Okay, maybe shorts was a bad idea. The cold bit against my legs as I made the long walk to the bar we had agreed on. I knew she would be pissed if I bailed, and even more so if I then ignored her calls. Oops.
This wasn't the first time I had cancelled on her, only to show up hours late, like a lost puppy sniffing around for treats. I'm sure that is how she saw me. The Bar doors open, Kevin, the bouncer, gives me a look while I try to make myself even smaller when I pass him.
My efforts were for nothing as she had already seen me. Her red hair and jade eyes giving her the look of a wild fire burning across the floor as she stomped toward me. Small in her own right she was still easily a head taller than me, athletic and unrealistically graceful in her every movement she almost always draws the attention of the room she's in.
This set of facts also, unquestionably, make her absolutely fucking terrifying.
She stops three feet away from me, glaring like I had just stood her up. Oops.
"H-hey Bridget." I squeaked out, avoiding looking directly at her.
"Lucy, darling, I don't want to be rude but I have to ask. Are you dim?"
"No I-"
"Are you mentally deficient in any way?"
"No but I-"
"Then why on earth are you here right now?"
My throat was dry and my palms sweaty. I recoiled as she tapped her foot to the ground. She expected an answer.
"I know I stood you up again but I-"
"Yes, and lets talk about that." She threw an arm around my shoulder and led me to a stool, motioning me to join her when she sat.
"Can you guess who called me tonight? Just moments after you cancelled our date?" She paused for dramatic effect. "I got a call from Micheal. According to him you guys hooked up, again, then you kicked him out, cancelled on me, and spent the next three hours ignoring my call only to show up to said date in shorts and your winter coat, expecting to be forgiven. Did I miss anything?"
I shook my head, silent next to her quickly waning fury. After a moment she placed her hands on my knees and sighed, her face softening significantly.
"Are you okay?" she almost sounded like a different person now.
"My sister called. Mom's dead."
"But not gone." She added. "Has Darien been by to visit yet?"
"It happened today so.. I spiraled. He'll be around at some point I think. I need... I need to know what happened."
"I'll call Natalie back then. We can make arrangements to visit her this weekend."
"Yes Ma'am." I picked her hands and kissed her knuckles. "I'm sorry."
"No you're not. I understand." She pulled her hands away from mine and rose to her feet. "Lucy, baby, we have plans to make." Her strut had me following her instinctively as she made her way out the door.
We had a long night ahead of us.