Page 113 of Size King

“Ican’tpromise I won’t do that,” I admit. “But I’ll be nice. You have my word.”

“I don’t know how good your word is,” says Megan.

“Then, have dinner with me a few more times, and get to know me,” I retort. “Then you’ll start to learn just how good my word really is.”

There is a pause on the other end of the line, but when she returns, she comes bearing the words I need to hear:

“Yes, I’ll have dinner with you again tomorrow,” she says, like an angel.

44

Megan

The place I am meeting Dustin at tonight is a restaurant called Kimble’s, a place that serves all kinds of food that I’ve heard is good for years but never tried. I decide to dress slightly more conservatively for the occasion. I wear jeans with boots and a low-cut blouse. I still want to tease himsomewhat.

When we get to Kimble’s later that night, we just happen to find each other when we are both by the bar. We give our quick hellos and he orders us a tray full of drinks.

When I say tray full, I mean he has to carry it with both his hands to make sure all the drinks he is holding stay steady. My intention when I suggested we get drinks was that we would be loosened up a bit more and not as nervous. With the amount of alcohol Dustin intends for us to consume, I’m worried about what we might get into tonight.

We shoot past “loosening up” after our second shot of tequila. We have fun small talk with each other while we wait for our food to arrive. We discuss what live shows we’ve been to in the past. I focus primarily on my experiences at a particular Phoenix concert (the band, not the city), and he talks about some of his favorite metal shows he’s been to here in Nevada. We both admit that we have lifelong dreams of going to Coachella one year.

By the time we are polishing off our fourth drinks, our meals have arrived, and we resume the conversation that I know is coming.

“So,” he says before his fork even hits his plate. “Have you given any more thought about you switching teams and coming to work for me?”

“Yes, I have thought more about it,” I tell him. “And, no. I still don’t want to come work for you. I’m sorry.”

“Megan, I’m eventually going to have toinsist—”

“All right then, Dustin,” I say, annoyed. “Insist that I quit my job and come work for another guy that wants to get in my pants.”

He definitely looks hurt by what I say, and I feel bad the moment I say it. That isn’t him—Dustin is different than Jacob.

“I’m sorry,” I apologize. “Itisstressful, I’ll admit. Clearly. Despite the part-time hours and the unwanted flirting from my boss, I really do like my job. Really, I do. How can I prove it to you?”

“I believe you,” says Dustin. “Just… I want you to think about it.”

“There isn’t anything to think about,” I say. “Whydo you want me to work for you so badly?”

“Your boss isn’t who you think he is,” he says abruptly.

This catches me off-guard. “What? Who… do I think he really is?”

“He’s dangerous,” says Dustin.

“What does that make you?” I respond.

“I can hold my own, but I wouldn’t consider myself dangerous,” he says. “He’s done terrible things. You can’t trust him.”

I’m not sure where this is coming from, but he speaks with such certainty that it makes me wonder what he knows that I don’t.

“Besides,” Dustin continues. “That guy is a disgusting dick that’s sexually harassing you right there in front of people. And he’s probably fucked with a lot of girls that have worked for him.”

“You’re probably right about that,” I concur. “And, I’ll admit, the way he behaves with me does make me rather uncomfortable.”

“Yeah, no fucking kidding!” Dustin concur. “I’d say it should be doing a bit more than just making you uncomfortable.”

“It doesn’t really matter how it makes me feel,” I say with hopelessness. “Even if I wanted to leave, I can’t. I’ve made a really good friend where I work, Kelsey. I can’t just leave her at Ultra-Cycle to fend for herself while Jacob and his horny pals come sniffing around. She’s been great to me. I won’t do that to her.”