Page 24 of GAF Factor

“But you still haven’t told us what happened,” Eli said.

I spun toward him, nearly falling off the stool. “You want to know what happened?”

“I do,” Red said from behind me.

I spun toward him, realizing too late that the motion was only making me dizzy. Red caught me, gripping my arm to keepme upright. I nodded my thanks. Then Eli was standing there, staring down at me.

I grinned. “You came around. You must really love me.”

“Not really. I just didn’t want to pick you up off the floor.”

I waved him off, tapping the bar top. “Another, good man!”

“Isla, Kavanaugh. What happened?”

“What happened? That’s a very good question. What happened? You know, there’s a moment when you’re standing before this woman and she’s so perfect and so right. You know what I mean?” I didn’t bother looking at them for an answer. I was too busy staring off into space. “It was so fucking right. And then I realized that I would always be trying to live up to some big expectation she had, but I would always fail.”

“Why would you fail?”

I raised an eyebrow at Red. Like he didn’t already know the answer. “Because that’s what I do, right? She would want me to be someone else, someone who told the truth all the time and shit like that.”

“Yeah, those are high demands,” Eli grunted.

“And there are things I can’t tell her.”

“There are things you don’t want to tell her, dipshit,” Red retorted. “There’s a difference.”

I pointed at him with a grin. “See? You get me. You feel what I’m throwing out there.”

“Don’t try and talk like a gangster. You suck at it.”

I flipped Eli off and swiveled to the bar for my drink, only to find it empty. “Hey, barkeep! How about another one?” I spun back to the guys and sighed, resting my chin in the palm of my hand. “Anyways, she said it wasn’t going to work and I agreed. And then I said something about IKE.”

“You stupid fuck,” Red grunted.

“Yeah, she wasn’t too happy about that, but you didn’t see her in his arms. There was something there.” I swayed on thestool, remembering the jab of pain I felt when I walked into the hospital room and found her in his arms. “It’s not fucking fair. He’s IKE. Stupid name,” I grumbled. “What kind of name is that, anyway?”

“What kind of name is Bradford?” Eli retorted.

“A stupid one,” I grumbled. “Stupid father and his stupid names. He’s stupid.”

“Alright,” Red sighed. “I think that’s enough for one night.”

He grabbed my arm and hauled me off the stool, dragging me toward the door. “Where are we going?”

“Home.”

I snorted in derision. “I don’t have a home. She kicked me out. I’m gone. Long, long gone.”

“You’re going to your home.” Then he stopped and looked me up and down. “Maybe my couch for the night. Can’t have you passing out drunk on your floor and choking on your own vomit.”

“Hey, I resent that. I don’t have a floor to choke on.”

“Yes, you do. Cash left.”

“Cash,” I muttered as I stumbled through the door. “There’s another stupid name. “Hey, my name is Money. Big Money,” I jeered. “Just like Rafe. What kind of name is that?”

“His name was actually Guy,” Eli corrected.

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