31 - Sophie
31
Sophie
I was a giggling mess as we unlocked the door to the overflow room and snuck back into the main honky tonk. It felt like our quick affair should have been obvious, that every eye would stare knowingly at us while we exited.
But nobody gave us a second glance as we split up at the bathrooms to clean up, then returned to the bar where I was scheduled. I beat Eli there.
“Did you have fun unloading those glasses?” Liz asked.
I stared at her. “Why do I get the feeling you know exactly what I just did?”
She squealed happily, drawing a few glances from customers at the bar. “Because I’m the one who sent him there!”
I gasped. “Liz! You did not!”
“Oh I most certainly did . Tell me I’m the best wingwoman in the world.”
“I can’t believe you did that! Liz, I’m at work!”
“I didn’t make you do anything,” she argued. “I just gave him a little push. Technically, I guess I gave both of you a push. Jessica asked me to unload the boxes, not you.”
I stared at her in disbelief. “You got me laid, and you made me do your workplace chore?”
“Don’t be so dramatic. The chore was required to make the first thing happen. You may shower me with praise at any point.”
The hair on my arms went stiff, and I glanced toward the entrance to this room. Eli was walking inside, holding my gaze as he made his way to the bar.
“All right,” I said. “You’re the best wingwoman in the world.”
“Of course I am,” she replied while clocking-out of the bar. “I’m a married women. I need you to have all the fun so I can live vicariously through you. And lately, you have not been disappointing.”
“Just wanted to say I’m headin’ home,” Eli said. “I’ll be thinkin’ about where to take you on that date. Until then, have a lovely evening.”
He winked at me, tipped his hat at Liz, then walked away.
“Her evening has already been lovely,” Liz muttered next to me.
I elbowed her in the ribs, but that just made her smile more.
*
Sawyer was at the gym the next morning, lifting weights in one of the squat racks again. All the other spots were full; I turned and looked over my shoulder at the treadmills, and wondered if I should do a warm-up jog while waiting for one to free up.
When I glanced back, Sawyer had stepped to the side and was gesturing at the squat rack expectantly.
“Do it!” Liz whispered next to me.
“Fine,” I replied. “But don’t you dare try to hook me up with him.”
“I can’t make any promises,” she teased. “You wore your tightest booty-shorts today, and I think he’s the reason.”
Unlike the flirty comments and knowing smiles from Eli and Johnny, Sawyer remained perfectly stone-faced while we lifted weights together. Part of me was grateful he was a gentleman rather than hitting on me. But another part of me wondered why he was playing this game, why he refused to show any interest at all.
And Liz was right: I had intentionally worn my gym shorts that made my ass look amazing, secretly hoping to run into Sawyer today.
The only thing he said to me during the workout was, “Nice job,” after a particularly strenuous set. Aside from that, he was silent.
And when we left the gym, Liz was frowning. “Maybe he’s not into you. He didn’t glance at your butt once, not even while you were sticking it out during squats.”
I was frustrated by this all afternoon, and simultaneously frustrated at myself for being frustrated. I’d slept with Johnny at my apartment yesterday morning, then hooked up with Eli at Billy Bob’s at night. I had two ridiculously sexy cowboys vying for my sexual attention. I didn’t need to pine over a third one.
But knowing that didn’t make my feelings go away.
All three of them were at Billy Bob’s that night, sharing drinks at the bar. They were locked into a heated debate about who was going to do the best in the Steer Wrestling competition tomorrow.
“I’ll bet a hundred bucks I score a better time than either of you,” Eli said.
Sawyer snorted while nursing his whiskey. “I can’t make that bet.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re insane,” Sawyer replied in his raspy voice. “And it’d be rude to steal money from someone lacking a basic amount of logic.”
Eli rolled his eyes and turned back to Johnny. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of a friendly wager.”
“Now wait a minute,” I interjected. “Last week, I heard you claim that Steer Wrestling was Johnny’s best event.”
“For the purposes of logical conversation, it’s his best event,” Eli admitted. “But for the purposes of competitive shit-talkery, Johnny couldn’t wrestle a steer if he had all day and a bottle of Xanax.”
Johnny slammed down his beer glass. “A hundred bucks. You’re on.”
Eli slapped his hands together. “Hot damn, that’s what I love to hear.”
“Your funeral.” Sawyer gave me a final hard glance, then carried his whiskey somewhere else.
Eli leaned toward me and whispered behind one of his palms. “He’s afraid of losing.”
“Or,” I teased, “he doesn’t like to play games.”
Eli gave a start. “Naw, that ain’t it.” He turned to Johnny. “I’ve been thinkin’ more about where I’m gonna take Sophie on our date.”
“Good for you,” Johnny replied, unbothered by the jab. “And when you’re done failing to satisfy her, I’ll invite her over to my trailer for a nightcap.”
Eli laughed heartily at the joke. “I don’t doubt it.” His gaze cut over to me. “What do you think, darlin’? Who’s done a better job of satisfying you? And remember, you’re a bartender, so you’re under oath.”
“I don’t think that’s how this job works,” I said. “It isn’t a court of law.’
“Sure it is!” Eli announced, patting the bar. “That’s why it’s called the BAR exam.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the stupid joke.
Johnny just rolled his eyes. “If you’re trying to gloat about the fun you two had last night, I already know.”
Both of us twisted to look at him. “Oh?” I asked.
“You left, and Eli followed a minute later,” Johnny explained with a knowing smirk. “A few minutes after that, another bartender came running in here. She tried whispering to Liz, but I heard everything.”
I felt my chest go tight. Johnny had insisted that he wouldn’t be jealous if I went on a date with Eli, but that was different than a quick-and-dirty hookup. I had no reason to feel guilty about it, but hearing him casually mention that he knew about what we had done…
Should I feel guilty about it? We weren’t exclusive. Not even close.
“It was only a few minutes,” Johnny added, taking a slow sip from his beer. A smile spread across one cheek. “That timing alone lets me know I’ve done a better job satisfying her.”
My eyebrows shot up my forehead as I looked from one man to the other.
Eli whistled between his teeth. “Damn, Johnny. I think you’ve got me beat.”
“Now that,” Johnny said, “is the first true thing I’ve heard you say all night.”
Eli barked a laugh and held up two fingers. “Two more whiskey shots. Something cheap. I need to overwrite that burn with something harsher.”
I chuckled while pouring two shots for them. “Honestly, I think both of you could do a better job. We’ll just have to keep trying.”
“Ouch, Sky Eyes,” Johnny said.
Eli jerked backward like he’d been shot in the chest. “Well damn . Didn’t think we’d catch strays from that side of the bar.”
“I’ve been very satisfied,” I revealed with a sexy grin. “But there’s always room for improvement.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Johnny said.
“Same,” Eli agreed, picking up the shot. “And who knows? Maybe we ought to join forces to accomplish our shared goal.”
It took me a moment to realize what he meant.
Johnny coughed once after throwing back the whiskey. He glanced at Eli, then looked at me.
Was he suggesting… no way. I must have misunderstood him.
“Just somethin’ to think about,” Eli said casually. “In my experience, four hands are better than two. And I’m really good at sharing.”
He winked at me, then put some money down on the bar. “I’m gonna see if I can hustle some locals at the billiards table.”
Johnny and I watched him go. Then we looked at each other. There was a curious sparkle in his eye, like he was picturing something in his mind.
“He’s probably joking,” I said.
“Probably.” Johnny finished his beer. “But just in case he’s not, I could be talked into… things. But not tonight. I need my sleep before the Steer Wrestling tomorrow.”
Then he was gone too, leaving me to suffer the flirts of the other customers alone.
But their comments swirled around in my head until my shift ended, and didn’t disappear even after I got home and crawled into bed.
Do they… want to have a threesome with me?