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The bar was a traditional wooden wonderland with a big jukebox and three pool tables Staff called out “hello”s to Pam as alked in No one even blinked at ood to be back out a people, just part of the crowd Pam had phoned ahead but the order wasn’t ready yet Apparently the kitchen was every bit as busy as the bar We grabbed a couple of drinks and settled in to wait It was a nice place, very relaxed There was lots of laughter and countryin ti me out of my chair She bopped and swayed as I followed her onto the crowded dance floor
It felt good to let loose Sugarland turned into Miranda Lauy carabbed my hps but he backed up a step when I shook , nothim draw her into a loose hold They seeuy beside me moved a little closer I didn’t object He kept his hands to hih I didn’t know the next song but it had a good beat and we kept right onto my face Then Dierks Bentley cae twelve, but it was all about his pretty blond hair and nothing to do with his
Dude Onean arainst hi him the saht have been only about e hat, but he was built solid He had a big barrel of a chest and he stank of cigarette s to push him off me “Sorry”
“Don’t be sorry, darlin’,” he yelled inme in the forehead with the bririnned and his hands slapped down hard on both ainst me
“Hey!” I pushed against hi nowhere “Get offain It hurt Also, I hated hi between his and knee the asswipe in the groin, I’d be able to even the playing field Or leave hi for his mommy An outcome I was fine with
I shovedcloser to o” David miraculously appeared out of the crowd beside us, ain his jaw Oh, shit He looked ready to kill
“Wait your turn,” the cowboy yelled back, pushing his pelvis intocould happen It would be no less than he deserved
David snarled Then he grabbed theoff into the crowd The man’s eyes went round as plates and his hands dropped away from me
I skipped back a step, free at last “David—”
He looked toHis fist clipped David’s jaw David’s head snapped back and he stumbled The cowboy dove at him They landed hard, sprawled across the dance floor Fists flew Feet kicked I could barely see who did what People for to stop it Blood spurted, spraying the floor The pair rolled and pushed and David came out on top Then just as fast he fell aside My pulse pounded behind et into fights regularly after school I’d hated it The blood and the dirt, the ht in a cold stupor I wouldn’t
A strong hand grabbedmy forward uys stepped in Relief poured through me Mal and Tyler wrestled David off the cowboy Another pair restrained the bloody-faced fool who bellowed on and on about his hat Godda hih the front doors and down the steps they hile his feet kicked out, trying to get back into it And he kept right on fighting until they threw hi black Jeep
“Knock it off!” Mal yelled in his face “It’s over”
David sluainst the vehicle Blood seeped fro in his face Even in the shadows he looked swollen, uy, but still