A Hope and a Chance

by Jennifer Foor

  I watched Rylee looking the guy over. She stared right into his eyes while downing the first shot. “He’s kind of cute, don’t you think?”

  “I guess. How old do you think he is?”

  She grabbed the second shot and licked her lips before she swallowed it. “He can’t be older than twenty five. Are you going to drink those?” She pointed to the last two shots.

  I rolled my eyes and snatched one. When that awful taste hit my mouth I wanted to gag. Knowing we were in a bar full of adults, I managed to regain composure quickly. Rylee had a big smile on her face. “Now do the other one, and follow me.”

  I hated the first one, but the second wasn’t as horrible. Possibly the shock of the taste was over with. As I gulped the last shot, I watched as she made her way over to the guy that had paid for our drinks. The dude seemed normal enough. He was wearing a black t-shirt and a pair of khakis. He smiled as we approached and pulled out a chair for her to sit. I looked around and spotted the ladies room, finally hoping for a quiet moment to reassess what the hell I was doing here in the first place.

  I signaled to Rylee where I was going, and she smiled at me before giving the new guy all of her attention. I pushed past a group of people mingling and made my way to the bathroom. When I got inside, the liquor was already burning in my chest. I leaned over the sink and looked at myself in the mirror.

  It’d felt like Rylee put all kinds of makeup on me, but I really wasn’t wearing much. She’d made my eyes look more enhanced and my hair had settled down from the heat, making it appear relaxed. It was the dress that I couldn’t stand. It was so tight against my skin, and I never thought of myself as fat, but my curves were very apparent. I was used to wearing free flowing summer dresses that did nothing for a physique.

  By the time I made it out of the bathroom, the dance floor had filled up. I looked in the center and noticed Rylee grinding all over her new friend. While rolling my eyes I made my way through the people dancing. Since she was my ride home, I had to at least appease her. The guy handed me a beer, and I noticed they each had one for themselves. I hated the taste, but after the two shots, I managed to down half the bottle before the first song finished. All I wanted to do was forget how uncomfortable I was in this environment, and high heels.

  It had, at least, become so crowded that my dress issue wasn’t as worrisome. We were surrounded by a large cluster of people, and there wasn’t exactly room for anyone to stare.

  Rylee and I had been dancing around together for years. We would do it in our pajamas until we literally passed out from exhaustion. As we got older, our practice paid off. We were always admired at the school dances and our boyfriends loved it. This new guy could be added to Rylee’s list of admirers. He was clearly into her, as she grinded her ass against his groin.

  I started to relax and just let the music take over my senses. I could handle this. It wasn’t as terrible as I had feared it would be. If I could just go with the flow for a couple of hours, I may just have a decent enough time to get through it.

  I followed Mark and Buffy to the bar on my motorcycle. The drive sucked because Mark drove his SUV slow as hell. If I had known where I was going, I would have passed them once we got out of the development.

  I was surprised how packed the little establishment was. Maybe everyone in the entire town had come on this particular evening. I pulled out my driver’s license even before it was my turn. I’d just turned twenty-one a few months back, and it made me proud that I didn’t need a fake I.D. to get in anywhere. The bouncer at the door looked at it twice until he noticed my sister. She gave one of her million-dollar smiles and he forgot about little me. Once inside, we found a table in the back and started looking at menus. We probably should have arrived sooner if we wanted to eat without loud music.

  After ordering something small, we watched everyone dancing. I was surprised how much my sister’s dress choice fit in. It seemed all of the women were looking pretty hot. I’d stopped being so protective of her a long time ago, but still didn’t like the fact that she wore such provocative attire.

  One night a guy followed her out of the club. Before she could even scream, he’d managed to corner her in an alley. She said it only took her a few seconds to realize what was about to happen. He lifted her dress and started forcing himself on her. By the time she’d had the chance to scream, the dude was on the ground. She’d kicked him so hard in the balls that he fell to the pavement. Once he was down she used her stilettos as a weapon and beat him to a pulp.

  When she’d threatened to call the police, he begged her not to press charges, claiming he was married and it would ruin his life. She told him if she ever saw him again she’d rip out his balls and nail them to his front door.

  She never saw him again.

  After that, I stopped worrying.

  She’d always been able to handle herself. Guys had been coming on to her since kindergarten. For as long as I could remember my sister always had a boyfriend. In high school Buffy dated older guys, and it was clear that she still carried that preference. I couldn’t complain, she was in a happy place, and Mark adored her.

  When we’d finished eating my sister yanked us both out to the dance floor. She and Mark immediately began grinding, while I was left to shake around alone. After a few minutes Mark held up his hand and we were brought another round of beers by a roaming barmaid. She smiled as she handed me my bottle.

  I took my first sip and stopped dancing. In the center of the floor was something that caught my eye; something familiar. Two girls were bumping and dry humping all over this one dude, and they were wearing my sister’s dresses that Mark and I had secretly thrown away when she wasn’t home. They were the ones she wore when she’d been working as a dancer, and Mark wanted them gone. I’d gathered them up and taken them to a second hand store in town, figuring my sister would never know the difference.

  Thankfully, Mark and Buffy were so caught up in each other neither of them noticed. As I finished my beer I found myself watching the two girls occasionally. They both filled them out, one of them even better than my sister had. They clearly had rhythm, and it reminded me of a couple wild parties I’d attended back at school.

  When the song ended, and a slow one came on the couples started grouping together. I stood there alone while Mark and Buffy, as well as everyone else on the dance floor seized their partners and began to slow dance.

  That’s when I realized the girl with the awesome body making her way toward the bar. I followed the back of her with my eyes, not realizing I was unconsciously heading in her direction.

  I leaned in behind her. “Hey beautiful, can I get you something to drink?” There was no harm in asking. She didn’t know who I was, so it was all in fun.

  What did I have to lose?

  She never turned around. “Sure. I guess I’ll have a Bud Light.”

  I slipped a ten over to the bartender. “Two Bud Lights please.”

  When the server handed us the beers, she finally turned around to hand me mine. We both froze.

  “What are you doing here?” We asked at the same time.

  I took a big swig before responding. She wouldn’t stop looking at me, making me wonder what in the hell she was expecting me to say. I couldn’t believe she was standing in front of me. I’d dreamed about Hope since I’d met her, and now I didn’t know how to act.

  “I came here with a friend. Please don’t tell my father?” That could only mean one thing.

  She was under age.

  I gave her a quick smile and got closer as I spoke. “I don’t have to tell him anything if he sees you for himself.”

  The color left from her face. “Oh, God!” She pointed to the floor. “He’s here?”

  “Yeah, he and Buff are out there dancing. I’m sure he didn’t see you. What’s the big deal anyway?” I needed her to admit that she was a minor.

  I watched her down the entire beer. She took the bottle and sat it back on the bar. It was completely empty. “I need
to get out of here.”

  “Why, what’s wrong?” I asked.

  She ignored me. “Do you see my friend anywhere? She’s wearing a platinum dress.”

  “I know that dress well.” I whispered in her ear.

  “I bet you do,” she said in a flip way. I had to laugh. She thought I had been checking out her friend.

  “I recognize the dress because it used to be my sister’s, not because of who is wearing it.”

  Her beautiful light blue eyes stared into mine. “Chance, you have to help me find my friend. I can’t be here. He can’t see me.”

  I grasped her by the arm gently. “Stay here. I’ll be right back. Don’t leave.”

  I headed toward the dance floor and found her accomplice. I had no idea what the girl’s name was. “Hey, um, your friend said she needs to go home.”

  She never stopped dancing or leaning on the guy she was with. “I’m not ready to leave. Tell her she has to wait.”

  “She needs to leave now.”

  “Look, I don’t know who you are, but I’m in the middle of having a great time. Tell her to go out to the car if she wants to pout and act like a baby.”

  Hearing her talk like that when her friend needed her really pissed me off. As I strode away from her I yelled, “Bitch!”

  I found Mark and Buffy in a slow embrace. I kissed my sister on the cheek. “Thanks for dinner, but I think I’m going to call it an early night.”

  She pulled away from Mark. “No! Why? Did something happen? We weren’t ignoring you. What’s wrong?”

  “It’s nothing, really I’m fine. I’ll see you in the morning. Thanks again.” I tottered off the dance floor, and headed over where Hope was hiding. Just to be safe, I looked back to make sure they weren’t watching me before I captured her by the hand and led her out of the bar.

  Once we made it outside we stood in front of my bike and I handed her my only helmet. “Put this on.”

  “I can’t get on that thing. I hate motorcycles,” she adamantly announced.

  I climbed on my bike and put the key into the ignition. “You can get on, or go ask your father for a ride. You choose.”

  I watched as she pulled her skirt up in order to climb behind me on my bike. After getting a glimpse of her panties as she lifted her leg over the seat, I obtained her hands and wrapped them around my waist. “Hold on tight.”

  7

  I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. I was going to kill Rylee in the morning. Well, that was if I made it off of this bike alive.

  Chance managed to drive us a few miles away before pulling over at a gas station. He lifted the tinted shield away from my helmet. “Do you want anything inside?”

  I shook my head, realizing how stupid I must look with the large thing on my head. He gave me a quick smile before heading into the store. I nervously sat on the bike. My body was shaking even though I knew I was tipsy. The alcohol was supposed to calm my nerves, but they must have been on overdrive, because I couldn’t relax to save my life. I’d just had my arms around Chance, the hottest guy I’d ever laid eyes on.

  When Chance came back he had a brown bag in his hand. “Scoot off for a second, so I can put this under my seat. I was shocked that the whole bag fit in the small compartment on his motorcycle, but he obviously knew it would, since this was his method of transportation.

  “So, where do you live?” He asked.

  “Um, I can’t go home.”

  “What do you mean? Why can’t you?”

  “I told my mother I was staying at Rylee’s house. She’s super strict, and if she found out I wasn’t where I was supposed to be I’ll be punished all summer.”

  “Where the hell am I supposed to take you?” He questioned.

  This was horrible. I didn’t want to tell this sexy man that I’d just graduated high school. I knew it was a long shot for someone like him to want me, but I’d like to think that with the way I was dressed he’d at least find me attractive. Telling him my age would put that idea to a halt. He’d drop me off at my front door and haul ass out of my neighborhood if he knew what was good for him.

  I had to act like I was in control, because I couldn’t go home.

  There was also this lingering feeling like I didn’t even want to.

  “Well, can we just go back to your place?” I was fully aware how that sounded, and what it could have implied. “Wait. Before you say it’s a terrible idea, let me explain. I promise I just need a place to crash. In the morning I’ll have someone pick me up, and you won’t have to even see me. Please, Chance. I know that we don’t know each other very well, but you know my father, and he would want me to be safe.” I hated throwing the dad card in there, but I was panicking. There was no way I could talk my way out of this to my mother, or my father.

  Not in these clothes…

  Since my other dress was locked in Rylee’s car, I was shit out of luck.

  “I don’t think your father would approve of you staying the night with me, Hope.”

  “Would you rather I hitchhiked my way somewhere else?” I started handing him the helmet, almost threatening that I was actually going to attempt to walk down the street wearing such an outfit.

  This had to work. Please work. I just can’t go home.

  “I’m telling you, it ain’t happening.” Why was he being so mean to me? It made no sense at all, especially after he’d come to my rescue before.

  “Please. You won’t even know I’m there. I promise.”

  I watched as he seemed to be thinking about it. While he contemplated with his decision, I sat there silently taking in how sexy he looked in what he was wearing. Unlike my ex Trevor, I found myself attracted to him in a way I’d never been with anyone else. Most of it was probably from the way he’d repeatedly come to my rescue, but there was something else about him; something that intrigued me. I wanted to know why I felt drawn to him, and why I couldn’t stop picturing my dream where he’d kissed me.

  “Fine, but you need to be gone before your father wakes up. I can’t afford to be kicked out, because I was trying to be a good person. He won’t see it that way. I have too much history for him to be okay with me helping you.”

  We both climbed on the motorcycle, and once I wrapped my arms back around Chance’s waist, we took off. I couldn’t understand what he meant, but I knew shortly I could relax and be safe for the night.

  The fifteen minute ride to my father’s community seemed to fly by. The night air felt good, even though I had a problem admitting to myself that I actually enjoyed being on the back of a bike. Maybe it was that I felt safe with Chance, even though I knew nothing about him.

  When we finally pulled up to the house he helped me climb off, and removed my helmet. He reached in the hidden compartment and got the brown bag, then led me to the pool house. When the door opened he headed in first, and started cleaning a large pile of laundry off of the couch. “Sit here.”

  He went in the kitchen and began turning on a bunch of lights. “Want a beer?”

  I smiled and folded my hands in my lap. “Sure.”

  I heard the caps hitting the countertop before I saw him approaching. He handed me the drink and sat down on the chair across from where I sat.

  “Thanks for saving me tonight. Sorry if I ruined your evening. I didn’t mean to be a cock-block or anything.”

  He smiled before taking a long swig of beer. I watched as his lips made contact with the bottle. When he pulled it away he licked them. I started licking mine, like it was some kind of chain reaction. I wanted to taste the beer on my lips and imagine that it came from his.

  “Did you hear me?” He asked.

  Of course not. I’d been too busy pretending we were making out.

  “No, sorry. What did you say?”

  “So, I can only assume that you aren’t twenty-one yet. It’s cool. I snuck into a lot of bars when I was at college. I’m not judging you. It just blows that your dad was in the same bar tonight.”

  “Yeah, I’m
not legal yet. It sucks. Tonight was my friend’s idea. She even forced me to wear this dress. Look at me.” I stood and looked down at the little number I had on. “I feel so stupid.”

  He took another long gulp of beer and held the bottle on his lips. His eyes were burning a hole in my dress. “You don’t look stupid. It’s quite the opposite actually.” The intent in his eyes gave me chills. Right away I could feel my palms becoming clammy.

  I started to blush and sat back down quickly. “Thanks. So, um, why don’t you have a girlfriend, or do you?”

  “I did. Things didn’t work out,” he said as he snatched the remote. I could tell he didn’t want to talk about it, which only made me more curious.

  I looked at the large pile of clothes. “Can I borrow something to change in to? This dress is really uncomfortable.”

  The sudden smirk on his face made it obvious that he certainly liked what he was staring at. Chance gave me another once over before looking through the pile. He handed me a t-shirt and a pair of boxers. They smelled good, and I wondered if he did his own laundry. “Thanks.”

  “The bathroom’s right down the hall if you want to change in there.” Was this guy expecting me to strip in front of him? Of course I wanted privacy.

  While I headed in that direction I looked behind me and caught him checking me out again. I have no idea why I did it, but I couldn’t control what came out of my mouth next. “Do you like what you see?”

  I just wanted tonight to be a new start. I didn’t intend on making friends, or bringing someone home with me. This was my boss’s daughter, and although it was wrong in so many ways, I couldn’t help but stare at her perfect ass as she staggered in the direction of my bathroom.

  I was shocked when she’d caught me, but instead of getting mad, she smiled and asked, “Do you like what you see?”

  This was so bad.

  “Maybe.” This battle with myself wasn’t going as planned.