Page 6 of Property of Yak

CHAPTER

TWO

Julie

This was a mistake.

I don’t know why I let Liz talk me into this. Hell, I don’t know why I let her convince me to do half the shit we do, but here we are.

You know why. That little voice in the back of my mind is always reminding me of stuff I don’t want to remember.

I do, though. Liz promised me that if I came out tonight and met the guy she’s interested in and hung out with one of his friends that she would go to a concert with me. As close as Liz and I are, our music tastes are vastly different. I found my love of classic rock from my father. It’s what I grew up listening to. She did too with as often as she was at our house, but somehow it didn’t stick with her. Instead, she calls it geezer music.

That’s why she knew I wouldn’t say no if she offered that. In this moment I kind of hate how well she knows me because while I’m watching her have sweet little moments with her guy, his name I’ve already forgotten, I have to deal with his…friend.

“Come on, hon, sit on my lap. Let me show you what will be yours in a few hours,” the man next to me says, making my stomach sour.

“No thanks,” I tell him, trying to keep my thoughts off my face.

I look across the table at Liz, who’s tucked into the side of her biker love interest. I would call him her boyfriend, but knowing Liz, she hasn’t agreed to date him. The guy looks like a discounted version of a guy from a motorcycle club on TV.

“Come on, you know you want to,” his buddy says next to me.

I look over at the guy and try to remember his name.

Chet. Clint. Clive. Something with a C. His hair is greasy, and he smells like cigarettes so bad I fight the urge to gag. He isn’t wearing a cut like the other guy. Actually, he looks more like a drug dealer.

“I really don’t,” I say plainly.

“Then why the hell did you come? I was told you would be a sweet thing, but as far as I can tell, you aren’t,” he sneers.

“I came because my friend asked me to, not because I’m interested in a hookup.” I decide honesty would really be the best.

“Come on, give me a chance to thaw some of that ice queen shit you got goin’ on. You won’t regret it.”

A memory rushes to me from when I was a preteen. Dad took me into the backyard and went over several self-defense moves. He wanted me to be prepared in case I ever needed it.

Is tonight going to be my lucky night to finally put those moves to the test?

The guy reaches toward me, and I jerk back.

“I said no,” I remind him.

He opens his mouth to say something, but Liz cuts him off.

“Everything okay over here?” she asks.

I look over at my best friend and see a concerned frown on her face.

“Everything is fine,” I lie.

Her brows furrow. “Are you sure?”

I slide off my stool and grab my purse. “Of course. I’m going to step outside for a minute. I need some air.”

She starts to pull away from her man. “Let me come with you.”

“Babe, no. She’s a big girl and can handle herself. If not, Cliff can go with her…” he groans.