Page 13 of Gator

I’d promised to let everyone know when I was safely at home, but I didn’t have the energy to send out a hundred text messages, so I sent one to Mika and asked him to let everyone know Gator had seen me home and I was there with my door locked and my security alarm armed. But even as tired as I was, I couldn’t sleep.

Instead, I tossed and turned, thinking about that poor guy and wondering what was happening to him at that moment. Addiction was part of my family history, so I didn’t make a habit of self-medicating, but I figured after what I’d seen, it was the only way I would get any sleep, so around 2:00 AM, I got up and poured myself a shot of whiskey and downed it. Then, for good measure, I poured another and did the same. It worked, and I was finally able to fall asleep.

My phone ringing woke me up the next morning, and I fumbled around on the nightstand trying to find it. I didn’t know who was calling me this early, but whoever it happened to be was fixin’ to get an earful for waking me up so damn early.

Or at least that was my thought process until I managed to locate the phone and flipped it over to see it was 10 AM, and it was Migs calling.Fuck. Sunday Brunch.

I pressed the button to answer his call.

“Sorry, Migs. I overslept.” I swung my legs over the side of the bed and rolled my neck in a pointless attempt at stretching out the kinks.

“You overslept?”

“I know that’s not like me, but I had a rough night at Kirby’s.” I got up and stumbled to the bathroom. “Give me about thirty minutes and I’ll be there.” I looked at my smeared makeup, crazy hair, and the dark circles under my eyes in the mirror and sighed. “Better make that an hour.”

“Okay. We’re all here. Do you want me to order for you?”

“That would be amazing. Just get me my usual.”

We hung up, and I turned on the shower. I set the water as hot as I could stand it before stepping under the spray. The water trailed down my body, and I tried to imagine it washing awayany and all thoughts about what happened last night. Normally, that worked for me, especially after a particularly difficult day at work, but it didn’t work in this case. Instead, I wondered if that poor guy had access to a shower or food, or if he was even still alive.

Once I realized a hot shower wasn’t going to help, I made quick work of washing my hair and got out. I tossed on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. Not my normal attire for brunch, but I didn’t have the time or the energy to do anything else.

Forty-five minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot of Sweet Madeline’s. I went inside and easily spotted Migs and the others at our regular table. Marcela saw me come in and gave me a nod to let me know she would be over with my food in a minute. She was my favorite of the servers here at Sweet Madeline’s, and that wasn’t just because I did her hair.

I made my way over to our table, but before I managed to get seated, they started.

“Damn, Jules. You look like shit. I hope the ride was worth it,” Alberto said.

My mind flashed back to that kiss Gator and I’d shared. I was pretty sure that would have been a hell of a ride if things hadn’t gone to shit instead. Hopefully he’d meant it when he said he wasn’t letting me get away this time.

“No kidding, babes. You look rough.” Robbie gave me a sympathetic look.

I could only guess at all the scenarios they were imagining, most of which probably had to do with me finding a big, strong Daddy to blow my back out. Sadly, that wasn’t what had happened.

“I actually don’t think I’ve ever seen you leave the house looking so… plain,” Migs added. “Maybe you’d better tell us what happened.”

Marcela showed up just then with my eggs benedict, a side of fresh fruit, and a mimosa. I thanked her and waited until she left before launching into the story of what I’d seen last night. There were gasps and murmurs as I told the story, but no one said anything until I was done. Then they all had something to say.

“Who was it?”

“Did you know the bad guy? Did they know you?”

“Poor thing.”

“How terrifying.”

They were all talking at once, and I wasn’t sure who even said what.

“I didn’t know him or the bad guy, and yeah, it was pretty scary. I just keep thinking there had to be something I could’ve done differently to save him.”

“Jules,” Migs said in a firm tone. “You just told us there were at least three guys out there. What else could you have done? It wouldn’t have done either of you any good if they’d grabbed you, as well.”

I nodded like I believed him, but the words landed heavy anyway. He was right—logically, I knew that—but logic didn’t do a damn thing about the sound of that kid’s voice still echoing in my head. Every time someone laughed too loud or a car door slammed outside, my stomach clenched before my brain could catch up. I stirred my mimosa just to give my hands something to do.

“Gator said the same thing.”

“Well.” Migs grinned. “I don’t know this Gator, but he sounds like a pretty smart guy.”