Flirting With Fire ✅

53 - She Devil

Leo

I stepped into the dingy bar, my eyes did a quick scan of my surroundings, and it only made me feel disgusted as I take in more of what was in front of me.

The place was run down and hanging on by its last thread. The bar looks grimy and in dire need of some soap and a good scrubbing. And yet, sprawled across the counter, like a giant inebriated starfish is my cousin, Luke, sporting the biggest stupid grin on his face. He had lost his tux jacket and his black dress shirt looks crumpled with a few top buttons missing, his hair wild and his face flushed from drinking too much. A far cry from how he looked earlier in the evening.

"Leonardo!" He sang my name, unabashedly, his voice high like Pavarotti, minus the talent. "You've arrived, and just in time too. Frank here was about to tell me what happened to his rabbits." He giggled at the last part, sounding like a little boy with a dirty secret.

Frank the bartender looks at me, pleading with his eyes. I could tell that he's had enough of Luke and his drunk ass.

"Hey, buddy." I greet him with caution, not wanting to turn the teddy bear into a killer one.

"Frankie, a glass of your finest whiskey for my bestest friend. Por favor."

I quickly shake my head to Frank, silently telling him to ignore Luke's request.

"Sooo, I'm guessing your little plan didn't work, huh?" I warily asked him.

"Plan, smlan, I'll think of something else. Mark my words, I will get her back." Luke bellows, raising his empty glass as if he was addressing a room full of people instead of an empty bar.

"Looks like you're still in the happy stage. That's one good news." I rolled my eyes, definitely not pleased to see my best friend in his pitiful state.

He leans closer to me and then asked in an unnaturally calm tone. "Are you mad?" While poking a finger at my chest. His body swayed, unable to find his balance due to his intoxication.

"Am I mad?" I couldn't hold back the scoffed at my irritation. "Buddy, you went off the wagon over some chick. And end up God knows where."

He stands in silence, his eyes peering into mine and for a minute, I thought maybe he's not as tipsy as I thought. But his next words prove me wrong.

"Do you need to poop?" He pokes at my chest again.

"What?" I blurted, surprised at how his thought jumped from one thing to another.

"Do you need a banana?" He pokes again.

"Wh– Why would–" how did his mind go from the toilet to a banana?

"So that you can poop. That's what Ivy said."

Poke.

"Okay. That's it. We're leaving." I throw some cash on the counter then grab one of his arms and put it over my shoulder to help him walk out.

"Ivy likes cookie dough in her ice cream." Luke rambles on and I roll my eyes at him again. The guy got it hard for the she devil.

"Is that so?" I muttered uncaringly.

"I don't mind cookie dough. As long as there's chocolate."

I hummed, not having the energy to argue.

"I looovve chocolate ice cream. Rocky road. Chunky monkey. Double chocolate. Dark chocolate. Jamaican chocolate. German chocolate brownie. Chocolate almond. Uuu. We should go get some." His eyes widen as if he just thought of the most wonderful idea.

"Whatever you want, buddy."

"We should invite Ivy. She loves ice cream." he continued, a slight upbeat to his voice.