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“Lady and Eve,” the bartender called out. “What will it be this time?” The bartender seemed cute. The perfect amount of stubble decorated his square jaw, and his blue eyes stood bright against his olive skin. He obviously knew Eve. She didn’t turn around though and instead ordered her usual for the both of us. “Right away.” He winked at me, sending me into a near hot flash experience.
Both our drinks arrived as the bartender placed two glasses of foamy Blue Moons before us. “Eve,” I glanced at her with my disgusted face as if I were holding someone’s urine sample in my hand, “I hate beer.” My fingers hovered over my gaping mouth as I fake gagged.
She swiveled herself back around as if she was shocked, our shoulders now touching. Her dismissive hand wafted my scrunched face. “Nonsense. Have you ever had a Blue Moon?”
“Nope.”
“You’re too uptight, that’s why. I drink these, which means you will too.” She quipped, arching a single brow while she took a sip of her drink, a little foam stayed on her lip, and I tried to hold my laugh in. She reminded me of the milk commercials from back in the day. She looked past me, and when I awkwardly glanced over my shoulder, I saw a hot, tall, blonde, with his eyes fixated on Eve. I whipped back around and caught Eve licking the foam off her lip, seductively. Great, this must be her signature move that I’d need to copy. Did that even work? Who was I kidding? Of course it would.For her.
“See, now why don’t you do the same thing? Better yet…” Eve lulled, eyeing the bar.
“Him.”
“Him? What? Which one, there are at least fifty hims?” I panicked as the moment closed in that I’d needed to redeem my cowardly self.
Eve pointed over at the pool table, where her hunky muscular blonde was just at, but it seemed that now he made his way toward us. I shifted my eyes away. “See that gorgeous brunette, built like a horse and probably has eight delicious mounds of abs under that V-neck?” I followed her gaze, and my eyes fell victim to the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. His tall frame bent across the table as he made his shot, sinking a ball into the corner pocket as a boisterous roar could be heard. His thick arms flexed beneath the tight shirt that hugged his strong chest. My eyes ran along his tanned neck, down the V of his shirt, displaying a shallow patch of dark hair that peeked out. Oh god, his hair, thick chestnut waves, begging my fingers to explore its depths, to grip it and pull. I gulped the sip of drink I had.
“Gorgeous? That guy is so out of my league. Maybe I can test a different guy out?” I said nervously. Test, what was I even saying anymore? I was engaged to Robbie, a highly successful New Yorker, rich beyond this world, and he’s not just a regular shmo. Then again, neither was the man I was drooling at.
Eve shook her head. “That’s the guy for you. I can feel it. Like, really feel something can happen between you two. But he’s just for fun anyway, right? So where’s the harm in a little fun?” Eve said, her lips curled deviously.
I peeked over once more. He was chalking up his pool stick, and I wondered what he was packing underneath his denim Levi’s. Fuck, I bit my lip as I gazed all over him, from his leather boots, up to his thin waist, and broad shoulders. Out of all the men in the bar, he was the only one without a cowboy hat, yet if he wanted to duel away the other losers in here, he’d win in a heartbeat. Although, I wouldn’t mind seeing him in just a cowboy hat. My cheeks flushed at the thought.
Then, it happened. Our eyes locked on each other, causing me to freeze. Caught like a thief stealing a sight. My heart thumped rapidly, and I was unable to tear my gaze from him.
Shit. Oh god, I had stared too long, but couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. I sipped my drink without thinking about the fact that it’s a beer. Actually, I chugged it, not realizing the now half empty glass in my hand. Come to think of it, it wasn’t a bad taste. Its sweet citrus tingled my buzzing lips.
My attention fell back on Eve, who had her blond, muscled man all over her. The man leaned into her ear, whispering something presumably wild. Eve laughed, while fanning herself. She caught me staring, and rolled her eyes around, signaling my attention. “Jules,” Eve nodded to look behind me.
Eep! It was him. My eyes widened, I clutched onto my beer for dear life, and for a second, I thought it would have broken into a shattered mess in my hands. I wasn’t sure why, it’s not like he would steal it, right?
This was wrong, all wrong. Part of me wanted to scream, I’m engaged, a compulsive word vomit of guilt, brandished like a gun for my own protection. I couldn’t, I was stuck, gawking and lost in his weary face.
“Willie, you going to introduce me?” He asked loudly, smacking his blonde friend playfully on the shoulder. The entire time, he glanced up and down my body as a trickle of sweat began to form along my forehead.
“Yeah man. This is Eve and her friend.” That was my cue to stand up. Shakily I reached my hand out to introduce myself.
“I’m Julia.” I sucked the saliva back into my throat as I firmly shook his hand, as if this was a business meeting — yet he wasn’t aware of my plan to jump his bones to free myself for the night. His shake was firm, yet playful. I admired his dark skin, the strength in his large forearm, which extended from the rolled sleeve of his red plaid shirt. It laid unbuttoned, and I wanted to slowly peel it off his shoulders.
“Well, Julia, that’s quite the handshake.” He smirked as I slipped my hand from his grasp. To soothe my embarrassment, I dug my nails into the palm of my own hands, clenching an odd nervous fist. Fuck, I can’t tell if that was my sweat I felt.
“Oh, you know, my drink is just really cold, uh and there’s moisture, yeah.” I reached back and clutched onto my drink to defend its honor. “And you are?”
“Nathan.” He motioned for me to lean in closer with his fingers. His hot breath tickled my ear. “Why don’t we play a round of pool and leave these two at it?” Shocked, I glanced over at Eve and Willie who were making out right beside us. Glimpses of arms and hands moved all over between their two faces, but the moment I heard smacking lips, I was out.
The bitch straddled him in the middle of the bar like a scene in a movie, teasing at the fantasy I so desperately sought. The passion she found with strangers was what I yearned for. Oftentimes, I never physically clicked with Robbie. Our sex life felt transactional, and I’d been feeling spent these last few months with his commanding and erratic behavior.
“Sure. Think I’ll be any good?”
“That depends. Are you a great listener?” His raspy voice traveled through my ear, then below my waist, turning me on with an electric shock of nerves. Fuck, I hadn’t felt like this since before Robbie. Scratch that, I’d never felt this exhilarated in my entire life.
My heart shed the last few months of sadness and found itself beating a new, happier, hopeful, and rapid momentum as I gawked into Nathan’s hazel eyes; a splatter of emerald green perfectly placed within the chestnut tone.
“Maybe,” I squeaked. I tried to find my sultry voice, but it wasn’t there, my fluttering heart distracted my thoughts. “One sec,” I held my finger up to pause our plan, turning to chug a practically new drink. It burned so good. Right away, I handed the bartender the empty glass back. “Another, please.” I nodded at the bartender who grinned at my eager nature.
“Shit, you’ll be perfect.” Nathan said with a beaming smile. Pool stick in one hand, while the other clutched onto my waist. His touch was warm, inviting, and holy fuck the chills he gave me along my arms were so revealing. This was flirting, and it should be ok. I hadn’t done anything at all to be considered a cheater, right?
I’d only played a handful of rounds in my life, but I was always the girl who seemed to know what she was doing until actually attempting to hit the ball, catching nothing but air like an untrained jouster. Maybe I would need a couple more drinks, but I didn’t mind having Nathan as my company for the rest of the night… at the bar.Julia, don’t touch, whatever you do,I scolded myself in my mind.
