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“Have we decided what we’re doing?” I asked as I watched their work come together in the mirror.
“There’s a new bar club with a cover band in Poughkeepsie near the river walk, supposedly pretty good.”
“Oh my god, I can’t wait to dance with hot guys and hook up.” Dijah squealed. Kelsey and I looked at each other in the mirror knowing she’d be tipsy on one drink and we’d have her home before one. Despite being excited, Dijah was extremely picky about who she dated which made our job of watching out for her easier. Kelsey was in a long term on and off again relationship with one of her hospital’s administrators while I hadn’t dated anyone since Devereaux.
I hoped the cover band didn’t suck. I would have been fine going to bed at ten o’clock because the school year started on Monday, but I didn’t mind dancing and drinks. Once the year started, I’d be too busy with students to make time for nights like this.
“First round is on me.” Kelsey stepped back admiring her handy work.
“Here’s to a new year!” I cheered completely forgetting the noise ordinance with my neighbors until Mrs. Williams banged on the floor above reminding me.
“Sorry!” The three of us chimed laughing. I could do this. I could put the past behind me and be brave. I wasn’t alone and I was ready.
3
David
The bar was nestled off a side street close to the river bank as I pulled my bike into a spot and parked. The engine vibrated with life and the end of summer air still had the tang of humidity as it held on for as long as possible. Pretty soon the trees would change to bright pops of orange, blood red, and golden yellow. Fall was one of my favorite times and while I loved the sunshine in summer, I was a sucker for the changing seasons.
The dive place was a sight for sore eyes but had the best beer second to Andy’s craft. I hung out there prior to my deployment when I was busy spending my free time
pissed at Andrew and Sierra along with my parents for letting things escalate back then. It was a good spot for riffraff, hipsters, and anyone looking for a good time while blending into the dark and neon lights taking shots. I’d been here on my last home leave and saw the neighborhood changing. Gentrification was happening turning the whole area into overpriced riverfront condos and shops, but the one thing that stayed the same was this little local bar.
The Pig and Dog or also commonly known as the Poughkeepsie Dump or even P&D in a pinch catered to a slightly rough crowd who behaved well when the alcohol flowed and garbage bands played cover songs from the eighties and nineties. I felt like I could be regular David instead of Special Task Sargent David Easton or rising football player number 22, or that kid from Easton’s Pub and Brewery. Here–I could be anonymous and my flashbacks to IEDs and gunfire could blend in with the shitty disco ball and fog machine.
I grabbed a drink and headed for the corner high booth where I could scan the crowd and find a willing body to gyrate next to mine for the evening. I wasn’t typically anti-social, but I wasn’t a snuggler. Good sex wore me out to sleep through the night and alcohol gave me the oblivion I craved when a body wasn’t in the picture.
It wasn’t long before I saw the woman standing at the bar with her girlfriends doing shots of alcohol and her hips swaying to the music beat. She had good rhythm which often translated to what would transpire between the sheets and my jeans tugged tight. If she wasn’t up for something this raging cock in my pants was going to be a real pain to ride home with.
I guessed the woman at the bar was in her mid-twenties, slim to the point of fragile, and engrossed in deep conversation with her friends. She tossed her head back laughing, and I wanted to know what made her smile. Gold bangle bracelets jingled on her wrists like bells. There was a charisma that surrounded her and drew me in.
There was something utterly different about her. It was in the way she stood at the bar, slightly leaning into her friends completely enthralled by whatever they were saying. Her attention was wholly focused on them and I wondered what it might feel like if her gaze strayed in my direction. Would her nose crinkle if she thought I was funny, would she bite her lip to show interest as more than a passing fancy? It wasn’t normal for me to have these kinds of thoughts about women. Don’t get me wrong, I loved women, adored them, but I wasn’t overly fond of the morning after. However, this particular woman made me want to regroup, rehash the mission objective as more than a one night stand and all because her attention created this uniquely fascinating aura I had to figure out.
I got up from seat to investigate further and saw a light collection of freckles over her nose dotting her smooth tawny skin. It was cute and while cute didn’t interest me at first glance, the energy around her made her glow and stand out. She reminded me of the girl in the new Spiderman movie I enjoyed, but older. I wondered what I could say that might get her button nose to turn up and make the freckles dance as she laughed.
My libido was interested. Definitely interested in getting to know her better. I sounded like a pervert when all I wanted to do was run my hand up and down her slight curves in appreciation. God must have seen to giving her the good genes and I didn’t discriminate. Heck, if my mother allowed Andrew and I to have pictures of women in our teenage bedrooms, I would have picked Beyoncé. Her banging curves and gorgeous eyes would have been my downfall while yanking off. Bar girl had a sultry look that invited a second gander and some serious conversation.
Her clothes were tight, almost painted on her skinny frame and her stockings slipped into tall black boots making her look like my own personal Superhero which seemed like a better nickname than Bar girl. Her loose top slipped over one shoulder, but it might as well have been her cape. Kinky hair graced the top of her shoulders and I had an urge to stick my fingers in it to see if it was as soft as it looked. I wasn’t going to touch her hair though. Dudes shouldn’t run up and touch a girl’s hair. It was wrong on so many creeper levels and random without the threat of a good dick-punch standing in one’s way.
Instead, I walked over to make an introduction. I may have been rusty, but I liked to think I still had some of my charm left over from the days before I enlisted and went away. Before I got there, she backed out onto the dance floor coyly urging her friends to follow. Her hips swayed and I scanned the dance floor watching a couple of guys who noticed her as well. I didn’t like that and I wasn’t entirely sure what to do with that information. I hadn’t counted on that.
I sauntered up to her group of friends smiling. I nodded at the one who looked like the Girl’s Night ringleader of the pack. A tall Black woman whose presence heralded her status with confidence that was incredibly attractive, though I only had eyes for one. A fresh faced blonde woman followed. She looked like a Nordic Disney princess passing out their drinks complete with long hair in a single braid and flowers. An average brunette hung in the back, thick eyeglasses covered her face as she checked her cellphone. The last women seemed younger than the rest and possibly related to my Superhero girl.
The ringleader stood regal, eye fucking me while my dancing beauty had yet to make eye contact. I liked that they seemed to be watching out for each other. I had a thing for smart and responsible women. They didn’t have to be good girls. I just didn’t want the drama my brother’s ex had shadowed our family with.
“Never seen you in here before.” The regal one said to me squinting her eyes appraising me in my too tight muscle shirt. I knew I looked like biker trash, t-shirt, jeans, combat boots, but I wasn’t going to let her scare me off from introducing myself.
I shrugged giving the standard answer. “Been awhile, I served overseas. Usually come for the cover band.” I pointed toward the stage as I sipped my beer waiting for Superhero girl to look.
“Kia, you see this guy here before?” She nudged her friend who stopped her hypnotic hip swaying and joined them at the bar.
The girl named Kia looked up finally, and yeah, soulful eyes stared back and I felt something I hadn’t in a long time. Genuine interest that could lead to more than one night and honestly it scared the shit out of me.
“No, but you should be nice Kelsey. I bet he’ll buy the next round if you smile.” She winked at me while giving her friend a less than nice nudge and I liked it. I liked it a lot–this subtle flirting between us.
I weaved my wave to the edge of the bar and glanced over my shoulder at her. “Supergirl,” I said waving the bartender down to our section, “For that smile, you can put your drinks on my tab for the rest of night.”
“Yes! Kia shoots and scores!” The youngest girl in the group bounced fist pumping. She looked related to Kia and I chuckled at her excitement. I kind of wanted Kia to score with me tonight, but first I needed to learn a bit more about my Superhero girl than just her first name.
