A Night on the Town

A Twisted Short Story for the Upcoming Morbid Ink Issue

“I didn’t order this,” the man scowled at the waitress.

The bar echoed with drunken loudness and too loud music that sucked. Jess Howard was about to shove away from his barstool when the overweight woman appeared with another beer. She placed in front of him, the stale smell of her cheap perfume and cigarette breath struck him.

“Lady over there bought it for you,” the waitress nodded toward a booth across the room before she walked away.

Jess looked over to see a thin, pale woman moving her body to the heavy beats of the music as she sat alone at the table. He stared at her for a moment, and she slyly glanced in his direction. Jess picked up his beer and acknowledged her look with a nod. She smiled and glanced away.

Cute!

After taking a swig, he made up his mind and slid off the barstool. The woman tried to remain aloof as he approached her table. He grinned as he took a seat across from her.

“My name’s Jess.”

She frowned when she turned to him.

“I don’t think I invited you to join me,” she said.

“Didn’t you? A pretty girl buying a man a drink tells me otherwise.” He leaned back in the chair and smiled.

“You shouldn’t get the wrong idea. I noticed your ring.” She glanced down at the man’s left hand.

“Well, you should see the black band. We have an open marriage.” Jess held out his hand for her to inspect the ring.

 “I’m not sure what that even means,” she replied.

The woman looked confused at his comment. Then she shook her head and crossed her arms.

“Anyway, your spouse giving you permission does not overrule God’s Law.”

The woman’s sudden change amused him. He laughed at her and continued to stare at her. After a moment, she looked away.

“Say beautiful, you don’t need to keep up this act. You wanted me over here and I’m here. So, what’s your name?”

Instantly, the woman’s hard gaze returned. After apparently thinking it over, she gradually nodded, then grinned. He liked it, even if her expression didn’t quite match. It reminded him of the uncanny valley feeling he got from looking at the animatronic figures at theme parks. Still, her low-cut blouse showed him the possibilities for the evening.

“Violet.”

“Nice name.” He commented before taking another drink.

“Your name means a gift of God,” she stated with a trace of sarcasm. “I’ll bet your parents intended you to become a great person when you grew up.”

“Well, you know we can never live up to our parents’ dreams,” he replied with a light chuckle. “Besides, your name is truly fitting. You’re as beautiful as a flower.”

Her lips turned upward at his words.

“You surprise me, a nice face along with wit and intellect. I thought you might be rather boring. You know, a typical married man looking for a one-night fling.”

“Who says I’m not? You’re lonely and my wife will not get rid of me. She’s an mhb.”

Violet looked confused at the term.

“You don’t get out much.” Jess leaned forward with a grin. “It means she’s a money hungry bitch.”

The woman cocked her head.

“That’s rather—rude. Are you saying she’s a gold digger?”

Jess shrugged his shoulders and took another swig from the bottle.

“My old man had oil wells. She started after me when he got cancer. I call ‘em as I see ‘em! Anyway, you don’t want to focus on a failed marriage, do you? Let’s go find a quieter place.”

He saw her eyes narrow, and he sneered.

“Well, unless you’re afraid of me.”

“Hardly! I’ll follow your lead.” Her thin smile at his statement made Jess chuckle as he rose from the table.

As the couple walked to his Lexus, he noticed the sound of his footsteps as he looked her over. Dirty blonde shoulder length hair and slim, trim shape accentuated by her red blouse and blue jeans with wide leg bottoms. She held a gray coat over her shoulders, seemingly unaffected by the chill in the air.

“You’re into retro fashion!” he commented as he felt the light buzz from the alcohol in his belly.

“What do you mean? Don’t I look alright?” Her face paled as they stepped into the moonlight.

“Nah, you look great!” Jess told her. “The wife’s into fashion. Spends a fortune on vintage clothing, so I recognized the look. I’m just surprised your heels don’t make a little noise.”

She looked down and a slight smile played around the corners of her mouth.

“I have a light step,” she said.

“That you do,” he agreed, then opened the passenger side door. “You’ll like Le Glamour.”

She slid into the car and looked up at him. Violet’s green eyes held him for a moment.

“I’ve never been there. What’s it like?”

“Just like me,” he grinned and closed the car door.