Page 11 of Sinister Hearts
I kissed Birdie goodnight, tucking her into her pink farm princess bed. “I’ll see you in the morning, sweet pea.” I kissed her cheeks. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Mommy, do you promise you’ll come back?” I bent down to Birdie’s level as I looked in her big, honey-brown eyes. The lump overwhelming my throat burned like a sphere, cutting my esophagus. I held it back and kept my composure. I knew exactly why she had asked that. Her father hadn’t called. Let alone show up for her fifth birthday. We invited him, even though I didn’t want to be anywhere near him, let alone look at him. I did it for her. Plus, I felt safer knowing my tio (uncle) would be there. He wasn’t the kind of guy you messed with. But he never showed, not even a phone call to wish her a happy birthday. It was clear as day she felt abandoned by him, and it lit a fire in me like a match gone wild.
“I will always come back for you.” I whispered to her.
Iheaded back to the locker room to put away my belongings. It was filled with bartenders and cocktail waitresses getting dressed making small talk. The dressing room smelled of Victoria Secret body spray, whiskey, and spray tans like it always did. The bartenders all wore black leather chaps and white crop tops with big letters that said, “Wild Minx”, and cowboy boots. The waitresses wore jean skirts and black crop top shirts, with the same big lettering. It was like I was nineteen again, startingfor the first time. I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. The music boomed outside the locker room, playing Randy Houser-Boots on,and it took me back to a time I wish I could transcend into. Not just the time, but that skin I used to wear—thick and so sure of itself.
Six years ago-
The music blared through the bar as I made my way through the crowd, letting the music take control. I grabbed Sam Cook, a regular, by the shirt and shouted, “Are you ready, old man?” I smiled at him devilishly, and he grinned back at me.
“Oh yeah, give it to me.” I popped the bottle and sprayed it into his mouth. He opened his mouth wider, trying to catch every drop like he was parched. I smacked his drenched face.
“That’s a good boy, Sam.” He smiled like a school boy and tossed me a hundred dollar bill. I winked and made my way to the other end of the bar, where the other Minx girls were dancing, making the crowd buzz and go wild. I felt the sweat drip on my tank top as I chugged the rest of the bottle, dripping it on to my white tee, making my nipples visible to the crowd. This little trick always had me set up for tips by the end of the night. The men hollered and threw us tips as I shook my head in a wild applause, giving them the show of their dreams.
The Minx girls all lined up, dancing on the bar and making this place tremble and come alive.This is what people came to The Wild Minx for. The best drinks in town, and to watch us Minx girls dance on the bar. It was what this saloon was knownfor. What I was known for. I was a Wild Minx, and I didn’t give a shit what anyone thought. Being a Minx was more than just being a dancing bartender. We were wild and bat-shit crazy, but we were free. Only the best of the best were chosen to be one and I was damn proud to be one of them. We came in all types of beauty; tall, short, thin, thick, brown, white, black. It was your grit that made you a Wild Minx; not your looks.
The song faded into the background and so did my memories, interrupted by a face I was so happy to see.
“Well I’ll be damned.” I turned to see Avianna Fuentes. Her pretty dark eyes, beautiful rich, brown skin, and brunette wavy hair were still gorgeous as ever. I turned around, hugging her fiercely. It was nice to see a familiar face who was always kind to me.
“Now, my ole’ man told me you were back, but honestly I didn’t believe him.” Avi looked at me shocked. The awkwardness hanging in the air.
“It’s just temporary, but I’m glad to be back.”
“You look good chica (girl), a kid where?” Both of us were trying to lighten the mood. She looked me up and down while twirling me around in a circle.
“Trust me, the stretch marks are there to show it. It’s partly why I’m in a long white tee tonight.” I joked.
“Girl, you know damn well those men out there don’t care. They’d fuck anything with a hole.” We chuckled like high school girls. “Give yourself more credit, you look hot.” Damn, I sure did miss her. It felt good to be back.
I took a deep breath. “Si se puede.”I can do this, I thought to myself while my legs shook in my boots.
“So, what’s new? Tell me everything!” I hoped conversation would ease my nerves. She lifted her hand and waved it in front of my face, showcasing her big, oval three-carat engagement ring. I gasped. “No way, Avi Fuentes, tied down?” I was genuinely surprised. We never hung out much outside of work back in the day, but at work we were two peas in a pod.
“I could hardly believe it myself,” she said, with a dazzling smile on her face.
“So, who’s the lucky person?” I asked, so curious as to who had the capability to tie her down.
“You’re not going to believe it when I tell you, Faye.” Guilt surged inside me for being so behind in my friend’s life. I gave her a look as if to say,tell me.
“Creed Grimwood.” Avi was lost in her big diamond ring.
My throat immediately went dry and my eyes went big. I forced a smile for my friend. It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy for her. Creed was the brother of my first love, Jaxon. The same man who I found, unbeknownst to me, in my bathroom a couple weeks ago. Creed and I never really took a liking to each other, and for some reason he was always against any relationship Jax and I had. To be honest, the fact that Avi was marrying him had me perplexed. She was sunshine and he was a dark, gloomy cloud. Literally. The guy hardly smiled. What was I missing and how did these two opposites even end up together? I had so many questions. But it wasn’t going to stop me from showing up for a friend.
I had five years to catch up on.
The thought of running into Jax again had my anxiety in overdrive. Five years and this man still affected me. Jaxon was like a stain on my heart I could never get rid of. One I wore for avery long time. No matter how many years passed, it was a love I could never forget.
“Damn girl, are you alright?” Avi asked as she watched my expression go blank. I needed to seem unbothered, because I was. Jax just needed to keep his distance. I had enough to be worried about. The past was already weighing heavy on me like casted stones. I didn't need that one catching up to me too so I just shrugged it off.
“Avi, it was so long ago, are you kidding? Jax is such old news. I can’t even remember the last time I thought about the Grimwood’s.” I laughed it off, lying.
I definitely thought about Jax in the last five years, more than I should have, and I definitely was staring at his muscular arms while he worked in my bathroom a couple weeks ago. But never mind that. Looking and touching are two different things, and I knew my boundaries, especially with Jaxon. He and I were like fire and oil. We mixed well until we didn’t, and when we didn’t, we imploded. There was passion, and then there was Jaxon Reed Grimwood.
“Listen, Faye, I know things ended with you and Jax pretty badly. We can let bygones be bygones, right?” She looked at me with her stupid cute baby face. Why did she always have to be so convincing?Right, bygones be bygones, I thought. “I would love for you to come to our engagement party. This is perfect, your timing and all.” Avi beamed at me as I smiled cheekily at her.
I swallowed my regret the moment the words left my mouth. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ve missed enough and I just want to say I’m so sorry, for being a horrible friend.”
