Read Online The Art of Hero Worship by Mia Kerick - Free Book Online Page B

the sun he got
on his face today. “And besides, last night left me kinda thirsty
for non-alcoholic beverages.”
    We did wake up quite hung over.
“Point taken.” Nonetheless, we sit at the bar so we can watch the
Sox game on the widescreen television.
    “I don’t think I’ve see you two hunky spunk
wankers in here before.” I think this dark-haired girl is trying to be flirtatious but I can’t be sure. Maybe it’s
because I’m totally out of practice with the ladies.
    “I don’t know about you, but I’d remember these guys.” The girl’s blonde friend says, right before
she begins to purr. And her purring is loud enough to be heard
above the sound of the game, which is on surround sound.
Auditorily, she resembles an extremely horny tigress.
    I’m embarrassed to admit that I hadn’t even
noticed that there were girls in the bar, but they apparently have
taken notice of us. The gorgeous, shiny-lipped blue-eyed blonde and
her sultry, dark-haired friend are suddenly standing beside us. And
they have the same look in their eyes as Mom does when she’s
shopping for clothing. Which one do I prefer? And which
would look better on me? But instead of sizing up sweaters,
these girls are sizing up Liam and me.
    Liam is a complete gentleman. He stands up
and offers his stool and I follow suit. The two girls switch places
as they seemingly—and silently—have decided that the dark-haired
one is to be mine and the blonde is for Liam. They sit down as the
bartender approaches.
    “Can we buy you a couple of drinks?” Liam
asks smoothly.
    I feel a stinging sensation in my heart,
wondering if Liam is a ladies’ man, and I lift my hand to pat my
chest, but nothing’s there, except for my cotton T-shirt.
    “Why thank you. I could go for a Long Island
Iced Tea,” says blondie, as she further unbuttons her already very unbuttoned, snug purple blouse. My gaze, along with
that of Liam and the bartender, slides into the deep crevice.
    “Make that two Long Islands. And Missy, it
looks like you got yourself a bearded boob inspector ,” my
dark-haired girl chimes in with a husky chuckle, and then winks at
Liam.
    Liam, the bearded boob inspector. It
has a certain ring… and I don’t like it.
    “You boys aren’t drinking!” Liam’s girl
observes, placing one delicate hand on top of her shiny O-shaped
lips, indicating what appears to be sheer surprise.
    “Missy Rose, they must go to AA, or
something?” She pokes a pointy jet-black nail into my face. “Well,
are you guys alcoholics, or what?” My girl is slightly
less-than-tactful. Okay, more than slightly… she is large red wagon
and a five-gallon bucket less than tactful.
    I’m tongue-tied. Unaccustomed to the bar
scene, I can think of no direct or indirect way of answering
her.
    Liam is quick with a comeback. “No. We just
had too much to drink last night and so we’re taking it easy
tonight.”
    “You alien ball sacks got yourself
girlfriends?” My girl is also obviously much more comfortable with
the creative use of crude language, than Liam’s. She looks right at
into my eyes. “Don’t you understand plain English—I asked if you’re
seeing somebody?” And that’s when I see Ginny in my mind’s eye.
Tonight’s vision of my dear departed is more detailed than in any
of my previous visions, of which there have been many. Her long
dreads are tucked up under a black beanie and her exotic face is
flushed with what she used to refer to as “major pissed-off-ness at
the world’s fucking ignorance.” Yup, my image of Ginny is rolling
her eyes and shaking her head. And I know exactly what she’s
thinking, Are you for real, Jase? You’re gonna go and get
horizontal with this foul-mouthed piece of trash who thinks she’s a
smart ass?
    Liam steps up beside me and one of his
dependable arms encircles my shoulders. “He’s recently lost an
important relationship in his life.” I think you could call this a
big-time-bail-out. “So what we’re having