Free Always and Forever by Harper Bentley

strapless dress and silver stilettos and has on evening makeup that’s
     very dramatic and if she wasn’t such a witch, she’d be pretty.
    “I wanted to ask if we could talk sometime,” I answer.
    Her eyebrows go up and she looks condescendingly at me then at Ryan as if she’s a
     queen and we’re lowly peasants who have dared enter into her presence. Gag.
    “About?” She now looks around the table at her posse as if to say, “Look at these
     idiots who have the nerve to approach me.”
    “Well, I thought we’d discuss that when you’re not busy.”
    “Piper.” She says my name as if it’s the most distasteful thing she’s ever had in
     her mouth but I’ve seen some of the men she’s gone home with and know that’s not true.
     “You can just tell me now or forget it.”
    I turn to Ryan who shrugs and gives me a “go ahead” look then I face Peyton again.
     “I wanted to ask what you know about Brody breaking up with me.”
    I see the surprise on her face for a moment before she starts laughing then looks
     around the table at her friends who laugh with her. Well, except for Sarah who has
     the decency to look embarrassed for the way her tablemates are behaving. I feel Ryan
     go stiff at my side but put my hand on her forearm as we stand there waiting for Peyton
     to finish. And, boy, does she put on a production, milking it for all she’s worth,
     especially when several men pass and smile at her and her giggles just keep coming.
     I’m just about to tell her to forget it when she finally stops.
    “Oh, that is rich,” she says, looking me up and down as if to say the reason Brody
     broke up with me is clear if I’d just look in the mirror.
    And Ryan’s had enough, stepping forward and getting in Peyton’s face. “Listen, you
     stupid slunt, keep this shit up and I’ll break your fucking vagina to where you won’t
     be able to go home and screw these assholes you pick up every night. Piper asked you
     a question. The least you can do is answer her.”
    Peyton sits back indignantly as if Ryan’s invading her space is against the law. “Slunt?”
     she asks, looking down her nose at Ryan.
    When Ryan starts to tell her it’s a cross between slut and cunt , I slap a hand over her mouth and tell Peyton, “It’s nothing. Just tell me if you
     know anything about why he did it?”
    She shakes her head to get her bangs out of her eyes which is amusing because it’s
     all so hairsprayed her whole head of hair moves like a big helmet sitting on her head
     when she does. Then she looks straight at me with a wicked gleam in her eyes. “He
     broke up with you because he told you he wanted more kids than you do, right? I’ll
     just say he’s well on his way to making that happen.” She now throws her head back and cackles then gives high fives to the two women at the table but Sarah’s
     turned around on her barstool acting as if she’s looking for someone.
    My hand involuntarily goes up to smack the shit out of her but Ryan grabs me by the
     arm and tugs me away hauling my ass back to our table. When we’re seated she snaps,
     “That pageant-haired bitch! Where’s fucking Karma when you need her to step in and
     take a skank out? God!” She waves Martina down and orders two shots of tequila STAT.
    Martina nods then asks me, “You okay?” I look at her and shake my head slowly. “Be
     right back,” she answers and takes off.
    I think I’m in shock because I can’t move. I can’t talk. All I can do is sit and stare
     at Ryan.
    “Hang on, honey,” she says. “Help is on its way.”
    Martina rushes up and sets a tray of six shots, a shaker of salt and lemon wedges
     on the table. She then places a shot glass in front of Ryan and me but I’m still not
     moving. So grabbing my hand, she sticks a finger in my tequila, rubs it on the space
     between my thumb and finger, shakes some salt onto it then moves my hand to my mouth.
     “Lick,” she instructs and like a robot, I do. She picks