We make our way to the bar where we order another beer and another sea breeze.
“What’s in a sea breeze?” I ask.
She faces me, elbow on the bar. “Vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice.”
Ayla would like that. She likes fruity cocktails.
Jesus. Don’t think about your ex-wife when a beautiful woman is buying you a drink.
“Sounds good.”
I manage to keep a somewhat coherent conversation going for a while until Emma’s friends come to tell her they’re leaving.
Looking disappointed, she says to me, “I have to go, too.”
“Okay.”
“I’d love to see you again.”
I blink. “Uh. Yeah. Sure.”
She smiles at me, waiting.
“Oh! Should I give you my number? Or you give me yours?”
“Give me yours,” she says confidently. She pulls out her phone and enters the number I give her.
Should I be doing this? Giving out my number? I am such a pig’s breakfast. I have no game whatsoever.
She kisses my cheek, which is very sweet. “Bye, Carson. It was nice meeting you.”
I watch her leave with her friends, admiring her shape in the sparkly blue top and short black skirt. Then I give my head a shake and make my way back to the table where the guys are.
They’ve been joined by three women since I left.
“I’m outta here,” I tell Mack, moving up beside him.
He smirks knowingly. “Going home with that blonde?”
I frown. “No.” I pause. “But she has my number.”
“Hell yeah!” He lifts his arm and I unenthusiastically smack his hand. “Alfie’s back in the game, gentlemen!”
I wince.
“Are you gonna see her again?” Crusher asks.
I shrug. “I don’t know. She’ll probably never call. And I don’t know…”
Trev claps a hand on my shoulder. “She’ll call. And you’ll say yes. It’s time. Back in the saddle and all that shit.”
“Yee haw,” Mack says.
I frown.
Crusher nods. “Do it! You got this.”
I’m not so sure of that.
