Page 21 of Jackass

I looked up from the sidewalk and realized I had walked to the bar in town. Without really thinking about it, I opened the door and walked in.

A few drinks sounded good after that walk.

I stepped up to the bar and planted my ass on the stool next to Johnny. It wasn’t surprising to see him here. King had him sitting here on the nights Grace worked.

It was overkill, if you asked me, but nobody asked me.

“Hey, Jack.” Lifting my head, my eyes settled on Grace. She was pretty. With her green eyes and long, dark blonde hair. She wasn’t Sammy, though.

Sammy was gorgeous. Her wild, curly brown hair and her whiskey-colored eyes hooked me that first night. Charlie looked just like her, except for her blue eyes. Eyes she got from me.

“What can I get you, Jack?” Grace asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Whiskey.”

Grace walked away. She grabbed a bottle from the top shelf and poured it into a glass. She dropped the glass on the bar in front of me and waited.

I raised an eyebrow in question. “Something you need, Grace?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s just…”

She looked over at Johnny.

I turned my head toward the prospect. He was quickly typing on his phone. Once he realized we were looking at him, he shoved his phone in his back pocket. I turned back to Grace, waiting for her to continue.

“Johnny is usually the only one that’s ever here. Sometimes you guys come in like a pack.” She shrugged her shoulder. “I’m just wondering if something is wrong.”

“Is something wrong?” I scoffed. “Yea, you could say that. It seems I have a daughter. Just met her today.” The bitter taste of my admission had me taking a large drink from my glass.

“FUCK!” I sputtered and coughed, spitting liquid over the bar. “What the hell is this?” I shrieked, looking at my glass.

“It’s Hell’s Inferno. It’s the second whiskey distilled and distributed by the Sons of Hell MC out of Rosewood, Virginia. It is meant to be sipped, not thrown back like water,” Gracelectured as she poured more whiskey into my glass. “So, she finally told you, huh?”

“The fuck of it is,” I mumbled, grabbing the whiskey glass again, then said, “No, she didn’t tell me. I ran into her at Walmart with the girl.”

Slamming my glass on the bar, I sneered.

“Wait, you knew? She told you?”

“No, she didn’t tell me. I was out shopping one day and saw them together. I knew you two had been together before and just assumed she was yours.”

“Why the fuck didn’t you say something?” I barked.

“Not my business.” She shrugged.

“Not your business? Fuck, Grace. You should have said something.”

“Jack, I know Samantha. I assumed she had her reasons for not telling you. Contrary to what you men might think, women don’t do things just to fuck with you.” Grace stormed off, leaving me to reflect upon her revelation.

Hours passed while I sat at the bar, drinking. The alcohol I had consumed kept me from noticing that Blade had come in and was sitting next to me.

“Hey, Jack.” I turned my head to the voice beside me.

“Blade!” I howled. “What are you doing here?”

He shook his head at me. “I came to get you, buddy. It’s time to go home.”

My eyes narrowed in his direction. “How’d you know I was here?” I asked, my words slurred. “Did Grace rat me out?”

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