Zenith Rising (21 page)

“I’m so glad to see you! How are you?”

“Me? Fine. Great. Caught Roy cheating on me,
at the cancer benefit, and in the coat closet, no less.”

Joelle’s eyebrows rose in astonishment. Erica
previously never had anything new to report. Usually, she discussed
funny anecdotes about her patients. For some reason, she never even
told Joelle about what Roy did. Perhaps that was because Joelle was
right when she warned Erica about him, and Erica ignored the
warnings.

“Pardon me?”

“Hmm-mmm… yes. And guess who spotted him, no
less? Spencer.”

“Oh my God.”

“I know. So obviously, I dumped Roy. And you
were right about him.”

“I’m sorry.”

Erica waved her hand in the air. “Not me. It
was stupid relationship. I can see that now.”

“Okay. Then what has you so upset?”

“I’ve had a really lousy week. The worst.
Lost a patient… Anyway, I wondered if you might know where Spencer
would go if he got really pissed off, or upset.”

Joelle’s eyebrows rose even higher at hearing
Erica’s inquiry.

“What is going on with you? I’ve never seen
you like this.”

“It’s not like me, I know. I feel pissed off.
And I don’t feel like hiding it right now.”

“I see. And would some of that anger be
directed at Spencer?”

“All of it is directed at Spencer.”

Joelle waited, but Erica said nothing.
Finally, she nodded and answered her question. “I see. He and Rob
used to go to a local tavern when they just wanted to kick back and
be. You know, without partying or really drinking, just being.”

“Where is it?”

Joelle looked at Erica strangely. “Are you
planning to go there?”

“Yes. Yes, I am. Where is it?”

Joelle quickly told her, and Erica
immediately turned and started to leave. “Hey Erica!”

“What?”

“Is there anything you’d like to talk about
with me? Are you okay?”

“Actually, Joelle, I’m fine. Really fine. I’m
just sick and tired of accepting my life lying down. And being
bored. And jerked around. And always being the smart one that
everyone counts on. Or, in Spencer’s case, being considered an
abnormal woman. I’m really getting disgusted over being treated
like I’m not normal.”

Joelle smiled. “Good luck with whatever got
you so pissed.”

“Thanks, Joelle. Have I ever told you you’re
the only real best friend I have?”

“You know I feel the same way.”

Erica smiled as she nodded. “Good. See? Not
every part of me is predictable or boring. Otherwise, I couldn’t
have you for my best friend now, could I?”

“No, and, Erica? You look pretty good for
whatever you plan to do. But please make sure you don’t do anything
that might actually hurt Spencer.”

****

Erica entered the Red Hook Tavern, which was
located several miles from Spencer’s house. It was small and dark
with the windows illuminated by various neon beer signs. Rows of
motorcycles stood in front of it. Leather-clad men and a scattering
of women stood around talking, laughing, and smoking on the little
patio that completed the tavern. Erica had never been to any place
like it. She shut the door on her car, pressing down the locks,
which made the alarm chirp to “on.” But she barely noticed. She was
studying the front of the blue building, strangely feeling
unafraid, or even out of place. After the previous night,
encountering a few bikers seemed like nothing, even if they were
openly staring at her.

When she entered the establishment, she found
herself instantly covered in a film of smoke. The hazy interior
blotted out any traces of light from the outside. It could be night
or day, rain or shine, but once inside the Red Hook, there was no
way of knowing. Erica stood off to the side, trying to be
inconspicuous as she began observing the bar, which was a perfect
square, smack dab in the middle of the room. Her gaze ran over the
few patrons she saw seated there, as well as the good-looking
bartender who wiped down the countertop. Her gaze roamed around the
bar, checking out various patrons at the tables, then the pool
table, and further back, until she finally spotted him.

Spencer was with Rob, shooting darts. Lifting
his long arm, he took a shot before walking forward, tugging the
darts out, and handing them to Rob. He turned to sit on the edge of
the table with a beer in one hand, and seemed totally oblivious to
her entrance.

Erica was about to approach him, but stopped
a few steps back when she noticed they weren’t alone. The table
also had two women seated at it. One wore leather, and the other
had on jeans and a t-shirt. Both females had teased hair and far
too much makeup. They were drinking beers also, and shrilly
giggling between themselves. They had to be young. Ridiculously
young. They couldn’t be a day over twenty-one. Erica mentally
scolded herself that she really was becoming sensitive suddenly
about her age.
Thirty-two
. It appeared her competition
lately was at least a decade younger than she. For even the girl
Roy did in the coat room was only twenty-three.

Erica approached the table with Spencer’s
back to her. He was talking with the two young women,
intermittently looking around, while casually interjecting a
comment or two.

Then Rob finished his turn. Gathering all the
darts from the dartboard, Rob looked over at Spencer and stopped in
his tracks. Spotting Erica, he suddenly grinned, and Erica blinked.
She fully expected Rob to scowl at her, but instead, he was
grinning and appeared almost happy to see her. She anticipated that
Rob might have gotten really pissed off to see her there.

“Hey there, Doc,” Rob said in a lazy
tone.

“Hi, Rob.”

Spencer instantly straightened up as if
someone just stuck a syringe in his ass. He nearly jumped off the
table, standing to his full height. When he turned, his eyes were
riveted on her.

Rob stepped around Spencer, and casually
picked up a glass with what looked like sparkling water in it.
Apparently, Rob really did stay dry and was a true, recovering
alcoholic. Who would’ve guessed she’d be so glad to see Rob
Williams? He smiled at her again.

“You looking for a drink, Doc?”

“You know what, Rob? I am. Had a tough
week.”

“A beer?”

“No. Something stronger. Really tough week.”
She stared hard at Spencer, but he looked away. He obviously didn’t
know what to do after seeing her there.

“Coming right up. Have a seat, join us.”

“Sure you don’t mind?”

“Mind? Hell, no! You class up the joint.”

“Thanks, I will,” she said, smiling sweetly
at Rob. She found herself a chair, and pulled it next to the
dark-headed girl before sitting down.

Spencer leaned forward, resting his hands on
the table. “Aren’t you going to ask if I mind?”

She met his brown eyes, simmering hot with
anger. “No. I wasn’t. Since you
always
mind, there’s no
point in asking.”

“What are you doing here?”

She shrugged and smiled smugly. “Having a
drink.”

“A drink? Here? That’s a joke, isn’t it? How
the hell did you find this place?”

“Joelle told me about it.”

“Ah, sure. Joelle. So what are you doing
here?”

Rob came back and set the drink before her.
“Thank you,” Erica said.

“No problem,” he replied as he slid into the
chair next to her. Spencer was left across the table, beside the
blond girl. Both women were silent and seemed intrigued by the
latent profundity they sensed from the conversation between Erica
and Spencer.

Erica glanced at the girls and Rob, while
ignoring Spencer. “So, you all on a date?”

“Nah. Just hanging around. Killing time, you
know?” Rob answered.

She shook her head. “No, I don’t know. I
don’t do that very often. Kill time. Have fun.”

Rob smiled. “Looking for some help with
that?”

She smiled back at him. “Yes. Actually, I
am.”

“I hope you’re not setting your sights on
Spencer for it. He’s not particularly known for providing a real
good time. Too dark, and way too intense. Right, girls?”

The girls stopped giggling after Rob
addressed them and nodded their heads, while looking anxiously at
Rob, Spencer and her. Rob continued to chat with Erica. “And as for
me? I know how to have a good time.”

Erica laughed. “Aren’t you drinking soda
water right now?”

“Yeah, yeah. But I can still have a good time
on nothing but water. Can’t I, girls?”

“Shut up, Rob,” Spencer finally said through
clenched teeth.

“Ignore him,” Rob said, smiling even wider,
“he’s been in a bad mood all day.”

“Isn’t he usually in some kind of mood?”
asked Erica.

“Well, now that you mention it, yes, he is.
But he’s extra pissy today. And somehow, I think it might have to
do with you.”

“He’s in a pissy mood because I asked him to
call me by my name.”

“Your name?
Erica?
Why not? It’s a
nice name. A beautiful name, in fact. Erica. Just as beautiful as
you are.”

Erica smiled, sensing that Rob was goading
Spencer. Why? She wasn’t sure. But she felt glad for his teasing
tone. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,
Erica,”
he said,
raising his glass in a mock toast. “Come on, girls! Let’s all go
out and dance.”

Unbelievably to Erica, both girls followed
Rob without a word of protest or a complaint, or even a
Hey,
we’re not your accessories!
Erica’s eyebrows shot up, and she
laughed while shaking her head. Rob was funny and charming. Seeing
him sober was nothing like the mean, lazy drunk that Joelle was
unhappily married to.

“What do you want?”

Erica’s eyes swung back to Spencer.

“What do I want? Obviously, I would like to
finish our previous conversation. I’d like to do it now that I’m
not likely to pass out from sheer exhaustion. I am thinking much
more clearly now.”

“That conversation is already finished. Just
like us.”

“Us? God, Spencer, there was never any ‘us.’
It was just me trying to find out if you thought anything at all
about me. I always assumed you hated me. Do you understand that? I
thought you resented who I was. Who I am. And that I was your boss.
I had no idea you could even see me as a warm-blooded, healthy
woman. Let alone, that you’d want to…”

“Fuck? Yeah, I’m not all that picky.”

Erica blew her cheeks out and counted to ten
before inhaling and letting the air out slowly. “You’re trying
extra hard to be a royal son of a bitch today, aren’t you?”

“No. But that’s exactly what I am.”

She finished the drink, and set it down
before tapping her fingers on the table impatiently. He wouldn’t
budge, not even an inch. He kept scowling, and being rude, while
giving her mean looks. She was fed up with his antics.

“All right, I don’t need to listen to
this.”

“Didn’t ask you to. I didn’t ask anything of
you, did I?”

“No, that would require some actual effort on
your part. Why? Can you tell me that? Why did you sleep with me if
you don’t even want to look at me anymore?”

His smile was pure evil. “I thought you were
crying over Roy, Doc. I thought your little heart was broken over
the big, bad prick. I just thought, hell, a good fuck could mend it
for you. And it did! Now don’t make anymore of it than it really
was.”

Grow up, Erica,
she told herself as
she listened to his quiet, low tone. His eyes were fastened on her,
and holding her gaze. He didn’t try in any way to soften the blow.
He almost seemed to be like making her as uncomfortable as he
possibly could. He wanted her to know that he meant it.

She let out a deep breath and squeezed her
fists in her lap. There really were men out there like that. Like
him. Men who were mean and cold towards all women. Hadn’t she seen
it often enough? Usually, however, they didn’t have anything
whatsoever to do with her. But this one did.

She refused to let him know how he hurt her
or made her feel stupid and used. He was watching her as closely as
a hawk might a mouse. Was he enjoying this? Was he waiting for her
to flee? To cry? To throw a drink in his face? Somehow, she knew
what he wanted: to shock her, and thereby force her to leave him
alone.

Except, Spencer waited overnight for
her.
Just to drive her home and ensure her safety. He wanted to
see that she was okay. She knew that in her heart and had to hold
onto it. There was much more to him than what he allowed anyone,
especially her, to know or see.

Although he wasn’t ready to reveal the real
Spencer yet, Erica realized he might never be ready. But knowing
that now, for some reason, made it easier for her to accept it.

She stood up and with quiet dignity, said
softly, “I don’t cry over men. If you knew me at all, you’d have
known that.” Turning away, she headed towards the bar and sat there
alone. This time, she desperately wanted a drink. A much stiffer
drink. The handsome bartender came over and she ordered a shot of
tequila. It burned going down, but felt good once it hit her belly,
and warmed her blood, terminating with her veins. It really was one
hell of a week.

“Excuse me. This seat taken?” Erica looked
up. The man standing beside her was in his thirties, sporting a
beard and brown hair. His hair was trimmed and neat, and he was
wearing what looked like construction attire. He smelled fine to
Erica who found him rather appealing in a plain sort of way.

“No. Please.” Erica waved at the bar stool
next to her before returning to her refill of tequila.

“Bad night? Boyfriend dump you?”

Erica smiled, staring at her drink. Why did
men always assume if a woman looked low, it must be because of a
man?

“No, had to deliver a baby from a comatose
mother who died three hours later.”