Page 45 of My Best Friend's Bully

The silence is killing me, and I have to get out of here. Crossing the sitting room to the bedroom, I step into the cavernous walk-in closet. Three quarters of the shelves are bare, and most of the hangers empty. It would be perfect for sharing with another person. I yank a pair of jeans from its hanger, and shuffle through the drawers until I find my favorite dark green sweater. I’ll go for a walk, maybe find a crowd to get rid of this lonely feeling and distract my thoughts of her. If Jordan were here, I’d stay in, put on a movie, and wrap my arms around her.

I style my hair in a hurry, only enough to be presentable, throw on my jacket and press the button for the elevator. The long journey down to the ground level gives me ample time to check my phone, but there’s nothing new from Jordan. Is she still out with Cole? It was only coffee. She must be home by now, settling onto the couch for her usual homework binge. I fight the urge to order dinner delivered to her apartment, and instead, I send a text to my old friend, James, asking if he wants to meet for a beer.

I step out the door onto the sidewalk, and the rush of cold wind slaps me in the face. I instantly regret not having grabbed a hat or a scarf, so I pull my collar up and tuck my chin down inside my jacket. With no specific destination in mind, I turn right out the door and walk in the direction of the brightly lit part of town. If there’s any distraction to rescue me from my thoughts, it will be that way.

After walking only ten minutes directly into the cold wind, it’s the weather that picks my next stop. My ears ache from the bitter cold, and I find refuge in the nearest warm place. It’s half bar, half arcade, and packed wall-to-wall with people. Good. I work my way through the crowd to the bar and order a light beer, settling onto one of the stools.

I pull out my phone and open the message from James.

James:I’m up for it. Where are you?

I grab one of the menus and check the name at the top.

Me:Bonus Round.

James:I’ll be there.

“I’ve never seen you here before,” one of the bartenders comes over, wiping down the counter in front of me, though it’s already spotless. She’s pretty, her blonde hair pulled back to frame her sparkling blue eyes and dimpled smile.

“My first time, actually,” I reply, wondering how long it will take James to get here. He doesn’t live far from here but who knows what he was doing when I texted.

“Oh, you’re going to love it. Did you play pinball or video games when you were a kid?” She leans one arm on the bar, ignoring the other patrons looking to order. An older man huffs and turns his attention toward another bartender.

“Sure. Most kids did, I guess.” I lift my beer for a sip and stare past her at the hand-written menu board behind her. Chicken wings. Tater tots. Pizza. The whole place is a trip back to college life. And heart attack city.

An image of Jordan performing CPR on me flashes in my mind. “I’m off my shift in two hours,” the bartender interrupts the image, leaning forward with her cleavage half spilling out from her low-cut shirt. “If you’d like a pro to show you the ropes.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got a girlfriend.” I pick up my beer and turn around to work my way back through the crowd, heading toward an empty arcade machine. I set the beer down on the shelf next to the machine and slide a quarter into the slot.

A girlfriend?Well, it’s not literally true but it might as well be. Maybe it’s Jordan, maybe it’s family stress, whatever it is, I’m just not interested.

I’ve lost track of how long I’ve been playing, stacking colorful blocks in neat rows when I feel a tap on my shoulder.

“Lucky you’re a giant or I never would’ve found you in here. This place is packed.” James slaps my back as we hug. “Long time no see, stranger.”

“Who knew our days of vegging out in college would pay off?” I’m happy to see him and avoid doing the math to figure out precisely how long it’s been since I’ve spent time out with a friend. “Get a drink yet?”

“Not yet. Need another?” he nods toward my empty glass, drained while I was racking up points.

“Sure.” I draw the word out, scanning the bar to see if the blonde is still there.

I follow James to the bar and he takes a minute to peruse the options. We each order a beer, a lager for him, and a pilsner for me. What the hell. I need to live a little.

“Back for more?” The blonde bartender appears by my side, looking up at me from under thick lashes, a devilish smile on her face.

I hold up my now-full pint. “Just this.”

“One more hour and I’m free,” she says in a singsong voice. “You know where to find me.” She turns and walks away, swinging her hips from side to side.

“What was that all about?” James watches the bartender until she’s out of sight behind the kitchen door. “She was sending all the ‘come get me’ signals, dude. Since when do you turn down a girl that looks like that?”

I don’t answer as I turn and squeeze my way through the crowd toward the video machines. I stop at a machine that looks like a head-to-head fighting game for two players that promises non-stop action. James sidles up beside me as I start playing. “I’m not looking for that kind of thing right now, that’s all. Come on, let’s play.”

James steps up next to me and we pick our characters. “You’re always up for that kind of thing. And since you’re not, that can only mean one thing. Who is she?”

His character pummels mine in the chest and knocks me out of the round. I groan. “What do you mean? There’s no one.”

The next round starts but I can’t focus, and James knocks me out again. I feed the machine another quarter and get ready to jump back in.

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