Free Woman Walks into a Bar by Rowan Coleman Page A

drinking. “I don’t forgive you,” I told him coldly. “I hate you.”
    I threw Luke Goddard’s pint in his face.
    I did that. I couldn’t believe it was me but it was. I even think I heard the locals cheering me on.
    Luke was shocked for a split second, and then he lunged at me and tried to grab me.
    â€œYou stupid cow,” he shouted at me.
    I pushed him hard, harder than I knew I could, and he fell backwards over his chair and onto the floor.
    â€œDon’t you ever touch me,” I told him. “You can never touch me again.”
    Suddenly Brendan was there, standing between me and Luke.
    â€œCall the police,” Luke told Brendan. “I want her charged with assault.”
    Brendan did not move.
    â€œGet out,” he said. He sounded friendly and calm, but you knew he meant it. “Get out, now.”
    â€œBut—” Luke looked at Brendan’s face and got up. He picked up his jacket and his phone and turned to say something else to me. Brendan took a step toward him and Luke thought better of it. He was gone.
    â€œAre you OK?” Brendan asked me as the crowds of drinkers closed around Luke’s retreating back.
    â€œFine,” I said and ran into the ladies’ loo.
    â€œWell?” Joy rushed in after me as I ran my hands under the cold tap. “How did it go?”
    I looked at her.
    â€œGet away from me!” I told her angrily, my voice echoing off the tiles. “I trusted you more than anyone!”
    Joy took a step back.
    â€œSam, please!” she said, holding the palms of her hands up. “I’m sorry. I was stupid making up that date stuff. A total plank. But did I get it all wrong?”
    I rubbed the blurred make-up from around my eyes. I was still shaking, still furious, but I also felt an incredible high.
    â€œDid you actually see any of what happened out there?” I asked Joy. “I nearly got into a fight because of you! Jesus, Joy, you just dumped me in a great big pile of shit and thought you were doing me a favor.”
    â€œWhen you put it like that . . .” Joy said, looking worried. “Look, I fucked up but I did see you. You gave him what for! You were brilliant!”
    â€œWas I?” I said. “Because I didn’t think I was like that. I think what I just did to Luke makes me into a bastard like him.”
    Joy said nothing for a moment.
    â€œIt doesn’t,” she said, taking a step closer and putting her arm around me. “It makes you a strong woman who is not going to lie down for anyone to walk all over her ever again. Do you understand? You’re worth a million times what Luke, or Adam, or any of those losers that hurt you are. Christ, Sam, I’ve known that for years. You must know it now, don’t you?”
    I laid my forehead on Joy’s shoulder for a second before I looked up at her.
    â€œI think I do,” I said. “I really think I do.”
    â€œI should never have built you up with the whole date thing. When I saw Luke and I thought about how he’d hurt you, I thought this was a chance for you to confront him. To have your say and move on. I should have been straight with you from the start, but I got carried away as usual. Do you hate me?” Joy asked.
    I shook my head.
    â€œNo, I don’t hate you,” I said. “I don’t hate anyone anymore.”
    â€œNext time,” Joy said. “I promise you that I’m going to set you up on a real blind date.”
    I thought of Brendan leaning across the bar flirting with those pretty girls.
    â€œNo,” I said. “No, I’m not doing any more blind dates.”
    â€œWhat?” Joy looked disappointed.
    â€œYou were right,” I said. “I was only doing it because Beth wanted me to. But I’m happy as I am. I don’t need a man to be happy.”
    â€œReally?” Joy asked.
    â€œReally,” I said more firmly than I felt as I