This Year is My Year

Sharing

"What was that broad's name? Macy? Maisy?"

Eddie sucked in a sharp breath of air through his teeth.

"Marcy," he replied, teeth gritted. I nervously sipped at my drink as Eddie's eyes narrowed at Rick.

"Marcy – that's right!" Rick leaned back in his chair, finishing another shot of whiskey. He grinned wryly, eyeing me. "She was a good fuck. Eddie was always great about sharing."

I tensed, shrinking into myself. Eddie's hold around my waist tightened.

"Yeah, Eddie and I have had some good times together, real good times," Rick took a drag from his lit cigarette, blowing it in my direction. My nose twitched.

Rick was attractive – he was older than us, probably in his late twenties, and was the kind of handsome that made you nervous. You could tell he was a derelict, just by how he moved around and watched people. He had eyed me hungrily several times, making suggestive comments or winking at me. I was stunned Eddie hadn't strangled him yet.

"So, what about you, Y/N?" Rick leaned forward, trying to scoot closer to me. I leaned back, gulping.

"I'm not sure what you mean, Rick," I replied. He blew more smoke in my face and I saw Eddie's hand ball into a fist.

"What. About. You?" he said this slowly, turning his head to the side. "What's your story? Why are you with my friend the freak?"

I tried not to glare since this was Eddie's friend. But it was confusing that this was Eddie's friend – someone who did all of the things that Eddie so hated. Rick was disrespectful to me, of the other women in the bar, intentionally trying to get a rise out of people. And he did the thing that Eddie hated the most – he tried to cross boundaries with me.

This was the same Eddie that started a fight with Steve, my best friend of five years, because stared at me for too long across a party. Rick was practically groping me, making comments about how pretty I would be on my back, and Eddie just watched him.

"Don't call him that," I said flatly. He grinned widely, leaning closer.

"You've got some fire in you," he looked me up and down, slowly. "I like that."

"Alright, Rick, cool it. Get about three feet back," Eddie finally interjected. Rick chuckled, leaning back again.

"You never used to have a problem with sharing, Munson!" Eddie flushed and I shrank again. What did he mean by "sharing"?

~~~

I hated Reefer Rick.

I fucking hated him.

I had to tolerate him because he had been my supplier – I stopped going to him months ago when I started dating Y/N, no longer wanting to sell drugs. When I had sold the last ounce of my stash, it was like a weight was off my shoulders, and I was thrilled that I no longer had to deal with Rick.

And then he showed up here, on my day with Y/N.

Rick was the kind of guy you never left alone with your girlfriend. He was always finding ways to weasel in with them, making them feel wanted and desired. His favorite tactic was putting me down in front of whatever girl I had brought along.

There was a time when we were friends – we would often go to parties together, stealing beer and flirting with the same girls. He was a horrible influence, and I was horrible with him. He and I would get stoned, laughing at whatever dumb girl was interested in me at the time.

Then I met Dustin, and the little ones, and I was embarrassed by this friend of mine. Dustin had once asked why I hung out with such an old guy (one could argue that Dustin has a similar problem), and I realized how strange and toxic our friendship was.