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I did. I’d gone shopping for that night especially. I hadn’t done that, gone shopping to impress a man, since I was in my teens. It made me a little nervous.
I bought a smoky blue sleeveless dress that was fitted through the bodice. The square neck was a perfect frame for the double strand of linked silver flowers I wore around my throat. The skirt followed the line of my body closely until the last few inches where it flared outwards in a flirty flounce. It hit just below mid-thigh and looked hot paired with my high heel wedge sandals, which were also new.
We were at a different bar, but it was just as packed. The requisite groupies camped out already at the foot of the stage, as the hostess seated Junie and me and took our drink order. I decided to stick to club soda, recalling his statement about me being fully cognizant. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish for a slight buzz just to get past the first time with him, but not drinking would hopefully ensure tonight would indeed be the first time.
I was half looking forward to it, but my nerves had me just wanting to get it over with.
I noticed Sarah was looking hot as ever but was not bantering with Lucky like last time. Lenny was bouncing on his stool ready to perform. The opening notes of the first song rang out.
Seeing him lumber out onto the stage hit me just as hard as the first time. Long and lean, he wore faded black jeans, biker boots and a tight black tee, his face intense as he stared down at his guitar behind his curtain of hair. The cords flexing on his forearms, the veins running down to his talented hands, the heavy muscles of his biceps rolling as he played. All of it burned itself into my brain.
When he walked up to the microphone and opened the show, I saw how much this version on stage was a part of him. It was a wonder to me that I never knew about him being in a band. I wondered if Mara knew.
With no alcohol to dull my senses, I felt every strum of his guitar and his deep, gritty voice hit me in all the right places. I’d never considered myself to be overtly sexual, but I was different with Barrett. Perhaps it was chemistry? Maybe because he was my best friend first? I didn’t dwell on that thought, it made me uncomfortable and anyway, it was impossible to do so with Junie bopping beside me.
After the first song Barrett asked someone named Naomi to look after Junie and me for drinks. Then he spoke low into the mic, “My baby’s here tonight so we’re going to play a few of her favorites.”
The opening notes to Theory of a Deadman’s ‘All or Nothing’ rang out. Junie and I danced and swayed to the beat and when he transitioned into ‘Bad Girlfriend’, we jumped up excitedly. I heard his chuckle for just a moment before he resumed.
“My Lord, Junie, I love it when he gets dirty, what does that say about me?”
My face flamed.
“It says he’s lucky and you’re going to be!” she shouted, laughing. “I can’t wait to find out just how dirty he is!”
I laughed and covered my cheeks with my palms, seeing him at that moment singing right to me, his expression intense as always. My stomach flipped and I briefly considered putting off the night’s festivities. No. If the low boil went on much longer, and it had been going for months, the anticipation might kill me.
“Holy shit, Willa, you’re going to get so lucky tonight!” Junie grasped my forearm. “That man is going to devour you. I almost don’t envy you. I’m not sure I could take it!”
“Thanks, Junie,” I said sarcastically, “that fills me with confidence.”
Junie’s face fell. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that,” she soothed, “He’s into you. He’s not going to do anything you don’t like.”
I nodded but my stomach remained tied in a knot.
At the break we watched as Lenny passed through the groupies, nodding and smiling thanks, heading directly for our table. A moment later, Barrett rounded from the back, shaking his head at Sarah who was right on his heels. He made his way through the groupies and then he and Sarah parted ways like the Red Sea.
As soon as he reached our table he leaned down and kissed me full on the mouth. Salt and sweat and beer and the warm slick of his tongue slow on mine unraveled the knot in my stomach and started a fire. My involuntary moan startled me into breaking away, worried Junie or Lenny heard me which wasn’t likely over the noise of the bar.
I swiveled towards Junie only to see her hugging Lenny with her legs wrapped around his waist, a big smile on her face. Lenny was staring into her face like he wanted to eat her. I looked back to Barrett.
“Oh my,” I said.
He laughed out loud and settled in the chair in front of me, his long legs stretched out on either side of mine, caging me in and creating a barrier between me and the rest of the bar.
“Playing ramps people up,” he explained.
Lenny swung Junie down to sit in her chair and sat back in his after sweeping her legs up onto his lap. Naomi stopped at our table with two waters and two beers for Barrett and Lenny.
“Thanks, Naomi,” Barrett said, “and thanks for looking after our table.”
She smiled. “No problem, guys, it’s an easy table. Soda water with lime and keep ‘em coming.”
Barrett’s gaze swung hard round to mine, and he stilled. He studied my face. “You fully cognizant?”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. His pupils dilated and I spasmed in response.
“I don’t know how I’m going to get through the last set,” he grumbled.
