“Yeah. I'm sure,” he whispered.
* * *
Jake tried to ignore Jenny, but she kept coming back at him with a vengeance. When she couldn't get a rise out of him, she aimed her sights on Ben, continually playing them both all night long. He could see she was getting a kick out of it all, especially the anger she provoked in him, which he had a hard time concealing. Her failure to pay attention to the customers, provoked a flurry of complaints. All the while she continued strutting her stuff, hitting them with that innocent doe-eyed charm. Since most of the customers swarming to her were men anyway, it worked out well for her.
Most of the time Jake minded his own business, faking a good mood and working fast and efficiently. This particular night, the good rapport he enjoyed with everyone else but Jenny seemed to really irk her. To get even she repeatedly bumped into him, causing drinks to spill onto the floor or all over his shirt. A couple of bouts were so bad, he had to remix all over again, causing many of the new customers to whine and bitch. Like usual, no one had a clue that Jenny was the instigator.
As the night progressed, Jenny snuck away from the bar more frequently, causing a big backlog of customers. Oblivious to the crowd, after each departure she returned with bloodshot eyes and a runny nose. Jonny remained on the prowl all night, especially before and after she left the bar.
“This is such bullshit,” Jake found himself grumbling to Ben. It was really beginning to get on his nerves. He usually didn't make an issue about anyone else's poor work habits. This time though, it affected him.
Ben shrugged, annoyed but obviously overlooking it. Now that Jenny had him in the palm of her hand, Jake feared a repeat performance of what she did to Ray.
“What's the matter, Jakey?” Jenny sauntered over to him, rubbing her body along his back. “You seem unhappy. What’s the matter? You miss your little redhead?”
Jake stiffened, determined not to let her get under his skin. His face hardened when he glared silently down at her. But his pent up anger just served to motivate her more. A despicable smile spread across her face as she gyrated to the music, amusing a small crowd of male customers that had taken up residence at her station.
“Why don't you save your mouth for Jonny's dick?” Jake mumbled in her ear as he walked past her, his eyes narrowed with pleasure.
He didn't look back, but could sense her shock. With a tiny grin forming on his face, he decided to take a break. As he moved past her to exit the bar, she lunged at him, clasped an arm and lifted up on her toes to be as close to his face as possible.
“Don't take it out on me ’cause she got knocked up, Jakey. Maybe you should be more careful next time.”
Jake whirled around to face her, grabbing her shoulders.
“What the fuck did you say?”
The lust for revenge rising in Jenny was apparent, infuriating him even more. At a serious breaking point, he couldn’t let go.
“Your bitch is about to pop out a baby! Oh, I'm so sorry, I thought you knew! Oops…” Her voice held that dangerous combination of venom and sugar.
Freezing in place, Jake’s jaw fell open. In slow motion he released Jenny and reversed to the wall. Satisfied, she bounced back to her station, humming a sweet tune.
He stood there, blind to everything around him until a wave of dizziness ascended over him, forcing him into awareness again. Without a word, he took a deep breath and stormed out of the club. Ignoring the oppressive humidity, he elbowed his way through the crowd blocking the exit and began his aimless trek down the block.
* * *
In a fog, Jake had no clue how far he’d walked until his eyes landed on a street sign. Taking a deep breath, he leaned against a building to scan the long stretch back to the club before checking his phone. Time to get back inside and deal with reality. Marty expected to meet him at the end of the night and the cash always came in handy. As much as he hated to admit it, the gallery sales weren’t enough to live on. If he stayed out any longer he’d come up short. Added to the startling news he now had to live with, it would only serve to increase his suffering.
Maybe Ben has some weed, or better yet some coke. Then I can look at Jenny without the urge to break her in half. Jail is not an option.
Midnight. Only May and the humidity was already torturous. Holding his damp hair off of his soaked neck, he returned to the club. A blast of AC should've done the trick, but it didn't even tickle him. Numb to the world, he approached Ben to see if he could help him out with something.
Jake’s break had ended twenty minutes earlier. It didn't matter, he entered the men's room to do the blow Ben eagerly supplied. He needed to get through the rest of the night.
Jenny must've gotten her fair share of satisfaction from the devastating affect her revelation had on him, because she kept her distance. Occasionally he caught a glimpse of her checking him out, but other than that, there was no contact.
Being high would help him survive, at least until closing time. Ben didn't question him about what Jenny had done to flare him up like that. Possibly it was due to his own survival instinct. Jake knew his temper issues and the fight with Ray were infamous in the club. Still, the way Ben continued reacting to Jenny made him believe he didn't know her history. Or perhaps he was just plain stupid.
It was almost closing, and his buzz was wearing off. When Ben finally brought it up, he decided to be straight with him.
“You know she's doing Jonny now, don't you?” He kept it low.
“Whatever, who cares?” Ben's smile was forced.
The heat was rising again, Jake’s face on fire. “You should, man. He's not as cool as he acts.”
Why couldn't this kid get it? Was I as stupid as him at that age?
After Ray, I wouldn't put anything past Jonny and his crew.
“She's bad news.”
“Thanks. But I can take care of myself,” Ben snapped back, a torrid glare in his eyes.
The bad attitude came as a big surprise to Jake.
Let him find out the hard way then, I have my own problems to deal with.
Totally disgusted, he looked away, suppressing a grimace. Marty stood waiting for him. He hadn't dwelled on what Jenny told him since he'd gotten high. As it tapered off, her words were loud and clear, invading his subconscious once again.
When they left the club, Jake couldn’t deny the mental and physical exhaustion setting in. Marty kept trying to break the ice. “Where'd you want to go?” she asked as they walked to his car.
Suddenly, he had no idea. All he could think of was whether or not Jenny’s biting words were true.
“Hey, what do you know about Kristen?” His face taut and serious, he took her hands in his, studying her. It was something that had to be dealt with or he couldn't move on. He needed to confirm that if nothing else, Marty was honest. Any more lies would send him over the edge faster than anyone could image.
Marty fidgeted. She played with her keys, looking around as people began streaming out of the club. But she didn't answer.
“Hey, I heard something about her tonight. I need you to be honest with me.”
Still no answer, and he was growing impatient. “Let me make it easier for you, Marty. Is she pregnant?” His hands slid up, tightening around her arms while his eyes tore into her.