Dee Stress

Brienne, Part 5 of 5

I wondered about C and Buddy going off to the bar for drinks. Stanley was there, I knew. But Buddy was angry at C, and he loses control easily when angry. Maybe I should have gone with them just to make sure Buddy calmed down.

Dee interrupted my thoughts. “Nice night. First the psycho chick. Then you pay more attention to your old girlfriend as she tries to pick up your brother.”

I said, “They were playing.”

“And you were ignoring me,” she said. “You let Buddy pick fights with everyone. Instead of calming him, you fight.”

“I was trying to calm him.”

“Well, you failed,” she said. “When C finally gets Buddy to leave, you sulk. I’m having a great time, thank you for asking.”

“Duke’s friend got everything stirred up.”

“Yeah, that was fun.”

“Buddy was a prick.”

“What did you expect?” She asked.

“I was trying to keep things under control.”

“You failed,” she repeated.

“Now you’re jumping on my ass?”

Duke interrupted. “At least you two are married. But if you are going to scream at each other, would you do that at home.”

Dee said, “It’s OK, Duke.”

“I like psycho fights as much as anyone,” he said. “I don’t want to see you two go at it.”

“Duke,” I asked, “what the hell is with that chick? That was scary. Look what she did to Buddy and C.”

Dee said, “What did you expect from Buddy and C?”

Scott then asked, “Instead of calming down, why don’t you offer to sleep with me?”

“Me?” Dee asked.

“Well?”

“You’d have to buy me a drink.”

“Done.”

“Do something about Tom.”

That’s easy,” Scott said. “Tom, buy us drinks.”

“Fucking with your bother,” Duke said. “That’s cruel and cold. Both of you.”

I said, “Thanks, Duke.”

“You should invite your brother more often.” Duke said.

Dee said to Duke, “You should invite more girlfriends.”

“Girlfriends are a riot.”

“They cause riots. Now that I’m married I don’t have to do that anymore,” Dee said. “Now, I’m all soft and cuddly.”

“Except when you bludgeon,” I said, for no good reason.

——

Brienne

Part 5: Dee Stress
Part 4: We Had Our Tires Changed
Part 3: Agent Scully, Bitchy
Part 2: Agent Scully, Dribbling Stout
Part 1: Agent Scully, Provocateur