3. Faith
CHAPTER 3
Faith
I draped my jacket over the back of the tall barstool. Sandwiched between Jess and Robin, I pasted on a smile and vowed to at least pretend to have fun. When was the last time I’d taken a break from work and writing deadlines to enjoy a Friday night out? Already three weeks into the fall semester, I hadn’t so much as gone out to dinner yet.
“Check out the sex-on-a-stick behind the bar. Are you going home with him, or am I?” Robin nodded toward the bartender.
As if he could hear us from across the room, he looked up and made eye contact with me. A wave of heat washed over my cheeks as I took in the dark hair, five o’clock shadow, and wire-rimmed specs.
Of all the guys who could be working behind the bar, I would have to get stuck facing down Mr. Kinky Kama from earlier today. I looked away first, desperate to get out of there before he recognized me.
Twisting around on my stool, I put a foot on the ground, a slew of excuses on the tip of my tongue. “You know, I’m suddenly not feeling very well. I’ll just catch the bus?—”
“Like hell you will.” Jess’s hand wrapped around my wrist, holding me in place. “You were fine two seconds ago. Unless you’re actively puking, you’ll sit right here and have a drink with us.”
I rolled my eyes and pulled my arm away. “Some friend you are. Wouldn’t you be more comfortable at a table?” I pointed across the room. “Like one of those over there?”
Jess leaned close. “What’s with you tonight? We usually sit at the bar. Besides, I think Robin likes the view.” She nodded at Robin, who was busy eyeing the bartender like he was one of the happy hour specials.
“Fine. One drink. That’s it.” I slouched down on my stool. Mr. Kinky Kama probably wouldn’t recognize me, anyway. My schlumpy disguise from earlier was a world away from the snug V-neck and skinny jeans I’d squeezed my ass into for an evening out with the girls.
“Wait a sec, it’s the bartender, isn’t it?” Jess eyed me with suspicion.
I looked at my lap. Dammit, how could she read me so well?
“Do you know him?” Jess put an elbow on the bar and leaned toward me, encroaching on my personal space.
I shook my head and lied through my gritted teeth. “No, I’m fine. Just a moment of panic, thinking about all the work I have to do tonight.”
“All work and no play makes Faith a big-ass lame-o.” Jess leaned across me and swatted at Robin. “Go for it, girl. Jake and I are back on again so no competition from me. I know I’ve met your sex-on-a-stick before. What’s his name again? Starts with a ‘D.’” She put her hand to her forehead. “Damon, David...screw it, I forget. He seems like a nice guy, but I’ve heard he’s kind of a player.”
Robin wiggled her eyebrows. “Happy birthday to me. Playing is exactly what I have in mind.”
I snorted. “Could you be any more obvious?” Subtlety was definitely not one of Robin’s strong suits.
“Hey, I’m not afraid to go for what I want.” Robin shrugged her shoulders.
“You should have told us that’s what you wanted for your birthday.” Jess winked and lifted a hand to beckon the bartender over. “I would have wrapped him up with a bow.”
“Oh yeah? Which part?” I put my elbows on the bar and rested my head in my hands. The odds of him recognizing me had to be super slim. My hair had been pulled back in a ponytail, and I’d had shades covering my eyes during most of our exchange.
Tonight, I actually looked somewhat presentable. I’d even swiped on some lip gloss and dusted some powder across my nose in an attempt to downplay the light smattering of freckles that popped up every summer. I took in a deep breath, flipped a wavy lock of hair over my shoulder, and told myself to relax.
The object of their ogling walked over and put a few napkins down in front of us. “What can I get you, ladies?” He never took his eyes off me.
“I’ll take that wheat beer you’ve got on tap,” said Jess.
“MGD for me.” Robin leaned forward, putting her ample cleavage on full display.
He nodded, not even glancing at her. “And for you?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Those eyes. Behind the glasses, his eyes reflected the most incredible shade of aquamarine, just like the ocean. Jess nudged my arm.
“How a-b-b-out a Honeyweiss?” I squeaked out.
One side of his mouth curled up in a half-smile. “Beer, huh? I didn’t figure you as a beer kind of girl.”
Was he flirting with me? “What kind of girl did you figure me as?”
His eyes twinkled. “You kind of look like you might enjoy a Sloe Comfortable Screw.”
Jess erupted into a fit of giggles next to me. “He’s got you pegged. If anyone could use a good screw, it’s you, Faith!”
I elbowed my former bestie in the side. “Thanks, but I’ll just take a beer for now.”
He shrugged. “You sure about that? Maybe a Red Lotus Cocktail instead?”
“Mmm, that sounds good to me.” Robin put her arm around my shoulder. “I think I’ll switch to that.”
Dammit, he did recognize me. I sat up straighter and cleared my throat. Even though I wrote about erotic romance, I hadn’t experienced much of it myself.
I resisted the urge to fan myself under the heat of the bartender’s scorching gaze. “Just the beer will do.”
“That’s too bad, Faith.” He winked at me, and a shiver ran through my core. “One Honeyweiss coming right up.” He moved away and grabbed some glasses from the overhead rack.
Jess swiveled toward me on the stool, her blue eyes wide with interest. “Are you sure you don’t know him? That’s the most I’ve ever heard him say.”
“I may have seen him around town or something.” My face flushed. At least he hadn’t outed me in front of my friends.
I didn’t have time to think about men. Between teaching the maximum number of classes I could, aggressively pursuing publication to get on a tenure track, and keeping my steamy side career a secret, I barely had time to brush my teeth, so I definitely didn’t have time to play around.
“Hey, I already called dibs. And it’s my birthday. That Sloe Comfortable Screw should be mine!” Robin stuck out her lower lip in a playful pout.
“Not this time. He’s got the hots for Faith.” Jess poked me in the arm and taunted in a sing-song voice, “Somebody’s gonna get some tonight.”
“As if.” I shook my head and waved my hands in front of me. “Don’t worry. He’s all yours, Robin.”
“Yeah, you know Faith won’t mess around.” Jess let out a loud sigh. “She doesn’t have time for that.”
I’d received more than my fair share of teasing from the girls about my lack of a love life. There would be plenty of time for that later. I wasn’t even two years into my six-year plan. I’d be on a tenure track to full-fledged professor while my friends were still comparing dating stories.
“You and your stupid rules.” Robin shook her head. “Still haven’t caved?”
Before I could respond, Jess answered for me. “Nope. Not once. No dates, no sexting, no hook-ups. Not since what’s-his-face?—”
“Brad. His name was Brad.” I played with the edge of the flimsy paper napkin.
“That’s right, how could I forget Baller-Brad?” Jess rolled her eyes.
I groaned. “I never should have told you about that.”
Jess ignored me and leaned toward Robin. “Did she tell you he cheated on her during her grad school formal?”
“What’s up with that?” The bracelets on Robin’s wrist jangled as she lifted her hand to flip her braids back behind her shoulder.
I sighed. I’d confided in Jess in a weak moment over a bottle of Cabernet last winter. May as well get Robin caught up on my failed love life.
“The formal was in Chicago, so we had to stay at a hotel. Halfway through the dance, I got a horrible headache. When I couldn’t find him in the ballroom, I went back up to get some Tylenol. I walked in on him screwing my roommate.”
“Ouch.” Robin grimaced.
At that moment, the bartender returned with our drinks. “Here you go.” He set two giant frosty mugs down on the counter then slid a fancy tall glass filled with a dark pink liquid toward Robin.
She squealed and took a sip. “Wow, this is really good. You should have gotten one of these, Faith.”
He leaned down on his elbows in front of me. “It’s not too late to change your mind about the Lotus, you know.”
“No thanks.” I gave him a wary smile and took a sip. “Mmm, yep, this really hits the spot.”
He returned the smile. “That’s my specialty.”
“What, delivering drinks?” With his full attention focused on me, I was surprised I was able to speak without stuttering.
“No, hitting the right spot for beautiful women.”