Chapter 36
Blythe
A million different options have run through my head.
“Will you marry me?”
Oh . I wasn’t expecting that question.
My heart was pounding out of my chest. At that moment, I didn’t know what else was happening around me. All I saw was Charlie holding a ring he made out of a straw wrapper.
“I absolutely will!” I answered back in an instant. I didn’t even have to think about the answer.
A shock wave washed over Charlie’s face, “Wait, really?”
“Oh hell yeah,” I grabbed his face and placed a long kiss on his lips.
He slipped the paper ring onto my left ring finger and my heart could burst.
We both looked down at my hand.
“That’s weird,” we said in unison.
Our eyes met. I wasn’t sure where to go from here. I don’t know if he’s even going to remember this in the morning—hell, I don’t know if I will—but I was going to act like nothing happened unless he brought it up.
I grabbed my phone and sneakily snapped a picture of my hand.
“Do you want to head out to the last place on our list?” Charlie spoke up over the music. He had acted like his previous question was a run-of-the-mill one.
I nodded. I desperately needed a reprieve from the loud music and smell of cheap beer.
Charlie laced his fingers with mine and led me towards the door.
He led me down the block and around the corner to the last stop on our bar crawl—Tequila Cowboys. By my best guess, this is somewhat of a honky-tonk bar. This is right up Charlie’s alley.
As we stepped through the door, this place was much more chill than the previous two stops. The décor was cowboy chic—it wasn’t run down by any stretch of the imagination. It was modern with country accents. By the way Charlie’s shoulders relaxed, I could tell he was in his element.
“Wells and I came here a few times,” Charlie admitted. “It was a weeknight so it was quiet, but I have some good memories here.”
“Picking up women?” I joked, jabbing his side.
“That was all Wells. I played second fiddle.”
Wells is Charlie’s oldest friend. They go back to kindergarten. He’s one of those salt-of-the-earth people.
The first time I met Wells was at the Sea Reads Holiday Extravaganza last year. We ran out of shopping bags, and he offered to run out and buy some for us. Fifteen minutes later, he came back with three different sizes. Wells will do anything he can for random people he meets. If he were a dog, he would, without a doubt, be a golden retriever.
“That might’ve been true, but you’re my first fiddle tonight.” I wasn’t even sure if what I was saying made sense. I was at a weird point of being exhausted and buzzed.
“Last call at the bar. If you want a drink, now is the time to get one. I repeat. Last call!” The DJ raised the lights and paused the music to make the announcement. Charlie wrapped his arm around my shoulder and raised an eyebrow, silently asking me if I wanted anything.
I thought about it for a moment. After Charlie’s question a bit ago, I sobered up quite a bit and decided to allow myself one drink here. “I’ll have one more.”
Given how late it was, I was surprised that Tequila Cowboys wasn’t busier. Maybe it’s because it’s off the beaten path, or maybe it’s because the music isn’t blaring, but this was much more enjoyable.
We made our way to the bar and ordered our drinks. It was nice not to have to scream at the bartender.
“Hey, y’all. How are you doin’?” The bartender’s nametag said Trevor.
“Doin’ good. How are you?” Charlie responded.
“Can’t complain. What can I get you?”
“I’ll have a vodka and club soda, please.” I piped up.
“You’ve got it.” Trevor turned towards Charlie, “And for you, man?”
“I’ll have water, please.”
I looked at him, “I thought you were going to get a drink too?”
“I’m cutting myself off. Want to get us back to the hotel safely.” He pressed a kiss to my temple.
“Now I feel silly,” I admitted.
“Don’t.” Charlie looked around the bar. “There’s a pool table over there. Do you want to play?”
“I suck, but I would love to.”
Trevor handed over my drink and Charlie’s water. “Since this is the last call, I have to close you out. If you need water, you can come back up. There are no issues there.”
Charlie handed over his debit card and paid.
We walked over to the pool table in the quietest corner of the bar. He grabbed us two pool cues while I racked the balls.
“I could make so many jokes right now.” Charlie joked.
I couldn’t stop the grin, “I’m convinced you’re a teenage boy when it comes to dirty jokes.”
“Guys never mature when it comes to dick jokes. We’ll always think they’re funny.”
I shook my head and laughed.
“You love me,” Charlie said arrogantly.
“Obviously. But not as much as Wren.”
Charlie shrugged, “That’s fair. She’s pretty cool.”
“The coolest.”
He handed over a pool cue, “You can go first.”
I lined up the cue and shot, getting one ball in a pocket.
“That’s a pretty weak game.” He jokingly pushed me aside, “Watch the master, please.” Charlie shot the ball and three balls scattered into different pockets.
I batted my eyelashes, “Maybe you should teach me.”
His eyes went wide, “You want help?”
I nodded. He gulped. I knew I was about to torture him.
“Line up your shot,” he instructed.
I did as I was told.
“Great,” Charlie moved behind me so my ass was perfectly aligned with his crotch. I arched my back and pressed myself into him. “You’re mean.”
I scanned his face under the low lights and his eyes were dark.
“I didn’t do anything,” I added innocently.
“Such lies! You’re a tease.”
“I didn’t say I wasn’t going to do anything about it.”
Charlie looked around the bar and there weren’t many people still there. He confirmed that the coast was clear and picked me up and sat me on the edge of the pool table. His right hand found itself on the back of my neck while his left hand parted my knees. He moved as closely as he could before placing a needy kiss on my lips. His tongue begged for entrance into my mouth, which I fought off before I gave in.
Too quickly, Charlie pulled away and went back to playing pool like we hadn’t just been making out a second ago.
“Why did you do that?” I whined, my head lolling back.
“Because now you’re just as hot and bothered as I am.”
“I was already,” I hopped down from the table and over to Charlie.
He cocked a brow, “Oh?”
“I would mount you right here and now if I could.”
His eyes went wide and he put the pool cue back. “Then why are we still here? Let’s go!” He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the door.
I couldn’t fight the giggles. “You’re crazy.”
He shot me a devious look over his shoulder as we left, “Crazy for you.”