“Well, they at least have each other’s company up their own asses then.” It doesn’t make sense, but it does shock a smile out of me. “Not everyone values the same things, and unfortunately, that means that sometimes, the most beautiful ones get passed over. It’s only ever a loss if you let it stop you.” She gazes fondly at the drawing before reaching to hand it back to me.
“Would you like to keep it?” I find myself offering before it’s even a fully formed thought.
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Miriam replies, filled with excitement. Before I can offer, she carefully tears the page out of my notebook, slipping it into her massive purse and patting it affectionately. “Thank you so much, you’ve made a crazy old woman very happy.” She gives me another smile, but doesn’t move to leave. I hear Stella call out her order at the counter. “Would you be a dear and get that for me?” she asks, not sparing me a glance as she pulls out her book.
I can tell when I’ve been dismissed, plus, I find the old bat amusing. Wordlessly, I get up to grab her things. It only dawns on me now that I haven’t given her my name, not that it matters.
Somehow, I got up today to do nothing, and ended up with two unexpected friends.
Not bad for a layabout.
Chapter 6
James
Playing the same venue three nights a week is surprisingly nice. As much as the new, adventurous places we would visit and play were fun, I enjoy the familiarity and consistency ofBooze & Brews.Beck has made it an easy place to get used to, and it’s somehow never quite boring. The bartenders remember our usuals, and I get to sleep in the same bed every night instead of some cheap, lumpy motel mattress. We get to settle into routine and relax for once.
Except for tonight.
Tonight, there’s a cute blonde working the bar for the first time, and all I can think about is how she tastes like strawberries, and taunts me, and how no matter how much I crave her after one small taste, I can’t have her. Both of us know that.
But then why does she keep glancing over here? Is she watching me? Fuck, do I have pit stains already?It comes with the territory of being a drummer, but I’m suddenly self-conscious and have the urge to sniff myself.
Get a hold of yourself, man. It’s just a chick, and not what you’re looking for anyway. It’s not like you could bring her home to the parents…
My parents. The thought alone is enough to bring down my whole mood. They have extremely specific… expectations… of what my future family structure is going to look like, and a woman ten years my junior is for sure not a part of those plans. Even if I want nothing to do with those plans, I’m not sure how to stray from them, given the circumstances.
It makes approaching the bar after our set that much harder. Stella wanders over to my side of the bar, taking a few drink orders before she looks up and sees me. She’s wearing the tightest jeans that hug her ass in a way that makes me jealous of denim for the first time in my life. Her long blonde hair is swept up into a ponytail and she’s wearing a pale blue t-shirt with a deep v in the front showing off a generous amount of cleavage.
I have never been so happy thatBooze & Brewsdoesn’t have a uniform.
I get caught in the gaze of her bright blue eyes, rimmed black with her lashes coated, and something shimmery swiped across her high cheekbones. She looks ethereal, like a siren, ready to lead me to my doom. Her face falls before she quickly recovers and plasters on the fakest smile I’ve ever seen on anyone.
“Well, hey there! What can I get for you, a 1919?” she asks cheerfully, naming a pale ale they have on tap and I’m surprised she remembers my drink order from the other night. Startled, I reply with a grunt and a grimace before she flits away to grab mine and a few others’ drinks.
While I’m waiting, a curtain of platinum blonde next to me catches my eye. I can already tell that I shouldn’t be looking as I turn to see who’s sidled up to me. Her dark, lined lashes flutter as she gives me a once over.
“Your set was awesome.” Her husky voice isn’t unpleasant, but it grates me the wrong way for some reason. “You look like you could hit it all night.” She licks her deep red lips as her flirtatious tone registers.
“Thanks,” I say gruffly, not sure I want to entertain any sort of company tonight. At least not in that shade of blonde.
“I mean, look at you,” she continues, caressing my arm where it rests on the bar top, “you definitely have some stamina, huh?” I would be a little shocked if I wasn’t used to such brazen come ons.
Not to sound full of myself, but I’m aware that I’m a good-looking guy. I take care of myself and it shows. You get used to girls just walking up to you after years of being on the road. People assume you’re always down for a one-night stand. To her credit, a few years ago she would have been right.
“I’m not looking to show off tonight, babe,” I say, trying to sound neutral and not tell her to fuck off and let me drink in peace.
“Ooh, I like babe, but the name’s Lacy, if you’re curious.”
“He’s not,” a voice interrupts before I can say anything. Stella smacks my beer down on the counter causing the foam to rise. She’s giving us both a smile that’s all teeth. “Anything I can get you?” That little spark of jealousy smothered, she puts on her best customer service face for Lacy, who I’m only noticing now doesn’t have a drink.
“No thanks, honey, I’m all set with this tall drink of water here,” she winks at Stella like they’re in on a joke together. Stella is not even partly in on the joke.
“Well,honey,if you’re not drinking, do you mind not crowding my bar?” Lacy sputters at the insult, but Stella doesn’t let her get a word in. “Thanks, babe.” She keeps her biting smile in place and spins on her heel, off to serve some paying patrons.
Lacy looks to me as though she thinks I’ll defend her, but I only smile into my glass. Realizing she’s getting nowhere with me, she spins on her little heels over to the other band members to try her luck there. I catch the smug grin on Stella’s face before she can hide it.
I can’t lie, I’m a little proud. And a little turned on. I like Jealous Stella.
