get old, fast. I glare at Darcie, giving her my shut-the-fuck-up look and bend down to kiss Presley on the cheek. Doing anything I can think of to make this moment less awkward.

Delilah’s façade falters momentarily. “It’s Delilah,” she snaps then composes herself. “I would love to go out. Presley says
The Slab
is a really great place and then I can meet the rest of my roommates.”

Darcie lets out a small, snotty laugh. “Yeah, it should be a pretty entertaining time.” Then she glances back over to me.

Presley

Later in the night, we all decide to start getting ready to go down to the bar. Drake and Jeremy have showered and are glued to the TV, watching highlights from a Detroit Tigers baseball game while the rest of us start getting our showers. I make my way into Darcie’s room to see what she’s wearing and my nose instantly floods with vanilla body spray as Darcie walks from the bathroom spritzing herself.

I usually gauge how nice I’m going to look by what she’s wearing. That way, I continue to blend in with the crowd; I hate attracting attention to myself. I used to dress nice, wearing skirts and dresses, but as my time lingers in Sulfur Heights, so does my desire to look beautiful. It does make me glad I have such a hot boyfriend; everyone is too busy looking at him to even notice me.

Darcie is dressed in her typical attire for going out; fitted t-shirt, jeans and Converse sneakers. I walk into her closet, pass Reggie’s designated section and start sweeping through her t-shirt collection. The hangers scrape against the metal rod as I quickly flip through the clothes. Then I spot her Kings of Leon concert tee and yank it from the hanger. This will work.

I walk out of her closet and Darcie is holding her comb out to me. I smile. Darcie always loves it when I style her hair and I enjoy it myself. I’m debating on making a career of it, but haven’t officially decided what I want to do with myself now that high school is over. I have no desire to really do anything except put one foot in front of the other. I know I need to get my crap together, however the invading depression keeps my thoughts plagued with fear.

Darcie sits on the edge of her bed and I start pulling the comb through her hair. “So what do you want me to do with it?” I ask.

“Braid it. I want it out of my face. It depends on how busy it gets tonight, and I may need to help behind the bar. They’ve been getting slammed on the weekends now that Reggie had to fire Michelle. Can you believe that bitch?” Darcie seethes through gritted teeth.

A month ago Reggie caught her skimming money from the cash register and it sent Darcie through the roof. I swear it took an act of God to get her to calm down. She was going to beat that girl blind, but Darcie’s feelings are justified. She is feeling betrayed like everyone else. They’ve all know Michelle for years and it was the last thing either one of them could imagine happening.

“Yeah, that does suck, but I’m sure Reggie will have no problems finding a replacement.” I start to part her hair, preparing it to be braided. “Why don’t you fill in on a regular basis? I mean, you’re there as much as Reggie some days; why not get behind the bar and push out some drinks? I’m sure you could make some sweet tips.”

“Reggie is completely against that idea. He doesn’t want to get sued every time he has to beat some asshole when they try to grab me. You know how Reggie is, ever since the stepfather from hell incident he’s been overly protective of me.”

“I know exactly what you mean.”Although Drake has only been in a couple of fist fights because some drunk said the wrong thing, he’s threatened his fair share of idiots. I let out a little giggle. Never in my life did I think I would have a guy as sexy as Drake, but having him fight for me is pretty incredible. Any girl who says it’s not is a liar.

Once Darcie’s hair is parted to the side, I start to braid the right side of her head down the side and make it come across the nape of her neck then close it off with a hair tie. Next, I braid the left strands of hair, bringing it over to curve around the front of her head and down the side. Once both braids meet at the base of her head, I start to combine the two, making the tail of the braid sweep over her left shoulder.

She stands to look in the mirror as she fastens her hoops through her ears. “Thanks, Presley. So, this Delilah chick, is she really as cool as you say she is?”

“You guys are opposite in every way humanly possible, but yes, she’s cool. I’ve always looked up to her. If you can believe this, I didn’t have very many friends growing up. Even though she was Miss Popular in school, she never let it go to her head. Delilah is as genuine as a person gets and I love her for it.”

I startle when I notice Delilah standing at the threshold of Darcie’s room. She looks like a goddess in her white, empire waist sundress with a shimmery gold sash that accentuates her hour glass figure. It looks perfect against her sun-kissed skin. Her gold wedges are a perfect accent to the dress and her blonde hair is wavy, cascading down her back. Delilah looks like she’s ready to go to a beach party in the Hamptons and will definitely stick out amongst the crowd.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. I was just seeing if you ladies were ready.”

Darcie gives her a look of indifference and goes back to applying her lip gloss. I move to the door and pull her into the room. I want her to feel welcome in the house, and I really want her and Darcie to become friends. “No worries. I have to change my clothes and then I’ll be ready to go.”

Delilah looks Darcie and myself up and down, studying our clothes. “Do…do I look okay?”

“We’re not going to prom,” Darcie snaps. “It’s just a bar full of bikers and drag racers. There is no need to look like you’re walking the red carpet or some shit.”

I smack Darcie on the arm, which earns me a death glare. I know she would never do anything to me, yet she loves to act like she would. “Yes, Delilah, you look amazing. The guys won’t know what hit them.” She gives me a tight smile as she smoothes down her dress.

I give Delilah a light squeeze on her arm and start to make my way out of the room when Darcie says, “You know what, Pres? I can’t believe you didn’t have very many friends growing up because you are the best person I’ve ever known.” I give her a small smile as I step around Delilah and into the hall. I hate when people say things like that to me. I wish my bruised and fractured soul was mended because sentiments like that shouldn’t be wasted on someone who’s as hollow as me.

Chapter 3

Presley

We all file into
The Slab,
giving Big Mike pats to his arm as we pass through the doorway. Darcie instantly abandons the group, making her way over to Reggie behind the bar. When she gets to him, she reaches up and kisses him square on the lips. They are still head over heels for one another and have no problem showing it.

Drake has is arm wrapped around my waist, as he does every time we go anywhere public. It makes him feel better if he lets others know I’m off limits, and for the most part, no one tries to challenge this.

Just as Darcie said, the bar is packed tonight and the crowd is rowdy for a Thursday. The look of the bar has not changed since I first stepped foot through it. The bar itself is still the entire length of the room, but has received a much needed facelift. Where it once was broken down with damaged cherry wood, the top surface has been painted black and blanketed in stainless steel. It’s very industrial and completely Reggie. He’s also added more pool tables and seating, taking over the dance floor area. No one ever dances here, so why not utilize the space. The smell of the bar has not changed one bit, though; it’s a mixture of smoke, sweat, booze, grease and well, Sulfur Heights. I’ve come to realize a town as dirty as this place, no matter where you go, it always smells just like that, dirty.

I grab a hold of Delilah’s hand and give it a squeeze. Her blue eyes are expanding to the size of saucers as she scans the room, taking in the scene. The volume of noise is piercing as you watch the drunks. They’re walking like they’re riding a tilt-a-whirl, cursing and laughing at the stupidest things. Women are shamelessly hanging on guys, trying to get their attention, while the regulars square off at the pool tables.

Delilah leans into my side and whispers, “This is where you guys hang out?”

“Yeah, it’s not so bad once you get used to it.” I smile at her then realize I will be saying that a lot while she’s staying here. There are many things you simply have to get used to on the Southside of Sulfur Heights.

Drake leads us through the crowd as we make our way over to our designated table. Darcie and Reggie have made sure we have our own place to sit when we come down here. That way, they both can keep an eye on us, making sure we’re staying out of trouble. Again, they have nothing to worry about from Drake or me; however Jake is a different story.

Drake helps Delilah and I both onto our bar stools and then asks, “So what’s your poison, ladies?”

Delilah responds, “Oh, just an old fashion cherry coke for me.” Drake looks perplexed and turns his questioning look to me.

I giggle and clarify for him, “Coke with cherry grenadine added. And I’ll take an Amaretto sour.”

Drake heads to the bar and I turn to Delilah, who still looks a little overwhelmed at this place. Her posture is perfect as she sits with her hands folded in her lap. Not a single hair is out of place. “So what do you think?”

“Well, it’s not the kind of place I would normally go to, but it could be fun. I just need to get acclimated to how incredibly different this place is. But what I’m confused about is, when you were living with your uncle you said he lived in a house that looked like mine. So far, what I’ve seen of Sulfur Heights, I’m not finding any resemblance.” Delilah places her hand on the table top and appears to be relaxing.

“You’ve only seen the Southside. This town is like an alternate universe, one minute you are walking along garbage filled gutters and then the next you see perfectly manicured lawns and everything like you’re used to in Memphis. I don’t understand it, the rich people want nothing to do with the poor people and everyone is okay with it, including the authorities. Darcie has always said the Southside is the portal to Hell and almost everyone who’s born here will get sucked into the evil that is Sulfur Heights, and sooner or later I will be exactly like them. The drugs, violence and gambling is everywhere. It’s rare to find someone who isn’t into one or the other.”

“Why are you staying around here then? You’ve graduated from high school. Nothing can hold you back. Why not just leave before any of that happens to you?” Her face is inquisitive as she studies mine.

“And go where, Memphis? There’s nothing left for me there anyway. The only thing I ever had in Memphis was my parents and you. Every single friend I had bailed on me when I was admitted to that clinic. There is no way I’m going back to that and putting up with their condescending looks. Besides, I have Drake. He would never leave his family.”

Speaking of, Drake comes to the table with our drinks and I start chugging mine down. He sits down beside me and runs his hand up my leg, inching closer to the apex of my thighs. My breath hitches in my throat and I’m heating to an unimaginable level. God, he is killing me.

I lean over and decide to have a little fun myself. I put my hand in his lap and gently grab a hold of his hardening manhood then whisper in his ear, “Two can play that game, big boy.”His chocolate eyes melt with desire as he stares into mine. I bite my lower lip, desperately trying to hold the moan inside my throat, knowing what that look does to me every time he does it. However, Jake’s perfect timing soon breaks our stare as he and Jeremy make their way over to the table.

Drake

I was just about to yank Presley from the bar stool and take her to the back room, which we already christened a couple of months ago, when Jake breaks through my thoughts. I will be sure to thank him later for that, dick.

He is sporting a smug, smartass grin as he walks through the crowd with Jeremy over to our table. If the wad of sweaty money in his hand is any indication, Jake scored big at the pool tables tonight. He folds the money up as he tucks it into his front jeans pocket. It’s obvious Jake is feeling pretty good right now. He is an excellent pool player and I’m not sure why people even try to challenge him; they get hustled every single time.

As he makes his way over to the table, he quickly takes notice of Delilah sitting next to Presley. His face is sober as he rakes his eyes up and down her body then a faint grin lifts the corner of his mouth. Yeah, he’s going to drive this woman crazy.

I make eye contact with Presley and she looks like she’s on the verge of puking from the anxiety. I try to make her feel as best as I can by running my hand up the spine of her back. She shivers slightly and leans into my body.