“I want cameras installed back there,” I tell him.
“I’m on it,” he responds. “You okay?”
Still facing the window, I admit, “I don’t know, man. That shit was f**ked up.”
“Did the police come?”
When I turn back around to face him, I answer, “Yeah. I gave my statement, and they took her to the hospital.”
“Was she okay?”
“I don’t know. He beat her pretty badly. She was unconscious.”
“And the guy?”
“Don’t know. I had him for a moment, but I couldn’t keep him in my grip. I couldn’t leave the girl though, so he fled.” I take a minute before telling him, “I don’t want the girls walking to their cars alone. You and Chase need to be with them when they leave. Got it?”
“Of course.” He takes a moment before asking, “You sure you want to be up here?”
Looking up at him, I let him know, “I can’t be home. I need a distraction.”
“I hear ya,” he says then switches the topic, which I’m thankful for. “I talked with Chase earlier today, and he says he knows of a band that’s gotten pretty popular lately. If you’re tied up, I can get Michael to see about getting them booked for Saturday.”
“Nah, I’ll take care of it. Is he here?”
“Yeah, I’ll send him up,” he says as he stands and starts walking out. When he gets to the door, he turns back and says, “I’m here, man. If you ever . . .”
“Thanks.” His friendship is genuine. It always has been. I might not be a man of many words, but I stop him before he walks out and tell him, “I really appreciate it,” because I feel like he should know.
He gives a nod, accepting my words, and turns to head downstairs.
I spend the next few hours reviewing the financials and going over payroll. It’s Michael’s responsibility, but I absorb myself in it for the distraction. I speak with Chase, and I am able to contact one of the guys from the band he suggested and get them booked.
Filing some papers away, I notice the sky darkening. Somehow the day has passed, and I still feel like I’m on autopilot.
“God, please! Stop!”
I shake my head, trying to wash out the shrill of her voice. The panic.
There’s a soft knock on the door, and before I can say anything, it slowly opens.
“What are you doing here?” I ask when I see Gina step in and close the door behind her.
This is the last thing I need to deal with right now.
“I never heard from you last night.”
“I wasn’t feeling well,” I tell her. “Look, things are getting a little weird, and honestly, I’m just not feeling right about what we have going on.” I should have told her this the other day, but I know that I can’t keep having her come around, thinking that this has any value in it.
She sits down and questions, “What do you mean?”
Getting up from my chair, I walk around to the front of my desk and lean back against it in front of her. I need to lay it out there honestly for her so that there isn’t any confusion.
“I’m starting to feel like what’s going on between us is exactly what I try to avoid. It isn’t working for me, and I’d feel like an ass if I led you to think otherwise.”
She looks hurt. Proof that she’s feeling too much. She plays it off well though when she says, “Well, it was fun while it lasted, right?”
I don’t respond as I watch her stand up.
“Keep my number though,” she says before turning her back to me and walking out.
I release a deep breath. A failed attempt to make me feel better. Truth is, I’m in a haze. A cloud. My mind is elsewhere—it’s back in the alley. But that girl’s cloud is no doubt thicker and darker than mine right now. Why didn’t I go out there sooner? What if I had?
“Fuck!” I grit out, slamming the door shut, knowing I’m at fault, that I could have done a lot more if only . . .
Chapter Six
Walking through the back stockroom, I ask Mel, “Hey, have you seen Max or Michael?”
“Michael left a couple hours ago, and last I saw, Max was out back talking to Traci,” she tells me as she loads her arms with a case of beer, almost dropping it.
“Here. Give that to me,” I say, taking the heavy case from her. She follows me as I walk out and set the beer on the bar top. The place is starting to fill up. The band that Chase had recommended played here last week and really drew in a crowd. I went ahead and booked them again for tonight, and he wasn’t kidding when he said they were well-known around here.
I help Mel behind the bar, stocking the beer while she serves customers. When I catch Max heading to the front door, I shout, “Hey, Max!”
“What’s up?”
“You seen the guys yet?” I ask.
“Chasten is here, but I’m not sure about the others. Everything cool?”
“Yeah, if you see them before I do, tell them I need to talk with them before they go on tonight.”
“Got it,” he responds as he turns to head out to work the door.
I need to snag this band while I can. Getting them in a contract will alleviate the hassle of trying to book bands week after week. The guys seem pretty cool from what I got to know of them last week, which wasn’t a whole lot aside from the guitarist, Mark. He stayed late that night, drinking and bullshitting with me and Gavin after he was done playing.