by Karigan Hale
He shook his head at his own stupidity. Again. The last time he dated a girl like Tiffany—all boobs, no brain and hell bent on a husband—he'd gotten himself into a similar predicament. He'd promised himself he wouldn't be that stupid again. He'd be perfectly upfront about his intentions or lack of intentions when it came to marriage. Instead, he'd been lulled into passivity with Tiffany's buxom breasts and fuck-me eyes. So stupid.
This two-week hiatus was a good idea for Tiffany as well as him. He needed to cleanse his palate of women and focus on himself. He was almost 30 and still pretty much adrift. Sure, he had a career, one he liked well enough, but he was stagnant. He liked dating around, but the types of girls he attracted weren't the ones he really wanted to be with. Of course, he was the envy of his office since he not only dated the most chicks but also the hottest ones. Unfortunately, he never really had a connection with them outside of traipsing them around company events. The very definition of arm candy. Lately he wondered if he wanted more.
Then he'd get out of his own ass and remember how good he had it being single. Nobody nagging him to clean his bathroom or make dinner or call if he was going to be late. He could listen to Metallica at full blast in his tighty-whiteys at two in the afternoon if he wanted to. He'd never actually wanted to do that specifically, but that wasn't the point.
Zander's phone buzzed beside him. He cringed as he waited for the hands-free system to inevitably tell him it was Tiffany. Even though he explicitly told her not to contact him.
Instead the robotic female voice said, "Text from Nick the dick. Where you be at bro."
Zander chuckled at the nickname for his oldest friend. He really should change it. Maybe when he actually turned thirty, he'd feel more compelled to be mature. He enabled the Bluetooth and said, "Call Nick the dick cell," which made him chuckle again despite himself.
The phone rang twice then Nick picked up. Miracles upon miracles. He rarely actually answered his phone. Of course, Nick wanted something from Zander which increased his accessibility a hundred-fold.
"Hey man," Nick said by way of greeting. "I thought you were coming to help me?"
"I was there, dude, but you weren't. I ran into Lizzie as she was leaving. She said you were supposed to be there two hours ago," Zander said.
"I probably definitely did that on purpose," Nick laughed. "I didn't want to hear her nagging me the whole time. Listen, I'm here now. Can you come back?"
"I'm heading to McConnell's really quickly to check in with Xavier. Depending on how long it takes, I could be back in about an hour," Zander offered. He didn't really want to make the 20-30-minute drive back to Potomac after having just been there. And after flying from Atlanta to Maryland this morning. He wanted a shower, a snack, and a nap. One look at Lizzie's ass on her bike made him think about something else he wanted, too. Something perpetually off limits.
But he did promise Nick he'd help. Plus, he loved looking through rich people shit. They had the craziest things. He'd worked really hard to be able to afford his own crazy things.
"An hour? I might be done by then. Text me before you leave. I'll let you know," Nick said.
"No problem. Sorry. Lizzie made it seem like you were a no-show. I can help tomorrow," he offered.
"Yeah, that could work. Forget about coming back here tonight. I'll text you a time tomorrow. I need to check if Lizzie is planning on coming back," Nick said.
"I'll ask her when we get to the bar and let you know."
"Thanks, bro. See you tomorrow." Nick hung up.
Before he could stop them, Zander's thoughts turned to being alone with an adult Lizzie in the big, empty house tomorrow before Nick arrived. He could absolutely show up early "accidentally" and show Lizzie what he'd been fantasizing about since high school.
Then he immediately scolded himself. Idiot. She was Nick's little sister. He'd known her forever. Plus, she'd never been the type of girl to just roll into bed with anyone. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if she was still a virgin. As he followed Lizzie towards McConnell's, he wondered how he could confirm or deny that thought.
CHAPTER THREE
The antique bell chiming above the door of the bar announced Lizzie's arrival. Xavier smiled and moved toward the end of the bar as she approached.
"Sorry I'm late," Lizzie said breezing by him with an apologetic smile. "I'll just store my gear and be right out to help."
"Take your time. I have it under control," he said gesturing to the few customers taking up bar space.
Lizzie pushed through the swinging door separating the kitchen and offices from the main bar room. She threw her stuff down, checked the clock—only half an hour late—and headed back towards the bar. She tied an apron around her waist as she approached Xavier.
"Sorry, I got caught up in nostalgia," Lizzie apologized again.
"No problem. You really aren't that late," he said smiling.
"Is Jerry back yet?" she asked reaching for a glass. She filled it with soda from the fountain and gulped it down.
"Not yet. He called a few minutes ago to say he was on his way. Gabby and Brendan are finishing up the job without him," Xavier said.
She filled the empty glass again and set it aside to sip on throughout the night.
"I'll go start up the grill. Won't be long before the bar fills up. What time's the game start?" she asked gesturing to the big screen television above the bar.
"First pitch at 7:05," Xavier said referencing the Nationals vs. Cubs baseball game.
"We've got a little time before it gets really busy then," she commented. She walked towards him to give him a hug in greeting. "Thanks again. I owe you one," she said as she pulled him against her and wrapped her arms around his neck. He encircled her waist and picked her up slightly off the ground in a bear hug.
When he released her, she kept her hands on his shoulders for a second and then leaned in and, as the door chimed again, dropped a kiss on his cheek.
He stared at her for a minute longer than normal, then cleared his throat and said, "Lizzie, there's something I've wanted to ask you." She raised an eyebrow. "I think we should—"
"Hey brother!" a voice beside them interrupted. Xavier glanced over to see an almost mirror image of himself staring back at him.
"Zander!" Xavier exclaimed less than enthusiastically. "Perfect timing." Lizzie thought she heard him mumble "to ruin everything" under his breath but couldn't be sure.
Lizzie took in Xavier's scowling face and then Zander's smiling one. She could have sworn she felt Xavier pull her a little closer when he recognized his brother. Zander's smile dropped slightly as his eyes adjusted to the indoor light and saw Lizzie still entwined in Xavier's arms from their hello hug. She stepped back, and Xavier turned his attention to her. His scowl softened.
"Look who I found," Lizzie said gesturing to Zander.
Zander said. "I'm a few days early."
"So I see," Xavier said under his breath. But he took Zander's hand in a greeting handshake. "I guess you need a place to crash?"
"If you don't mind," Zander said. "Just for a few days. I'm helping Nick clean out his parent's house."
Xavier glanced at Lizzie who was talking to a group wearing Nats jerseys at their table. She gave the brothers a little wave and pushed through the swinging door to the kitchen.
"Looks like our Little Lizard is all grown up," Zander commented.
"People tend to do that," Xavier said. "Might I suggest strongly you do not make her your next flavor of the week."
Zander raised his eyebrows, "I just got here. What do you take me for?"
"Honestly? A man whore."
Zander laughed good-naturedly. Only his brother could get away with saying something like that. "It's not like that, bro. I usually keep them longer than a week."
"Sure," Xavier said, not returning the laugh. "Do you want my apartment keys so you can get settled?"
"In a little while. Can I get a drink first?"
"Sure," Xavier said. "What'll it
be?"
"Surprise me. What can you make that's good? Something with bourbon preferably." Zander sat on the nearest barstool and spun around to lean his elbows on the bar. "I thought Lizzie said this place was busy on Saturday nights?"
"It will be. We just opened a little while ago," Xavier said while mixing his brother's drink. As if on cue, the door swung open as another group of patrons came through.
"I don't know why Lizzie works here anyway. She could just not work and live off her trust fund," Zander commented tracking the new group as they found a table.
"She's part owner now, you know," Xavier said setting Zander's drink in front of him.
"Really?" Xavier nodded an affirmation. "No, shit. Well, good for her." Zander took a sip of the drink. "Zay, this is really good."
Xavier chuckled. "Don't sound so surprised. I've been working here for like a year. Plus, I bartended in college, remember?"
"Yeah, but still. Nice job." Zander lifted his glass in salute and took another healthy swig.
Lizzie appeared from the back hallway. "Jer is here. He's working on the first order. Should be picking up soon."
"New table on six," Xavier said pointing it out.
"On it," Lizzie said. She grabbed a few menus and some coasters and headed to their table with a smile. Both brothers watched her interact with the patrons who smiled and laughed along with whatever she was saying.
"I'd buy whatever she was selling," Zander said.
Xavier rolled his eyes again. "Grow-up," he told his brother even though he was kind of thinking the same thing.
Zander called him out on it. "She's the best-looking woman in here, and you're trying to tell me you haven't noticed?"
"Oh, I've noticed. I've been noticing for an entire year."
"Wait. Are you guys together?" Zander asked spinning his stool back around to face Xavier.
"No. Nothing like that," Xavier waved him off. "Just, you know, Lizzie's hard not to notice."
"I'll drink to that," Zander said lifting his glass again.
Lizzie came back to the bar and placed the drink order for the table. She stood beside Zander while she waited for Xavier to fill it.
"I didn't think you'd still be here," she said.
"I don't have anywhere to be. I thought I'd check out the place my brother raves about. He told me the owner is pretty cute, too," Zander winked.
Lizzie laughed. "Yeah, Brendan McConnell is quite a catch what with his auburn curls and hazel eyes. But hands off, Zee, he's engaged."
Zander smiled, too. "Seriously, though. Congrats on being a business owner."
"Thank you," she said. "I'm pretty proud of myself. At least my money is going into something I believe in."
The door chimed again, and she excused herself to greet the new customers. A pretty steady stream of patrons came and went for the next half hour or so. Xavier was right, the place did pick up. And seemed to draw a pretty mixed crowd. Lots of baseball fans, sure, but it spanned the generations, genders, and ethnicities. And Lizzie flitted between the tables effortlessly. She greeted the regulars with a hug or a pat on the back. She managed the trays of food and drink like they weighed nothing. He enjoyed watching her muscles flex as she maneuvered around the dining area. Zander ordered another drink and decided to stay awhile longer.
He took in the space with new eyes now that he'd learned Lizzie was part owner. His first impression was typical sports bar since memorabilia covered almost every wall. And now that he examined the room closer, the sports were intermixed with Irish touches as well. McConnell’s. Made sense.
The bar itself was dark, heavy wood and ran the length of one wall. Behind it was a wall of mirrors fronted by shelves filled with colorful alcohol bottles. Big screen televisions hung in intervals above the bar and in each corner of the dining room space. The dining room itself wasn't huge but boasted several high-tops in the center and lower tables around the perimeter. A small courtyard off the back held a smaller bar area and some more tables. Strands of Christmas lights helped create a little ambiance.
A man carrying a guitar case strolled in, waved at Xavier, and headed straight for the courtyard. Another guy followed carrying a duffel bag. "Hey, Zay," he called.
"Mitch. Setting up out back?" Xavier asked.
"That okay?"
"Fine by me. Feel free to start whenever. Nats are on tonight, so I don't know how much of a crowd you're going to have later," Xavier said.
"Thanks, man. Will do," Mitch replied.
"Who are they?" Zander asked.
"Local acoustic duo. They play music on Saturdays sometimes. Tonight is one of their nights," Xavier explained.
"That's awesome. Do you ever play here?"
"What? Me?" Xavier asked stopping mid-shake on the drink he was making.
"Yes, you. You're a great guitarist," Zander said.
"Yeah, for fun. Not in public." Xavier hadn't even given public performance a thought. He loved playing guitar—as a creative outlet to help counteract the data driven IT field he'd chosen—but had no desire to play for others.
"You'd be great. You were such a hit at those bonfires we used to have," Zander said. "God, I miss those days."
Xavier jumped on the chance to change the subject. "Remember the one time we went to the reservoir, and Nick had the bright idea to go skinny dipping."
Zander laughed. "I think his pale white ass literally glowed in the moonlight. I got to see it for much longer than necessary since the girls stole his clothes."
"Was Lizzie there that night?" Xavier asked trying to remember.
She was definitely there. Zander could picture her perfectly silhouetted by the firelight as she talked with Nick's friends and roasted a marshmallow. While the other girls were complaining about getting their shoes dirty or giggling and batting their eyelashes at the boys, Lizzie sat right down on a fallen log and started an actual intelligent conversation with those around her. She wasn't trying to pick-up any of the guys, which ended up making her the most desirable one there in Zander's opinion. And several of the other boys if he remembered their expressions correctly.
"I can't remember," Zander lied. "Sometimes she came with us. Sometimes not. Kind of depended on Nick's tolerance level."
"I think she was there that night," Xavier said. Zander shrugged.
"Hey, Lizzie," Xavier called. She came over with another drink order. "Were you at the reservoir when Nick tried to skinny dip, and the other girls stole his clothes?"
"Yup. That was the night Bella 'accidentally' fell in the water," Lizzie said using air quotes around "accidentally."
Both boys narrowed their eyes at her. Xavier said, "What do you mean 'accidentally'?"
"Well, she may have tripped over something in the dark. And that something might have been my foot," Lizzie shrugged.
"Little Lizard!" Zander exclaimed laughing. "You didn't."
"She needed to cool off. And get a little dirty for once," Lizzie said. "She was always so nice to me in front of Nick because she wanted to get in his pants. But when he wasn't around, she turned nasty."
"If it makes you feel any better, I heard she got fired because of a sex scandal at her job," Xavier added putting the drinks for Lizzie's table on her tray.
"I wish her nothing but the best. As long as the best keeps her away from me," Lizzie smiled and, balancing the tray on her shoulder and hand, left the boys to stare after her.
"Well, I think I'll settle up here and head to your place to freshen up, if that's okay?" Zander said when Lizzie's form disappeared in the crowd.
"On the house, bro, to celebrate your first time here. Next time you pay, though," Xavier said fishing in his pocket for his keys. He took the apartment key off the ring and tossed it to Zander who caught it with one hand. "I won't be back until late, so leave the door unbolted. I can pick the lock easy enough."
"Well, I feel super safe, now" Zander teased. "I may not be up when you get home. I'm helping Nick at his parent's house tomorrow since I missed him
today. Feel free to come help if you want."
"I'll think about it," Xavier said.
Zander slid off the stool. "Thanks for the drinks."
Xavier nodded his head and went to help another customer who was waving him down.
Zander took one last long look at Lizzie. She turned her head and caught him staring. He held her gaze. And held it.
And held it. Putting as much smolder into his look as possible.
Finally, she visibly sighed and pushed her way through the crowd toward him.
"Heading to Xavier's?" she asked when she was in earshot.
"Yup. Been a long day. I need a shower and a change of clothes."
"It's still early. Are you planning on coming back?" Lizzie asked. "We have the ballgame on and live music."
"Are you saying you want to see me again?" Zander teased.
"I'm being polite," Lizzie said.
"What time do you get off tonight?" Zander asked. "I'll be refreshed and energized after a quick nap."
She furrowed her brow. "Late. I have to close. It takes a while."
Uh-oh. Short, crisp sentences. "Just curious," he said holding up his hands. "I'm supposed to meet Nick at your parents' house tomorrow at noon. He wanted to know what time you were coming back."
She relaxed her forehead. "I planned on around noon as well. I guess I'll see you bozos there."
"Or we could meet earlier. Catch up on old times." He winked at her. "Or create some new ones." What was he doing? His brain had apparently completely disconnected from his mouth.
She tilted her head. "I'll see you at noon."
"Noon. Right," he said mentally kicking himself for slipping into his usual pattern with beautiful women. This wasn't some random woman in a bar with whom he wanted to hook up; this was Lizzie. Who happened to be in a bar. And with whom he wouldn't mind hooking up, to be honest. Lizzie who...
