Page 36 of Gator

Fear. It has to be fear. Right?

That it could mean something more than I’m ready for.

I protest because of that fear I feel. “What? It’s just a silly name he gives me because of a few small trouble moments. Nothing more.”

She snorts out a laugh. “You’re dumb if you think that. Names mean something around here. Just be glad he ain’t calling you a vamp. I don’t sit with vamps at the table.”

“What’s a vamp?” I ask.

“Club girl,” Mike coughs out, and I almost find it endearing that his cheeks turn a bit of red as he stares down at his mug.

“Tried a few out since you’ve been here, huh?” Margret smirks. “Can’t say I blame you. Vamps are only good for one thing, and if you got nothing else better waiting on you, I ain’t going to fault a man for wanting something easy.”

“Ain’t like that.” Mike glares at her, and I watch like it’s a freaking soap opera.

“Sure it ain’t. Just like you also took those pills your boy was busting your chops about earlier.”

“Never said I didn’t take them,” he spits back.

“And you never said you did.” She shrugs as she drinks her beer. Didn’t know she was listening for that long, but I guess when there’s so little going on in the clubhouse, it’s almost impossible not to eavesdrop.

“Don’t matter if I did or didn’t. Ain’t his shit to deal with.”

“Bullshit.” The air feels electric with her one word as she side-eyes him. His face turns red, and not in the cute blushing way as before. Full-on rage is bursting at the seams, and I bet he’s never had to hold it in like this before. Doubt he had to hold back in his former position, not that I expect he dealt with stuff like this from others in a long while.

“Come again?” The way he says it through gritted teeth makes me cringe for his next dentist bill.

“It’s bullshit and you know it. Don’t act like you’re some tough shit or anything. You’re old and a has-been just like me. Ain’t something to be ashamed of. We got years, which is good, but don’t act like what you do don’t affect them. I can see from the cast and all that that you’ve been through shit. And before you get all fluffed out thinking I’m talking out my ass, I had a house fall on me just last year, and your boy was there to confirm it. I know what it’s like to not want to take the damn pills, but it ain’t about whatyouwant. It’s about them. We lived our time, and now it’s their time to do the living. We don’t take the damn pills to make life easier on them. We take them so we can get better quicker and bug the shit out of them for longer than they fucking expected us to live for.”

And just like that, I think Mike fell in love. Or lust. I know that look he’s giving her. I’ve seen it on my own face so many times in the past hour from the reflection I catch in the glass behind the bar. Not saying I’m in love with Reese, but I sure view him in a whole different light than before. And the same goes for Mike. One little speech and the man is smitten. Not sure if Reese can see it or not, but Margret sure as hell recognizes the look if I go off the smirk on her face. She knew what she was doing when she came over here. She wasn’t saying things just to get to Reese—she was looking for an excuse to get an introduction to his dad.

Not sure if I should take notes from her or run screaming in the other direction. She’s intimidating, and I’ve got a feeling that I’m not even seeing the best she has to offer. Especially after that hag comment she brushed off. If that made her laugh, God only knows what makes her mad.

I look over at Reese and see him scowling. Think he also understands what’s going on across the table, as the two of them keep looking at each other. I feel the need to spare him from watching his dad flirt, ’cause it’s embarrassing as hell when your parents are married. I can only imagine it’s ten times worse when it’s with someone new.

“Um, Reese—I mean Gator,” I’m not sure what the protocol is for calling him by his club name when we’re in the clubhouse. I bite my lip as he looks at me with a smile and tugs on my hair.

“Either works, Troublemaker.”

I swear he can read my mind some days, so I just nod and ignore the flutter in my stomach that he gives me each time his nickname for me rumbles across his lips. I might say it means nothing to others, but I won’t deny that it means something to me. It makes me feel special and singular. Not just one in the crowd buttheone in the crowd.

“Right, um, I have school tomorrow.” I don’t know why I’m acting like a kid who has to tell their date they have a curfew, but I do. It’s embarrassing to be the one to call it a night, especially when it’s still relatively early for most people. But if I don’t get a full eight hours, tomorrow is going to be hell. The massage and bath helped, but I still feel sore. I’m sure most of it will be gone tomorrow, but I don’t want to chance lack of sleep on top of everything. Ever taught a bunch of high schoolers during summer break? It’s hell on a good day.

“No worries. Dad, I’ll be back.” Reese stands.

“Don’t you come running back. I promise to keep an eye on your old man for you,” Margret says.

Reese shakes her off. “Thanks, Margret, but General says he needs an overnight watch after his recent fall.”

“Damn, didn’t know you were that old that you needed Life Alert.” She turns to him with mock horror, even going so far as to put a hand over her heart as if in a panic like they did in the old movies. I chuckle at her antics, and she shoots me a wink.

“Ain’t old,” Mike grumbles, but I don’t feel the same heat he had with his previous retorts to Margret.

“Don’t worry, reptile boy. I’ll make sure he doesn’t get a wink of sleep on my watch.” The eyebrow wiggle she gives Mike even has me shuddering in disgust. The mental image she just put there is not a welcome one, but Mike doesn’t seem to mind based on the small smile I see him trying to cover up with his coffee mug. I know old people have sex, but it’s just wrong on so many levels to think about, let alone see the image in your head.

Reese makes a gagging noise, one I’m tempted to mimic. “That’s just gross. And the name’s Gator, not reptile boy. Get it right if you want to be welcomed back here.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Get to walking. You got prettier things to do than talk with a couple of old people.”

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