Page 74 of Rise In Arms

I wake up to my phone ringing, and turn over in the dead of the night to find my cell beside me lighting up, indicating a call is coming through. Shit, what time is it? I sit up and grab my phone; it’s 2:00 a.m. Immediately thinking it’s my parents, I swipe the screen, and yawn as I answer the call.

“Hello?” My voice sounds drowsy, and I blink a few times, trying to wake myself up.

A deep voice says, “Hello, is this Charity?”

I can hear music in the background, and what sounds like men shouting. “Um, yes, who’s this?”

“I’m Tim, from Pete’s Bar downtown. I have a guy here that’s drunk and refuses to leave. He’s been talking about you all night, so I found your number in his phone and was hoping you’d come and pick him up.”

Kane? It’s got to be Kane!

Suddenly feeling wide-awake, I jump out of bed and switch on a light. “Do you know his name?”

“Nope, won’t tell me, but he’s wearing some leather vest that says Blood Brothers on it. He must be in some biker club or something, so don’t feel like you have to—”

“Yeah, I know who he is. I’ll leave now,” I say, rushing to the bathroom to get ready.

“Thank you. And Charity?”

“Yeah?” I say distractedly, looking around for my toothbrush.

“Give the guy a break. He loves you, you know.”

I run my free hand through my hair and sigh. “Tim, thank you for the advice, but you don’t know what’s going on.”

Tim chuckles on the other end of the line. “I know that he loves you, and how all night he’s been down in the dumps, saying you love him back but won’t give him another try.”

“I’ll see you soon,” I mutter, ending the call. Who does this Tim guy think he is, meddling in my affairs? And Kane? What the hell? What’s he doing still here, and at a bar getting drunk of all things. Could he really be in love with me…? It doesn’t matter, I tell myself, because it would never work. I can’t be in a relationship right now.

I quickly jump into my parents’ Mercedes and start it up, then let it run for a while, knowing that it’s been in the garage untouched for three weeks so far, while they’re on holidays.

Driving down the highway, I start to panic. What will I do when I get there? Do I take him to a hotel, or back to my parents’? Listen to yourself, Charity. The man helped you when you needed him, the least you can do is return the favor.

I park my car next to Kane’s bike when I arrive at the bar. My dad used to come here on Friday nights to watch a game with his buddies, and my mom used to complain each week about him going out drinking. I didn’t mind—the man works hard as a professor at a local college, and he needs a break, time to chill with his friends.

Opening the door to the bar, I search around for Kane as soon as I step inside. The bar’s quiet now, a jukebox playing softly, and there’s only a handful of men still hanging around. I spot Kane almost immediately, sitting on a stool with his forehead resting against the bar top. The guy behind the bar looks up at me, a relieved look on his face, then points down to Kane. I nod and begin to walk toward him.

Once I reach him, I can hear snores coming out of his mouth, and I realize he’s asleep.

“Here, I’ll give you a hand,” the man behind the bar—Tim, the overstepping barman according to his name tag—says.

“Thank you, that would be great.”

Tim throws the dish towel he’s holding over his shoulder then walks around the bar, stopping on the other side of Kane. “Come on, buddy, time to go home,” he says, squeezing Kane’s shoulder firmly. When Kane only responds with a grunt, showing no signs of moving, Tim lifts him off the stool, pulling Kane’s arm around his broad shoulders, and walks toward the exit. I quickly catch up and open the door for him. Noticing he’s struggling with Kane’s dead weight, I take Kane’s other arm and drape it around me, leading the way to my car. The smell of whiskey pours off Kane, mixed with a hint of his cologne, and I hold back a moan at its familiarity. I unlock the car and leave Kane with Tim for a moment to open the door. Tim places him as best he can in the passenger seat, and I quickly put the seat belt on him.

Kane opens his eyes a sliver at my touch. “Charity? Charity, you came back for me. God, I love you. Did I tell you how much I love you? So, so, much, baby.”

I hear Tim chuckle behind me. “See, Miss? He’s been saying that all night.”

I click the belt in, and I’m about to stand when he reaches out and pulls me close, holding me to him. “Don’t ever leave me, baby, I need you.” Then light snores come from his mouth again as his grip loosens and his hands fall to his sides.

“Come on, Romeo, let’s take you home.” I make sure he’s fully inside the car before standing and shutting the door. I turn to Tim, thank him quickly for everything, then get in the car, deciding to take Kane back to my parents’ house.

When we get there, I start to wonder how in the hell I’m going to get him inside on my own. Shutting the garage door, I hear him stir. He opens his eyes and looks around, then his gaze comes to rest on me. “Where…? Where are we?” he asks, rubbing his face with his hands.

“We’re at my parents’ house, I picked you up from the bar. Tim gave me a call,” I add to answer the next question I assume is coming.

He looks confused, though. “Wait, who’s Tim?”

---