Torn to Pieces

Two

After tossing my bags down on the floor in my new room I don't even bother to begin unpacking. I need to get out of here, explore for a bit. There is a full-length mirror and I take in my appearance.

That won't do.

I empty one of the bags onto the floor and yank a black crop top from the pile. I pull down the bun from on top of my head and comb through my long dirty-blonde locks.

Much better.

I grab my purse and head for the front door.

"I'm going to look around, Mom." I call out.

My mother's concerned face appears from around the corner. "Oh, honey. I thought we could have dinner together? All of us, to get to know one another."

I shake my head. "Mom, please? I just need some air."

She nods and gives me a small smile. "Okay, just don't be gone long. Be careful, you don't know your way around."

Sean comes around the corner trailing behind. "Have your license?" he asks.

"Yeah?"

He tosses a set of keys to me and I eye him quizzically. "I can take your car?"

"We're family, of course you can. We have one that no one is using right now. It's a Jeep, it's parked around back."

I know he's trying to kiss my ass, but I'm not stupid enough to pass up some wheels.

"Thanks, Sean." and with that I turn on my heel and bolt for the door before anyone can change their mind.

***

The town is small, and all I've come across are a few gas stations and BBQ joints. A bright blue neon sign catches my attention and I turn on the blinker.

Perfect.

A hole in the wall looking bar named Shooter's. If anyone is going to serve a minor around here... well this looks like a good place to start.

The air inside is smokey and the light thump of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Simple Man is filling the small space. I take a seat on one of the bar-stools and an old man with an impressive beard approaches me from behind the bar.

"What'll it be pretty lady?"

Score.

"Bud Light, bottle."

The key is confidence. He doesn't bat an eye and pops off the cap before sliding the beer in front of me.

"You passin' through? I'd remember seein' that face." His strong southern drawl lingers on his words.

Before I can answer I feel a hand on the small of my back and I tense.

"You're new around here." His voice is low.

I turn and come face-to-face with potentially the most attractive guy I've ever seen. His skin is covered in ink and his biceps are bulging out of the tight white shirt. He looks like a guy you'd see on the side of a bus modeling Calvin Klein briefs, and my stomach quickens.

"Mhm, I sure am." I lean towards the bar a bit and arch my back slightly. I'm no amateur. His eyebrow shoots up and the rest of the conversation takes place without words. His eyes rake over my body, and I return the favor.

He leans in so that his lips brush against my ear and whispers, "In my mind, we're going to have sex anyway, so you might as well be in the room."

I'm done for. I stand and allow him to lead me towards the bathroom, not giving a shit about the smirk on the bartender's face.