Authors: Ashley Johnson
I stood by the bar nursing the water while the three girls were going around flirting and dancing. A thought crossed my mind. I looked at the guy behind the bar and waved him over.
He came over and stood in front of me.
“What’s your name?”
“Paul, yours?”
“Macy
.” I reached over to shake his hand. “Sorry I didn’t mean to sound bitchy earlier. Gary really is my uncle by the way.”
“I figured the way you hugged him.” Oh he was being a smartass. I shot him a glare and he changed his attitude. “Sorry.”
“It’s ok. Hey did you see a few guys in here celebrating a bachelor party? One of them has these bluish gray eyes that could melt your soul and his hair hangs just right--“
“Um, do you need to go to the bathroom or something? You’re getting awfully excited talking about him. It’s kinda gross.”
Ohmigod was I really sounding excited to possibly see Trevor. No. No Macy, not now. “Oh Paul no.” I snorted. “He’s old news to me. I just don’t want to run into him. I don’t know how else to describe him. I could have said ‘hey did you see the asshole’. If I had, you wouldn’t have known who I was talking about.”
He raised his eyebrow like he had something else to say but then nodded. ‘You’re right, now that you mention it though, there were some guys in here earlier. Now if they’ve left or not I’m not sure.”
I cringed at his answer and suddenly became a little nervous to even turn around. “Ok Paul, here’s the scoop. I hate him. So much. I need you to keep an eye out for me. If you see him or someone that fits his description let me know. I will jump behind this bar so fast it’ll make your head spin. Now please make me a crown and coke. Make it strong.”
He laughed and fixed the drink. I took a few big sips before joining Halley on the dance floor. I happened to notice while I was swaying my hips to the beat that the karaoke book was sitting out. I hadn’t sang since the night Trevor tried to walk back in here. When the song ended, I made my way to the book and flipped through it. Half, no all of the words were melting together. Great, I needed extra eyes here with me. I closed the book and hollered to the DJ.
As soon as the current song quit playing, the bright lights lit up the stage. ‘Heartbreaker’ by Pat Benetar came on over the speakers and my voice filled the inside of The Lounge. Halley was hollering from her seat and decided to stand on the table. Lord please don’t let her fall. She was graceful the whole time, besides Crystal and Reina were beside her the whole time. Surely one of them would catch her if all else failed and she bit the dust. Right before the song ended, I swore I caught a glimpse of Trevor, but then I wasn’t sure what I saw since I couldn’t even read the names of the songs in the book.
The crowd cheered as I took a bow. I skipped over to the bar where Paul was smiling. “Damn girl, Gary didn’t tell me you could sing.”
“Paul, don’t get too excited. I’m taken.” I flashed him a big grin and his was replaced with a scowl. Another song came on and a group of girls were now on the stage trying to do their best rendition of ‘Love Shack’. More like, I need earplugs.
“I wasn’t hitting on you Macy. I know that part.
He told me your boyfriend is a tattoo artist and he would tattoo a penis to my forehead if I messed with you or pissed you off. I was giving you a complement.”
I tried really hard not to laugh but I failed miserably.
I stood there almost doubled over laughing. Gary was crazy, but I expected nothing less from him. Dammit. I was getting really good at this insert foot business. ‘I’m sorry Paul, and by the way he’s my fiancée” I managed to get out once I regained my composure. I frowned and stuck my tongue out until he smiled and I downed the rest of my drink.
I hopped off the barstool and approached Halley. She was telling Reina all about her bouquets and how hard we both worked on them. I silently cussed them; they were nothing but a pain in my ass the whole time we made them. She was going on and on about her wedding plans like a giddy little girl. I really was so happy for her. She deserved nothing less and Marcus really was the perfect guy for her.
She noticed me walk up and jumped up. Geez her breath reeked of liquor but I let her hug me anyway. “Where have you been best friend? Come dance with me!”
“Hold on!” I ran back up to Paul and ordered four more shots and delivered them to the table.
Crap I shouldn’t have taken that last shot. But I did.
I fumbled for my phone once we got on the dance floor. I looked at the time. I think it said midnight, but I wasn’t sure. I couldn’t see anything. Somehow my feet were able to work
and I was happy enough about that. There was a text from Luke. I squinted my eyes trying to read it. I think it read I love you, can’t wait to see you. I tried my best to send a smiley face. I couldn’t tell you what it ended up being. The phone slid back into my pocket and I swayed my hips alongside Halley.
By the time the next song started, I reached for Halley’s hand and pulled her up on top of the table with me.
Gary would most likely not approve but we were drunk and he was hoarded away in his office probably playing solitaire like he always does. As long as no one went and told on us, he wouldn’t know. We shook our asses to the music and were having a blast.
Occasionally I scanned the crowd just to be safe. So far, this was a Trevor free night. Just how I like it.
This is how it should be. No mistakes to be rubbed in my face over and over again. No fighting the tears that came with seeing his face and thinking of what was and what could have been.
No sooner that thought left my head, I looked towards the bar to see Paul’s eyes wide and his head nodding to his left. I looked over to see no one other than Trevor standing there with his eyes glued to me the entire time.
He was wearing a navy blue fitted polo shirt and a pair of jeans I remembered from when we were together. Memories I continued to push back were trying to come back up. No. You’re drunk Macy stop it. If I were sober there is no way in hell I would be swooning over him. I was engaged to Luke for crying out loud. I instantly tried to place a scowl on my face. I can’t believe he’s in here right now. I could see the stupid tattoo on his arm from where I danced on the table. The day he sat on my bed and showed that to me flashed through my head. That was when he said if you want me to leave, then I’ll go. My stomach twisted into a million knots at the thought of that day and I decided I didn’t want him watching me anymore on the table. Suddenly it felt more than awkward being up there. Thankfully the song ended and I decided to grab Halley and pull her down.
Once we stood back on the ground,
Halley almost fell at least twice. I found it funny. I know I’m a horrible friend. By the third song, she got a look in her eyes and placed her hand to her mouth. Oh no, not out here and not on me. I grabbed her hand and led her to the bathroom. The bathroom inside The Lounge was empty, which is a good thing because it was really small. There were only two stalls in there and Halley fell down to her knees in the first stall and immediately hung her head over the toilet. Gross. I really hope for her sake they were clean. If she were sober, she would be having a coronary over what she was doing right now.
Once in a while she raised her head up and mumbled a few things. The only one I seemed to understand was when she raised up and said, “Please don’t tell Marcus I’m drunk.”
I tried not to laugh and began rubbing her back while her head hung in the toilet. “Hales, I’m pretty sure he is drunk too.”
“Oh.” She lay her head back down on the toilet seat and then abruptly raised her head up and leaned forward. It looked like everything she drank for the past year came up. I held her hair back like the awesome best friend I was and tried to pretend she wasn’t puking her guts up in front of my face.
I have a strong stomach and I’m very glad for that or else I’d be right beside her puking my guts up too.
She sat there dry heaving for a minute then finally took a breath. Her eyes were bloodshot and her hair was a tangled mess. I didn’t seem to have done too good of a job. She leaned against the wall trying to finish catching her breath
. I offered her a half smile and pulled her up off the floor.
“You going to be ok?” My eyes were filled with concern for her. She didn’t need to drink any more than she already had or she would be right back in this same spot.
“I think I’m ready to go home.”
“Let’s go get you in
the limo. He will make sure you get home. I’ll text Marcus too.”
She grabbed my hand and looked into my eyes. “What about you. You aren’t coming with me?”
“Hales, Luke is picking me up. I gotta call him too.”
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and she slapped it out of my hand. I watched as the poor phone slid from one end of the bathroom floor to the other. She’s lucky she is drunk right now or
I’d probably slap her right across the back of her head. I crawled over to my phone and stayed away from her so I could text.
Marcus answered within a minute saying he would be home shortly too.
“Hey drunk, Marcus is going to be home in a few minutes too so you will be just fine. Let’s get you out of this bathroom and sitting at the bar with a bottle of water and absolutely nothing else. Got it?”
She hung her head admitting defeat for the evening. She was pitiful. We made our way back out to the bar and Paul gave her some water. I looked at him and smiled, giving him a drink motion. He rolled his eyes at me and fixed me another crown and coke. I gave him a sarcastic smile and began drinking it. I looked over to see Halley almost done with her water.
“Come on; let’s go get you outside in the limo.”
She groaned but walked with me, her hand in mine the whole time.
Her feet were a little wobbly but she was fine. I figured Marcus would have to come help her out of the limo when it got back to the apartment. I gave her a hug and smiled, “Hey, it happens to the best of us. Go home and rest. I haven’t seen Crystal and Reina, I think they may have left. I’ll call you tomorrow ok?”
She held her head and groaned again. I laughed then shut the door behind her and thanked the driver. My drink was still sitting at the bar, I walked back in and Paul was nowhere to be found. I sat down but before I finished my drink texted Luke. “Hey stud, Halley just went home and I’m allllllllll alllloonne.” Shit, my finger seemed to have developed a stuttering problem.
Instantly he responded, “Well, I may just have to come and rescue you.”
My face turned several shades of pink as I sat there continuing to nurse my drink. If I were more sober I would have had a witty comeback but I didn’t want to ruin the moment. I would just greet him with a ginormous kiss when he got here. I missed him so much. I was deep in thought about Luke and just nothing in particular when Paul snuck up behind me. “Well, I thought you may have run off already.”
“Nope.
I just walked my friend Halley to her limo outside. Tattoo boy is on his way though. Better be nice to me or I’ll tell him you do want a penis tattooed to your forehead. He can probably squeeze you in tomorrow, I don’t think he’s too busy.”
His expression turned serious and he glared at me. “Don’t you dare. I’ll tell your uncle you were dancing on his tables.”
I glared right back at him. “Touché.”
I reached my hand out to him and he shook it in our own special truce.
He smiled at me and for once I was glad Gary hired someone that wasn’t stupid or a complete airhead. Here in the past, that’s all he seemed to hire. They never wiped the bar down like they were supposed to. Some of them couldn’t even make drinks, it’s not that hard. Paul looked like he was getting ready to say something when his eyes suddenly got big. I turned to see what he was possibly looking at and there just a few feet away and closing in was Trevor James. Shit. Why didn’t I just tell Luke I would get the limo to bring me home? A feeling crept in my stomach that this wasn’t going to be good and if the limo would have brought me home, this whole situation wouldn’t be getting ready to happen. Where was Luke anyway? Please let him come save me.
Chapter 11
Paul looked at me with a sympathetic look but that wasn’t keeping Trevor from approaching me. Of all nights, why was it this night? I know obviously I’d have to see him at the wedding but Luke was going to be there. No problem. Now, there was a major problem because Luke wasn’t here and I didn’t know what to do. I know I am not going to melt into his arms. That’s the last thing that will happen.
I spun on my heel and made my way to the door to leave. His hand grabbed mine and spun me back around. “Macy talk to me.”
“Trevor, let go of my hand. I have nothing to say to you. We weren’t even supposed to be in the same bar tonight.”
He dropped my hand and brushed his hair from his eyes. I don’t know if he was trying to work some sort of magic on me, but it wasn’t working. I tried to manage my breathing but it felt like I was sucking for air. The door was just a mere few feet away. If I could find a way to distract him then maybe I could make a run for it. Luke should be showing up sometime soon.
He’ll pull up and I can run to the car and get in before Trevor can approach me again. I just need a minute to regain my composure.
“Mace. Please. How many times do I have to tell you I fucked
up? I told you I left Taylor.”