Tattoos
By Dee Dawning
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2008 Dee Dawning
I dread happy hour at Mojos. Especially Fridays. Everyone gets off work and heads for the bar to loosen up after a week of frustration, tension or who knows what. And while everyone warms up for the weekend with a few rounds and free hors de’ovres, I’m busting ass. True the tips are great, but while everyone else is chilling out, I’m getting wound up like a clock.
“Hi Chelsea.” Turning toward the voice, I’m greeted by the sight of Mandy, flashing a friendly smile as she stepped up to the bar. Classy, Amanda Carter, was the one bright spot in the Friday happy hour chaos. At five-five with past the shoulder length, auburn hair, deep, blue-green eyes and movie star good looks, she was not only one of the hottest lady’s to frequent Mojo’s, but with a personality that matched, she was one of the most fun to be around.
I placed a cocktail napkin in front of her. “Hi Mandy. Good to see a friendly face. Get any wrongly accused criminals off lately?” Amanda was a public defender in the LA county public defender’s office.
“Don’t you look great tonight.” She dug around in her purse and pulled out a pack of gum. “Got one off yesterday. Unfortunately, he wasn’t so innocent. You still seeing that handsome Architect?”
“Fraid not. You knew he was separated didn’t you?”
Dropping a piece of gum in her mouth, she nodded.
“Well, he went back to the Mrs. last week.”
“What a son-of-a-bitch. How long were you going with him?”
“Two months. It hurts, but I did have some great times in and out of the sack with him.” I winked.
Laughing, Mandy put a tender hand on mine. I was surprised when the contact caused my stomach to clench. “His wife must be either a saint or dumb as a rock. I would never take back a man who wandered.”
Oh, Mandy. If you only knew. “So. Are you meeting your boyfriend here again?”
Mandy’s mood seemed to darken. “Yeah, I’m afraid so.” She placed her purse back on the bar, rotated her stool a quarter ways and gazed at the crowd. Not seeming to find what she was looking for, she turned back. “I’ll have a—”
“Frozen Margarita, no salt. Right?”
She nodded.
I dipped my head toward the mob and asked. “Were you just looking for him?”
She cast an annoyed glance my way. “Yeah, I’m not even sure Eddy’ll show. He never came home last night. I should never have moved in with him.”
I hated to see this happen to Amanda. I’ve seen it happen to so many girls, but hey, half of them were fucking around, too. Not Amanda, she was so sweet. She was true blue to her candidate for asshole of the year and he didn’t seem to appreciate her. The nerve of him. He even came on to me a couple times. Must think I won’t tell her. Should I? Should I tell her that her boyfriend is an incorrigible gash hound?
Staring toward the entrance, Mandy continued. “It’s still early and he’s usually a little late.”
It galled me to see Mandy acting so distraught over this wannabe Romeo. “You know Mandy, you remind me of a really good friend I had once. I wasn’t going to say anything, but I’ve grown fond of you and I really think you should know. I’ve seen your boyfriend with other women. Once in a nightclub on Melrose this chick was sitting on his lap straddling him in a back booth. It was near closing time and I’m sure she was fucking him. Then last night he was with a woman right here until closing time and after we closed up the bar and left, I saw Eddy and the woman getting very passionate in the back seat of her Cadillac.”
Amanda shook her head, vigorously. “Oh, God no. Could you be mistaken?”
I also shook my head. “Afraid not.” Her eyes grew watery and I put my hand over hers causing my stomach to tighten with the touch. “I’m sorry, but I thought you should know.”
“I guess I’m not really surprised. I suspected Eddy was tomcatting around for a couple of months, but this is the first confirmation.”
I could tell she wanted to ask more, but Lothario showed right then.
“Hi, Sweetheart.” He gave Amanda a perfunctory kiss and hugged her.
He was a good-looking son- of-a-bitch—tall, I’ll say that—lean and sexy with dark brown eyes and thin masculine lips. She hugged him back like nothing’d happened.
He looked at me over her shoulder. “Hello Chelsea, how’s your love life?” The asshole dared to ask.
“Not as good as yours.” I winked.
Letting go of Mandy, he lowered his gaze as she revolved her stool back toward the bar.