"You about done here?" he asked bringing his attention back to me.
"Yep, I was just about to leave. Did Marcus send you to get me?"
Preston's frown deepened, "Well, not exactly. He's next door at the bar."
He was? Why hadn't he answered my calls? "Okay," I replied waiting for more of an explanation.
Preston sighed, "He's trashed. Like drunk off his ass, doesn't know what the hell he's doing, trashed." Alarmed, I untied my apron and threw it in the dirty basket and started for the door. Preston followed me.
"Before you see him like this you should know he met with his dad today and it was brutal. He went directly to the bar and he's been there ever since. He's got a lot of family issues right now and all the pressure is on him to keep his mom and sister from falling apart. Don't be mad at him.
Just, understand okay."
The pleading tone in Preston's voice scared me. I mentally prepared myself for the worst as I opened the door to the bar and stepped inside, scanning the crowd for my drunk boyfriend.
"Rock has him. I called Rock first. Ginger, the bartender tonight called me and I called Rock. He came with me." I found Rock first and he was sitting at a booth off to the side away from the dance floor and he was alone. I made a beeline for Rock. His eyes met mine and I could see the apologetic expression before he even spoke. My heart was racing in my chest. Where was he? Surely Rock wouldn't let him leave? Drive drunk?
"Where?" I asked the minute I got to his booth.
Rock pointed his mug toward the dance floor. Spinning around I immediately found him.
He was dancing with Jess and she was humping his leg while he held onto her hips and grinned like he was having the time of his life. Furious, I stalked out to the dance floor.
That bitch had pushed me too far. I didn't care whose cousin she was. I'd had it. Marcus was mine. Bloodshot green eyes met mine as I stopped behind Jess. Grabbing her shoulder I jerked her back with all the strength I could muster. Stumbling back I heard her shocked squeal.
"Baby," Marcus slurred reaching for me. "My Low's here," his garbled words were muffled as he pulled me against him burying his head in my neck.
Fingernails bit into my arm and I cried out in pain startling Marcus whose head jerked up looking confused and unstable.
"Back off bitch," Jess shrilled behind me. Pushing Marcus back just enough so he didn't end up getting in the way of any blows that were about to happen, I turned around and glared up at her.
"I suggest you back off. Touching my boyfriend like that is not cool with me. He's drunk. He won't remember this tomorrow. So back the Hell off before I break that perfect little nose job of yours." I hissed taking another step toward her.
She cackled, "I'm not scared of you."
I raised one eyebrow and smirked, "Really? Well, princess, you ever got into a fight with a girl from my side of town?
We don't fight fair. I won't pull your hair and scratch your face. We fight to live. You'll wake up flat on your back on this dance floor. Want to see if I'm bluffing? Please, by all means, take a swing at me. You start it and I'll finish it." I heard chanting and a few cat calls and whistles but I ignored everything. Blocking out the crowd was the first rule. I could take her down. I had no doubt. Cage had taught me to street fight at a young age. The indecision in her face as I held her gaze unflinching and waiting was laughable.
"Back off, Jess," Rock came up behind her taking both her arms and pulling her back. She didn't fight him. She went willingly turning around and let him lead her out the front door. Once they were outside I turned around to see Marcus's glassy stare focused on me with a goofy grin on his face. Yep, he was completely wasted.
"That was hot, Low," he slurred reaching out and pulling me against him.
He smelled like Cage. I didn't like it. I wanted my Marcus back. Pushing against his chest I stared up at him. A frown puckered his brow.
"What's wrong?" he asked swaying slightly.
Telling him what was wrong was pointless.
"I'm taking you home," I replied and grabbed his arm slipping mine through his to help keep him straight.
Preston met us at the door and opened it.
"I'm sorry you had to see him like this," Preston whispered.
I nodded. I was sorry I had to see it too. I was also sorry I had to go all badass in a bar full of people. I remembered Preston's reasons why Marcus was drunk but I had a hard time accepting it. So what! He had an argument with his dad. Well he has a mother and sister who love him. I don't even have that but you don't see me running off to get drunk every time my sister and I fight. Which is every time I see her. No, he didn't have an excuse for this. Nor did he have an excuse for letting another girl hump his leg. And his hands had been on her waist. His big hands had been mere inches from her massive tits. For all I knew he could have copped a feel before I arrived tonight.
"He just has some family problems," Preston said as he opened the passenger side of Marcus's truck. I let him help Marcus in and buckle him up then I closed the door.