“It’s okay to be excited. It’s like getting to the last level and rescuing the princess.”
Randall snickered. “Haven’t played video games since the 90’s, huh? Since the main character was a little Italian with a mustache?”
I laughed and hugged his arm because it was so true. “I did win the game, though.”
“By cheating?”
“No!” I laughed. “But the shortcuts were helpful.”
We passed a waitress with a snotty expression, teased hair, and an empty tray. We also passed a lot of sections, mostly empty at this point, for other VIP’ers. But we were in the back! That must be prestigious!
“It looks like a large party,” Randall said, his playful mood faltering.
I followed his eyes to the back of the building—wait, it was the front. It was the direction we came in—stored in sober brain—and saw a large roped off area housing a team of guys. They were standing in groups or sitting, all with a beer, laughing and causing a ruckus, as boys did.
Big party, but also roped in, so definitely prestigious! If only the girls could be here! They’d go bananas!
I spied Candace leaning against the railing with the pretense of looking for me, but constantly sidetracked by a joking Ty. When he pointed, as yet another bouncer was opening the roped off section and waving us through, she jumped and screamed.
“Oh God.” Randall rolled his eyes.
“She’s excitable.” I laughed, getting a bear hug from a bubbly, buzzed Candace.
“I am so glad you made it!” she exclaimed. “There are way too many guys, and I know you can put them in their place.”
“Hardly.” Ty grinned. “Hi ya, Jess. Whose your friend?”
“Oh yeah, that’s Randall, from I.T. Hi Randall,” Candace said.
“Hi Candace. How long have you guys been drinking?” Randall asked in a somber tone.
“Oh, since work ended. Not straight, though. I had two then went home to change and Ty came to get me. Then we came here and met everyone. That’s Ty, by the way.” She threw a finger over her shoulder.
Before I could lose my lunch on the everyone comment, I saw Adam in the far corner. Knowing he was probably here with his bud, William, a chill went up my spine and tingled my hair follicles. It was like a turkey waiting in a line at Thanksgiving, wondering when it would get the axe. I nearly turned and ran!
Yeah, I’ll just focus on my date with a God running around to distract me. Super easy.
“C’mon, you guys.” Candace led the way into the heart of the ant hill—the critters being guys instead of ants—and to the largest grouping of males. I searched every face I passed, then the faces I wouldn’t be passing, in secretive, fervent glances. No William.
I did a quick glance behind, pretending to check on Randall, and scanned the way we’d come. Then the banister. Then what I could see of the stairs, stage, and floor below. Still no William. I didn’t see Moose, either, which hopefully meant they were busy and absent.
“What’s that sigh for?” Randall asked as he pushed into my side. He was acting like we’d been dating for a year, rather than a few hours.
Which was cute. But not making me comfortable. I was still damaged goods in my headspace, but I couldn’t explain why. Correction—I didn’t want to explain why--but it was making things slightly awkward, for which I felt guilty.
As we stopped in front of a team of guys, all having stopped what they were doing to glance at the new vagina on scene, I said, “Hi everyone. I’m Jessica, and this is Randall.”
Eyes swiveled to the man at my side, then back to me, some having lost their interest, some having gained determination. These guys were single and in need of someone to chase.
“Let me make the introductions of these clowns,” said a familiar baritone behind me.
Chapter Eleven
My stomach heaved, then dropped away. I almost needed to put my hands up and scream as if on a roller-coaster. I gave a mighty jump, jolted, and let go of my beer all at the same time. The bottle skittered across the floor and bumped up against a pair of shiny, black dress shoes.
Then it just got worse. His scent wafted by my nose, making me remember a thousand little moments. My groin pooled wet and my knees went wobbly, barely able to support my body. A shot of fear was called up from that night, replaced by his eyes and a solid feeling of comfort. Of safety. I nearly reached forward to clutch onto him, but just in time I saved face and grabbed Randall instead.
“Did you see her jump?!” someone shouted.
The background filled with laughter and pounding on tables.
But I didn’t hear any of it. I’d met his eyes.
The world came to a crashing halt. He was done up and looking good! He had on a crisp white button-up shirt that did wonders for his pecks. It was stylish, trendy, and fit him nicely. It was nothing compared to those eyes. Fire lit them up as they held me, penetrated me, invited me to fall in and get lost deep, deep down within their depths.
And I wanted to. I wanted to let go; let him suck me in.
Yeah, focusing on Randall would be a cinch…
His smile faltered as he looked down on me.
“Earth to Jess!”
I looked away in a haze.
Ty was holding a new beer, an intrigued look on his face. Everyone else was still laughing, except for Randall, who was looking at his shoes.
Get a grip, Jessica, you boob!
“You remember me, of course,” I said to Ty, coming out of it and swiping the beer. I then juggled it a minute in my numb fingers. “I’m the clumsy one that tries to swan dive off stairs.”
“Yeah! How the hell did you even get up here?” He laughed.
All this must have happened in a split second because the boys behind me were still laughing and making jokes about William scaring me. Little did they know, and they would never know, that it was his presence that had the effect, not the suddenness of his appearance.
“Shall I introduce you around?” William asked in a hushed, deep voice. It vibrated my bones and liquefied my skin. I paused with my eyes closed, soaking up the feeling.
It was damned unfortunate his pedestal was so high.
“Sure, why not,” I said, marveling at how unaffected I sounded.
He nodded, a small crinkle forming between his eyebrows, and started with the names. My sober brain was too busy worrying about the layout than the names, however, so I didn’t pay much attention until it came to Adam, which I greeted with a smile and a wink since I knew him.
He returned my smile. He looked all clean and pretty, too. In fact, all these guys were lookers. Each a different size and stature, and none so well built as William or Adam, or so huge as Moose, but all would turn my head if I saw them walking down the street.
“Well, make yourselves comfortable,” William finished, turning to me but sparing a glance for Randall.
“Thank you, garçon,” I waved him away like I was rich and he a servant.
He leaned back with a delighted laugh, watching as I escaped with Randall in tow. I needed to stay the hell away from him.
As I settled Randall on a small square, pleather stool, Adam walked over, which surprised me because I didn’t think he was much of a talker. He must’ve felt closer to me after...
“Howdy Jess!” Adam said, taking a stool across from me and a too close Randall.
“Hey Adam. How’s it going?”
“Not bad. You?” He emphasized the "you" in such a way that I knew he was asking about the last time we saw each other.
I glanced at Randall in a, hopefully, subtle signal for Adam to shut it, and said, “Really well, actually. Randall and I are just done with dinner and looking for shenanigans.”
Adam glanced at Randall then back at me. “I hope you gonna show us some of yer California moves tonight!”
“Californian moves don’t really go with Country music I’m afraid.”
“Nah, don’t reckon they would. Good thing there ain’t gonna be no country. We got us some
hipity-hop, or pop, or some damn thing.”
“Well, then, you better clear the dance floor because I am going to Tear. It. Up!”
William took a stool next to Adam, damn him. My stomach did a summersault, making me inwardly groan.
“Do I hear someone has moves? Because I need a little competition.” William took a swig of his beer.
I snorted and looked out, toward the dance floor, which I couldn’t see. “Competition? Honey, you are outside your element here. A little fox trot? Maybe. Country swing? I’ll give you that. Hip hop?” I looked back. “Bitch, please, this is my house!”
Everyone started laughing, including Randall.
William’s eyes twinkled, focused on me like a predator. “Are you challenging me to a dance-off?”
He was great at playing serious; I was having a hard time keeping my face straight. I brought my hands to my h*ps and squared my shoulders, keeping my ankles crossed. I was trying to be tough, not flash them.
In the same stage whisper I said, “Yes. Yes, I think I am...”
Adam stood, hands lifted. “Everyone, we have a dance off!”
Laughter and clapping filled the area. I stood, William shadowing me, Randall confused and forlorn. I’d get to him in a minute. No one was going to try and compete in the dancing circuit on my turf.
I put up my hand for quiet, waiting for most of the guys to gather around. “We have to establish rules. California versus Texas, boys and girls. Such a thing might have been done in the past, but never like this. Never. Like. This.”
The crowd erupted in laughter. I did not tear my eyes away from William. He was having a hard time keeping his face straight.
I continued. “I need rules. I need guidelines. I want to beat this Lone Star boy fair and square!”
William opened his mouth for a rebuttal, but was overshadowed by, “Here’s your order, honey.”
The moment was shattered by the snotty waitress. Adam stepped around William to keep all the guys from reaching hands in, and William started orchestrating delivery, taking the waitress further into our area, and into the middle of the crowd of guys.
I sat back down, letting my knee glance against Randall’s. “Hey Randall, how ya holding up? Wanna join a dance-off?”
He gave me a half-hearted smile. “I never knew in a million years that I would be drinking with Davies. You seem to know him.”
“Oh. Well, yeah. Actually, I met him in the oddest of circumstances.” I gave him a rundown of my artful dive into a stand of dog food. By the end of the story Randall was laughing with me.
“But,” Randall continued, “you seem to know him pretty well, now.”
“Well, I saw him a couple months ago at the rodeo. I met him and his friends there.”
Randall nodded, thoughtful. He was about to say something else when Candace came over with Ty and pulled up a stool. She was all smiles and happiness.
“Hi Randall, again.” She giggled. “Have you been here before?”
“No. I don’t go out much.”
“Oh. In case you missed it, this is Ty.” Candace put her hand on Ty’s knee.
“How’s it be, Randy? Glad you could join us.” Ty shook Randall’s hand.
“It’s Randall—I don’t really like being called Randy.”
Ty’s face dropped a little, then went right back to a smile. “No sweat, man. You need a beer?”
Randall was imploding again. He wasn’t kidding when he said he was shy. Luckily, I had a cure for that. It was called a shot, and after two or three, a guy had no more edges. Or inhibitions. Neither did a girl. Tricky situation.
“Uh, guys, I am going to take Randall down and get us a drink. We missed the last call with the waitress.”
Ty shook his head and stood up. “Willie got you drinks. Willie! Hey WILLIE, you deaf f**k. WILLIAM!”
William turned away from some guy with a smile and noticed what Ty was after. He gave a nod and one finger.
“At least it is the pointer finger he’s giving you,” I pointed out.
“At the moment.” Candace laughed.
“All set,” Ty said, back to relaxing.
“You know, Ty.” I began, putting my empty bottle to the side. “It would’ve been a lot easier if you had just walked the three steps over to get the drinks yourself...”
William showed up behind Ty with two drinks and a grin, “This little fu—ah, sucker prides himself on being the laziest man alive.”
“Except in bed.” Ty’s eyes gleamed. Candace giggled.
I stood up to grab the drinks. “Gentlemen, gentlemen, do you kiss your mothers with that mouth?”
William looked bashful and Ty said, “Shut the f**k up you nosey bitch!”
William was holding a beer and some sort of champagne cocktail. I hesitated, my hands hovering close to his. My eyebrows raised in question.
“I heard somewhere that you loved champagne, and this place makes the best champagne cocktail around.” He winked, handed over the drinks, and wandered off.
I really tried to look away from that perfect ass of his.
“Right.” I sat down and handed over Randall’s beer, then had a taste of my drink. The champagne was quality and the flavor burst in my mouth.
“This is goooooood,” I said to Randall, offering him a taste.
He shook his head slightly and had another sip of his beer.
“Party pooper.” I bumped him with my shoulder. He lips curled, but he glanced at Ty and Candace, currently canoodling, to make sure he wasn’t noticed.
I got up and pulled Randall up with me. “C’mon. You’re coming with me.”
“Sex in bathrooms is strictly prohibited,” Ty called after us.
Randall doggedly followed me down the stairs, offering his arm. At the bar I yelled for two Lemon Drops, an easy shot with a slight energy kick because of all the sugary alcohol. I threw a twenty and stared at the ten and bills that I got back.
“I gave you a twenty,” I yelled as our shots arrived.
“Which is why I have you twelve bucks back…”
Not to look like the fool he thought I was, I leaned over to get the shots. That shut him up, proving he was dumber than me. At least I could still think when I saw pecks.
Although, I had yet to see William’s.
“Whoa—“ Randall took a shaking shot glass out of my hand.
I silently told the Cosmos to shut up.
“Drinks are cheap here!” I said as I licked sticky alcohol off my hand.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“Lemon drop. They’re good. You’ll like it.”
“I don’t do shots.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t do shots,” he said again, louder.
“Well, tonight you are. You need to relax and have a little fun.”
He was mid-protest when I lifted his shot to his mouth, and mine to my mouth.
“No saying no to you.” A smile twisted his lips.
“One. Twoooooo....” I waited a second for him to gear up for it. “Three!”
Usually I wouldn’t count it out like a high school freshman, but clearly baby steps were needed.
He licked his lips, which had sugar on them, and smiled. “Not bad.”
“Ready?” I asked, about to step away.
“So...how come you are so familiar with Davies?”
Why wouldn’t he just let this go?
“He helped me out of a tight spot. That’s it, end of story. Nothing more to report. Back to you, Jim.”
“You seem pretty friendly with him.”
“I am friendly with them all. Why, what are you getting at?”
“N-nothing. It’s just crazy that you live in a mansion—”
“—pool house—”
“—with a really wealthy woman—”
“—which I rent from—”
“—and you are buddy-buddy with Willie Davies and his band of silver spoon boys.”
“Look, Randall, I’m not sure what you have a
gainst money. Personally, I like it. I wish I had some. But I was raised middle-class, and spent the last million years as a broke college student. I am not used to the privileged life, but will gladly hob knob with those that are if they are cool people, which they all have been. So get over your issues ‘cause they are not with me.”
My scowl could wilt flowers. And apparently men. His mouth was fused shut and his eyes were droopy. If he wasn’t being such a douche, I would feel bad.
I was about to apologize when he leaned in and smacked his lips against mine.
What was with this guy and kissing at random, nonromantic moments?
I pushed him back. “I’m going back. You coming?”
He nodded and followed like a hurt puppy. I was running out of stamina for this first date, and unlike at the rodeo, when it was time to go, I was absolutely going. Nothing good came from hanging around just to be in William’s shadow. Especially with all the single boys around. They would smell Randall and my issues like a lioness would a lame wildebeest.
After we braved the stairs, I stopped by the small bar on the upper floor. The bored bartender stared at my boobs.
I yanked up my top and said, “I need a round for the boys in the back.”
“Who?” His eyes were trying to ferret out my covered br**sts. If he wasn’t behind that bar, I would stare hard at his groin and squint, as though trying to find something small and hidden. Even up the scrutiny.
“The large group of guys in the far back of the VIP area. Davies and his crew.”
“Oh, them. Yeah, what are they having?”
What I wanted to say: “Did you not fill their order? You can’t remember ten minutes ago?”
What I did say: “Oh, um, I’m not exactly sure. I thought you might know...”
Snotty waitress walked up with a few empty bottles and a Sniffing-Poop type expression.
The bartender shifted his gaze to her br**sts. “Hey, Denise, what’re them boys drinkin’?”
“They ain’t ready for a round. Plus, it’s on a tab.”
“Right, yeah, I realize that.” I leaned against the bar, advertising that I was an annoying bitch that intended to get her way. If I didn’t order one now, those boys would never let me order one at all. I wasn’t that type of girl. My friends went in rounds, each person picking up the tab when their turn came. I wasn’t going to sacrifice my bar ethics just because I moved states and some boys were willing to throw money at me.
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