“You think?”
All in all, you were a good sport. You could have really made me suffer, but you laughed and handed me my glass of water again. “Maybe you should hold this a little longer.”
I dropped my head and shook it in response. “That’s not going to help me much right now.”
When we arrived at the bar, I felt a little on edge. Perhaps it was because you had changed into that black dress that formed a deep U-shape on your chest and hardly had a back to speak of, leaving my mind and body both feeling anxious. Perhaps it was just being out of our comfort zone. Either way, my eyes kept flicking to the crowd to find you every few minutes as you danced with Sarah and my cousin Christine.
Eventually, one of you was ready to go further out onto the dance floor and I watched as your eyes tracked the bar, scanning over the faces until you saw me. Each time you left me, even if it was just to go to the next room, you used to look at me and give me the same smile you gave me then. It wasn’t the smile I had worked so hard to gain from you, and received on a daily basis, but it was still one of my favorites. It held so much emotion. With that single smile I could see your disappointment in being away from me, the adoration you had for me, and the excitement to return. I stopped receiving that smile after I kicked you out of my house following our fight. God, each time I think of that night—that day—and what happened, I hate myself a little more. Please tell me you don’t think that moment, Ace. The moment that I stopped deserving that smile.
The place was pretty full, making it difficult for me to see much of you, but I’d watched you so many times, I knew without being able to clearly see you how your calves constricted with each step in your heels, and the way your hips slightly swayed.
I had the urge to follow you as I watched several heads turn. Whether you want to hear it or not, Ace, your mother was right. Everyone watches you.
You’ll remember this part. I don’t know at what point you actually saw what happened so I’ll start from the beginning. Hank had come over and slapped me on the back. “So how in the hell did you talk her into dating you?”
I gave him a half smile before draining the remainder of my beer and dropping it to the bar.
“Hey, are you interested in doing some body shots?”
I turned my head, keeping my body forward on the stool. Hank of course laughed and took a long pull from his beer before he shook his head and made his way over to a couple of Billy’s old friends.
A girl with long brown hair had sidled up to the bar beside me, close enough that I couldn’t see what she wore without appearing to checking her out, so I didn’t.
She placed a hand on my bicep and slowly curled her bright red nails around my arm.
“No thanks,” I said, glancing at her hand and then to the bar as another beer replaced the one I had just finished.
“No strings attached.” You probably think … shit, these days I don’t know what in the hell you’re thinking, but at that time, you probably thought I would have been flattered. I wasn’t. Hearing her proposition made me fall for you ten times over again.
“He already has strings attached.”
My lips pulled into a smile as I took a long drink from my beer. Hearing the blatant jealousy in your voice only made me fall harder.
“So what you’re saying is, he’s ready for an upgrade.”
My mouth opened to object to the response the dark haired girl made, but your hand gripped my bicep and I turned to see your chin raised, eyes wide, and lips pursed, but curving upwards. It was a conflicting mix of amusement and anger, and it was ridiculously sexy, slowing my thoughts down, and before I could reply, you did. I don’t remember exactly what you said, but it left me laughing.
“I’m sure your boyfriend will be there, begging me to do what you can’t.” The only reason I recall her words is because after that, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.
“I wouldn’t beg you to lick my shoe,” I stated.
She looked a bit wired, like a bar fight was what she was expecting versus the one night stand she’d proposed, and you looked a little blitzed, which sometimes made you a bit more daring—not as daring as Kendall, but nearly as mouthy.
Still seated, I wrapped my arm around your waist, pulling you closer to me. Your heart was beating so fast and hard, I could feel it against my chest. For the second time that night, I settled a situation with kissing you. Without hesitation, you responded, your body curving closer against mine. My hand settled on the bare skin of your lower back and reveled in the fact that you took it all away. Everything was gone for those few minutes, including the dark haired girl.
I don’t remember what pulled us apart, because neither one of us seemed ready as you leaned your forehead against mine. “Do you need some water, baby?” I asked, as you pulled away and I noticed your eyes were bright.
“That’s alright, I’m good, watch …” You held both of your arms out, and placed one foot in front of the other in a mock sobriety test.
“Yeah, I bet Caulder taught you how to cheat that!” I laughed, but I watched. As your body moved, I swear it spoke to mine. You turned around with a huge smile, and it knocked some of the air out of my chest. That easily you could take my breath away, can you understand what you’re doing to me now?
Then, my breath returned when a girl’s voice spoke over the nearby laugher and conversation. “Hey, do you want to dance?” I looked over to see a girl with dark-blonde hair standing beside me in a tight, sheer dress.
“Are. You. Serious?” Your loud tone surprised the girl and me. I loved it.
The girl quickly backed away, apologizing as she retreated.
You weren’t ready to admit it, hell, neither was I, but I think I knew you loved me then. I think I had an idea of it when you stayed with me when I was sick, but at that moment, I knew.
You approached the bar, signaling for the bartender. It only took him a second to notice you, which wasn’t surprising at all.
“I need something strong. A double of something strong.”
The bartender smiled and opened his arms, gesturing to the many bottles around him. “Do you want a chaser?”
He grinned as you shook your head. “A woman after my own heart.” He lifted a clean tumbler and set it on the bar with a distinct clang. “Rough night?” He was oblivious to me; you have that effect on people. “It must be girl troubles,” he concluded, ignoring a group of people trying to catch his attention at the end of the bar.
Your face was slightly guarded but revealed the slightest trace of humor as you accepted the glass from him. “What makes you say that?”
“Because a guy would have to be out of his fucking mind to dick around with you.”
You drained the glass in one drink which had my eyes widen with disbelief. “I think that stems more from my boyfriend. He can be … intimidating.” You slid the empty glass toward him and dropped a twenty dollar bill on the counter.
I’m pretty sure my eyes closed because I don’t think you even realized what you were doing to the poor bastard who muttered, “I bet.”
“If you see him, tell him I’ll be ready for some crazy soon.” You turned to face me and winked. I don’t think I’d ever seen you wink before that—it made my head shake and my lips slide into a smile before you headed out to the dance floor again.
“And that is why I fucking love my job. How many other guys can say they get to talk to girls that look like that?”
“A lucky few of us,” I replied, turning to see that he was also watching you descend into the crowd, raising my need to stake a claim. “Granted, I’m the one that takes her home.”