I hear the train approaching, and I tug her a bit closer to me just to make sure she is safe. The train comes to a stop, and we walk in at the same time as other people walk out. “Over there.” I point at the two empty seats in the back, and she slips inside, sitting by the window, and I slide in next to her.
“It’s, um, an acquired smell,” she says to me, and I laugh. I hear the beeping and then the doors to the train close, and the man comes over the speaker, telling us about our next stop. As we ride through the city, she points at things. When it’s finally time for our stop, I get up and hold out my hand to her, and she takes it. We step out of the train and then walk down the steps. “That was so much fun,” she says, and I have to smile at a girl who thinks riding the public transportation system is losing her mind. “I think once the tour is over, I’m going to head to a beach and then tour cities on the down-low.”
“What do you mean?” I ask her, and she walks next to me, turning her head and looking at me.
“For one whole week, I want to be on a beach with my feet in the sand and do nothing. Not one single thing.”
“Any beach or a specific one?” I make sure we are going the right way.
“As long as my feet are buried in the sand, it could be anywhere,” she says with a smile.
I guide her toward the houses, and she looks around. I’m waiting for her to notice where we are. Her mouth drops open. “Holy shit,” she says, putting her hands in front of her mouth. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Well, that depends.” I put my hands in my pockets, and she holds onto my elbow. “What do you think that is?”
“It’s the Gallagher house from Shameless!” she shrieks when we step in front of it. The shades on the inside are closed. “Do you think we can go in?” She walks toward the chain-link fence in the front of the property. The red no trespassing sign and the lock on the fence show you that you cannot go in. “I think I could call someone.”
I shake my head and try to hide my laughter. “Who are you going to call, baby?” Her eyes fly to mine as baby slips out again.
“I’m going to call Warner Brothers,” she says matter-of-factly, folding her arms over her chest. “I know people.”
“I’m sure you do, but for now, we just get to take a picture of you in front of the house,” I tell her, and she looks to the side.
“Is that Vi and Kevin’s house?” She points at the house right next door with another chain-link fence and no trespassing sign. “This is bullshit. They should have tours and stuff.”
“You know that they don’t film in the house, right?” I tell her, and she looks at me almost as though she’s in shock. “It’s filmed in LA.”
“You ruin everything, Brian,” she growls and tries to push me. “Don’t tell me this.”
“You know how it is in Hollywood.” I grab her hand, and we continue walking down the street. “Now, let’s go and see if we can find the Alibi.”
We walk down a couple of streets and then finally spot a hole in the wall. I open the door, and the smell of beer hits me right away. Stepping in, I see that it’s not the Alibi, not even close. The bar sits to the left-hand side, but the man behind it is not exactly Kevin. He is short and balding. In front of him are barstools that look like they were made in the sixties along with the décor of the bar. In front of the bar are five high tables with four wooden stools each. In the far back is a pool table with a lamp hanging over the middle of it, but the lamp is missing two bulbs.
“We start serving in ten minutes,” he says, looking over at us. I look at my watch and see that it’s almost six. “You can sit and wait if you want.”
“What do you want to do?” I ask her, not sure this is a good idea. “We can maybe grab a couple of beers at the hotel.”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I don’t want to go back yet.” She walks into the bar and grabs a barstool and sits on it.
“Whatcha want, sweetheart?” he asks her, and I look at him, then at my watch, and he just shrugs. “She’s a pretty face. Gotta keep those happy.”
I shake my head and sit next to her on the stool. “What is the house specialty?” she asks, and the bartender throws his head back and laughs.
“Sweetheart, the most expensive thing we have is the bottle of vodka,” he says to her, and then he looks at me. “You need to take your woman to a nicer place.”
“She’s not my woman,” I say at the same time as Kellie laughs and says, “I’m not his woman.” His eyebrows shoot up.
“Then this just became my best day ever.” He turns and walks to grab a bottle on the counter in the back and comes back with two shot glasses. He pours the clear liquid in each glass and then picks up his glass and motions to Kellie to pick up hers.
“What is that?” I ask, blocking her hand from going to her mouth.
“Moonshine.” He smiles at me, and the door opens, and two other people walk in. “Made it myself.”
“Are you going to let me drink?” she asks me with a twinkle in her eye.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I tell her honestly and then she leans in, her mouth going to my ear.
“I’m safe if you’re here,” she whispers, and I’m stuck with the smell of her and the way she smiles at me. I’m stuck in her beauty, and I’m stuck wishing that, at this moment, I can just let go with her.
Chapter Seventeen
Kellie
“I’m safe if you’re here,” I whisper in his ear, and it’s like I’m already drunk on him. This whole day has been hands down the best day ever. I walked around a city just being me. I walked around and explored and was just regular old Kellie today. And it was fantastic. I look at the bartender and take the shot, swallowing before I can even think about it. The burn kills me, and I start coughing. The bartender walks away and comes back with a glass of water.
“There you are, sweet cheeks,” he says, and I take a couple of sips, but it literally still tastes like fire down my throat.
I look at Brian who just looks at me. “Why would you let me do that?” I hiss out, drinking more water. “Why?”
He shakes his head. He’s too good looking for his own good. “I tried to stop you, but …”
I get in his face, and I hear him suck in a breath. “No, you didn’t.” I’m so close to him that if I lean in, I could kiss him. My lips would finally feel his. “You didn’t,” I whisper, and I don’t know how much time passes. I don’t know if it’s the heat from the liquor. But I whisper the next part. “Kiss me.” My heart beats in my chest, my hands are clammy, and I just want him to lean in a touch and take my lips.
His eyes cloud over. “Kellie,” he whispers, “I can’t.” Two words that I never thought would hurt as much as they do. I blink my eyes twice and then move away from him, but he grabs my hand. I pull it away from him. “Baby.” My heart beats faster, and I’m wondering if it’s because it’s sad.