When I Lie With You

Chapter 15

Rory

I stood outside and looked up at the sign that read “Piano Bar.” My stomach was twisted in knots as I pulled the door open and stepped inside. I looked around at the people that were gathered at the table; talking, laughing, and having a good time. A man was playing the piano that sat in the corner of the room. As I walked over and took a seat at the bar, a red-haired woman came over and set a napkin down in front of me.

“Welcome to the Piano Bar. What can I get for you, honey?”

“I’ll have a cosmopolitan please,” I replied.

“One cosmo coming right up.”

The bar was simple. Nothing fancy and certainly not uptight.

“Here you go. Enjoy.” The bartender smiled as she set down the drink in front of me.

I gave a polite smile as I picked up the drink and sipped it. As I reached in my purse to pull out my phone, I heard a man say, “Rosie makes the best cosmos in the world. You’re lucky she’s working tonight.”

I looked up at the man and gasped. He looked exactly like Stephen; almost a spitting image of him. I gulped and forced a small smile. My heart was racing and my skin started to sweat. It was him; my father. I knew it. I could feel it. I needed to know for sure.

“I agree. This is the best cosmo I’ve ever had. Hi, I’m Rory S—” I immediately stopped myself. If I gave him my last name, he would know. “Sanders. Rory Sanders.”

“Nice to meet you, Rory Sanders. I’m Jimmy O’Rourke, the owner of this bar.” He smiled.

I was right; it was him, and suddenly, I just wanted to throw my arms around him and tell him that I was his daughter. After all these years, I finally met my dad; a man who didn’t even know who I was.

“Nice to meet you, Jimmy O’Rourke.”

I scanned his hands to see if he was wearing a ring. He wasn’t.

“Are you new in town?” he asked. “I haven’t seen you around here before.”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Welcome to the Piano Bar. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some piano to play.” He winked.

I watched him as he walked over to the piano and took a seat. He stretched out his fingers before he began to play. His fingers delicately stroked each ivory and black key. The melody he made was amazing.

“He’s the best there is,” the redheaded bartender spoke. “I’ve never seen anyone play with more passion than him.”

“Yeah, he’s great.” I smiled. “Do you know him well?” I asked.

“I’ve worked for him for over ten years. We’ve been through a lot together.”

I was starting to get the impression that they were a couple. “Is he married?” I blurted out.

“That’s an odd question to ask,” she said.

“I’m sorry. That came out completely wrong. I was only asking because someone as talented as him would certainly have a significant other. Can I have another cosmo, please?”

“Sure. Coming right up.” She smiled. “By the way, I’m Rosie or Rose. Jimmy likes to call me Rosie.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Rory,” I said as I threw back the last of my first cosmo.

It was starting to get really packed in the bar. As soon as Jimmy hit the last key, everyone in the bar applauded. He stood up and took a bow. Rosie set down my second cosmo just as Jimmy walked back behind the bar. I picked up my glass and held it up.

“That was really cool. You’re really good.”

“Thank you, darling.” He smiled.

I had my phone sitting next to me and I saw the screen light up with a text message from Ian.

“Where the hell are you? I came home, you’re not here, and you didn’t say you were going out.”

“It’s none of your business.”

“You are my business. Now tell me where you fucking are!”

I didn’t feel like arguing with him, so I lied.

“I’m at Jordyn and Ollie’s place, visiting. I’ll be home in a while.”

“Come home now.”

What the hell was his problem?

“No, Ian. I will come home after I’m done visiting.”

“Don’t expect to get fucked tonight.”

Really? Did he really just say that to me? Now, I was pissed as hell.

“Don’t worry. I won’t.”

I waited for a response and one never came. He was pissed. I was pissed, and at that moment, I didn’t care. As Rosie was walking by, I asked her if anyone could play the piano. She told me that it was open to anyone that had the talent. I asked her if she could watch my drink for me, and then I got up and walked over to the piano. I stretched my fingers, just like my father did, and gently placed my fingers on the keys. I began play a song that I felt was very fitting for the moment, “Only Human.” I closed my eyes and lost myself in the melody. After hitting the last note, I went right into Chopin. The bar grew quiet and all eyes were on me. I didn’t have to look up; I could feel it. I breathed life into the music and, when I finished, the patrons of the bar applauded and whistled. I smiled as I got up and walked back to my seat. Jimmy walked over and stared at me for a moment before speaking.

“Wow. That was amazing, Rory. Where the hell did you learn to play like that?”

“Thank you. I’ve been playing since I was a kid. I learned the basics and then pretty much taught myself the rest.”

“You don’t learn talent like that, honey. You were born with that gift.” He smiled.

I looked down at my drink. I finished it off and asked for another.

“You are welcome here to play any time you want.”

“Thanks, Jimmy.” I smiled.

Rosie brought me over another cosmo. I was already starting to feel the effects of the last two. “Round of shots on me,” Jimmy said as he looked at me and Rosie.

He grabbed the bottle of vodka and poured us each a shot. Jimmy held up his glass.

“To a very talented woman.” He smiled.

“Cheers,” I said as I threw back the vodka.

As I sat on the bar stool, I was feeling really good. Too good, in fact, and there was no way I could drive home. It was now midnight and my phone chimed with a text from Ian.

“Are you coming home or do I have to embarrass you and come get you?”

I couldn’t respond because I couldn’t type, so I dialed his number.

“What the fuck is going on, Rory?” he answered.

“I need you to come get me,” I slurred. “I’m sorry I lied to you, Ian.”

“What are you talking about? Are you drunk?”

“Yeah, and I can’t drive unless you want me to kill me and someone else.”

“Don’t be fucking stupid, Rory. Give me Jordyn’s address.”

“I’m not at Jordyn’s.”

“WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?” he screamed into the phone.

My head was already pounding. I started to cry.

“I’m at the Piano Bar.”

“Stay inside. I’m on my way.”

I finished the last of my cosmo and held up my glass for another one. “There’s no way you can drive home, honey.”

“Well, now we don’t have to worry about that, Rosie, because my sexy boyfriend is on his way to pick me up,” I slurred. “Bring on the cosmos.” I smiled.

“One more and only if he’s picking you up,” she said with seriousness.

“He is. I just called him.”

She made another cosmo and set the glass down in front of me. What was I doing? Did I even know? Between Ian being a prick about Mandy coming over and seeing my father for the first time in my life, it was too much. I picked up the glass, brought it to my lips, and drank as much as I could before Ian took it away from me. I turned my head and looked at him. He stared at me and shook his head.

“Rory, why?”

I held up my finger to him. “Don’t ask me questions I can’t answer.”

“You’re drunk off your ass.”

“So what.”

“Can I get you anything?” Rosie asked Ian.

“No, thanks. I’m good.”

I looked up at Rosie. “Rosie, this is my boyfriend, Ian. Ian, this is my new friend, Rosie. She makes the best cosmos in the world.”

Suddenly, Jimmy walked behind the bar. “Excuse me, sir, but you best remove your hand from her.”

Rosie put her hand on his arm. “It’s cool, Jimmy. He’s her boyfriend. He came to pick her up.”

“Oh, I’m sorry about that.”

“Nah, it’s okay. And you are?” Ian asked as he cocked his head.

“Jimmy O’Rourke, the owner,” he said as he stuck out his hand.

Ian turned and looked at me and then back at Jimmy as he shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Jimmy. I’m Ian Braxton. Thank you for looking out for my girlfriend.”

“No problem. She’s a real talented woman. You should be proud of her.” He smiled.

“I am and I know she is. Come on, sweetheart, let’s go home,” Ian said as he helped me from the chair, picked me up, and carried me outside.

The cool air felt good, but I still felt sick to my stomach. Ian put me in the car and helped me buckle my seat belt. As I laid my head against the window, Ian looked over at me, but didn’t say a word the entire ride home. The only thing I wanted to do was curl up, go to sleep, and forget tonight ever happened. Ian pulled into the driveway and told me not to move. He walked around to the passenger’s side, opened the door, and helped me out of the car. I was really dizzy and I felt like I was going to throw up.

“Ian, I’m not feeling so good,” I said before he picked me up.

“Not feeling good as in you’re going to be sick?”

“Yes. Like right now!” I exclaimed as I ran over to where some bushes were and began vomiting.

“Really, Rory? There?”

Ian walked over to where I was on my knees and pulled back my hair. “This is what happens when you drink too much. It was unnecessary.”

Unnecessary to him, maybe, because nothing seemed to bother him. “This is no time for a lecture,” I said as I threw up again. He softly rubbed my back until I was finished.

“Are you done?” he asked.

“I think so.”

“Come on; let’s get you in the bathtub. You smell, sweetheart.”

Ian picked me up and carried me into the house. He set me down on the bed and told me to wait there while he started the bath. He walked over to me and undressed me, then helped me up and walked me to the tub.

“Be careful. I have you,” he said as he helped me into the tub.

I sat down in the hot water and brought my knees up to my chest. Ian took my chin and lifted it so I was looking at him.

“Look at you. You’re a mess.” He smiled as he took the wet washcloth and wiped the mascara stains from under my eyes. “Why, Rory? Why did you go there without me?”

“I don’t know, Ian.”

I leaned back my head while he wet my hair and then closed my eyes as he shampooed it.

“Why did you lie to me about where you were?”

I took in a deep breath. “I didn’t want you to get mad.”

“But, sweetheart, you were going to tell me eventually, right?”

I nodded my head.

“Then I would have been triple mad because you lied to me, and one thing I will not tolerate in a relationship is lying. Do you understand me?”

I turned my head and gave him a stern look. “Why do you think it’s okay for you to talk to me like that?”

I’d had enough of him and his commands. He was really pissing me off and I didn’t deserve to be talked to like that.

“Excuse me?” he said.

“Sometimes, you talk to me like I’m a child. I’m not a fucking child, Ian.”

“Sometimes, I beg to differ.”

God, why did he have to be such an asshole right now? Of all times, why when I’m drunk and not feeling good.

“Get the fuck out!” I yelled.

“Rory, stop.”

“Don’t tell me what to do!” I yelled as I raised my hands to him and he grabbed them.

“Rory.”

I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I broke down and sobbed as I stared at him. He took his hand and placed it on my cheek. “Sweetheart,” he said as he looked into my eyes. He wrapped his arms around me and held me while I cried into his shoulder. When I began to calm down, Ian helped me up and out of the tub. He wrapped a large towel around me and walked me over to the bed.

“Let’s get you in your pajamas and into bed.”

He dried me off and pulled my nightshirt down over my head. After he towel dried my hair, he pulled back the covers and I got into bed. He climbed in next to me, wrapped his arms around me, and pulled me into him.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I love you,” he whispered as he kissed my head.

“I love you too,” I whispered back before I closed my eyes and fell fast asleep.