Devil’s Eye was packed that evening, and smokier than usual. A few patrons nodded at Dave as he passed to his regular table. There was a new bartender working but they seemed to be lost amongst the dim lights and opaque haze.
Ruth was running around like a mad woman and barely had time to slam drinks down with a quick greeting, before scurrying off to catch up with the next order. J was already there waiting for him, which was an immediate comfort to Dave. He wanted to vent. He wanted to talk about all the BS of the day, and he wanted his new acquaintance to assure him he’d done the right thing, especially in regards to how he handled Desiree.
Dave ordered their second round just after he finished explaining to J who Desiree was and the odd little occurrences since her arrival.
“It’s suspicious,” J agreed as he took a deep sip of his regular whiskey. He scratched his scraggly beard. A tick that Dave noticed the man did when he was in particularly deep thought. “So you think she might be stalking you?”
Dave shook his head, taking an equally large sip of his Peroni. “I have absolutely no idea if that’s the case, but she insinuates that she knows more than she lets on. She’s always smirking, it drives me nuts.”
“Because you want her?”
Dave looked at the man with revulsion. “Haven’t you been listening? I want nothing to do with her. She’s toxic.”
“You aren’t the smallest bit interested in knowing what it might feel like to be inside of her?” J whispered, leaning forward with a knowing look in his eye.
Dave sat back, “I’m not.”
“Well if you’ve given her no ideas about fucking, then you got a bigger problem than I think you’re aware of, kid.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning,” J emphasized, “she’s not interested in you. She’s only interested in conquering you. Possessing you.”
“I know that.”
“So what are you gonna do about it?”
“I was thinking you could tell me?” Dave hedged with a hopeful look in his eye.
J laughed in response. “All I can tell you—is that the more you ignore a woman like that, the harder she’ll push back. It’s a slight, you see? You’re taking shots at her pride, rejecting her only fuels her need to break you.”
Dave rubbed his face with agitation before letting out a great sigh. He looked down at his drink. It was empty again.
“I knew a girl like that once...”J trailed off, a far away look coming into his eyes.
Dave ordered a third round.