Nese #2
As a group, we laugh and dance to the tunes being played by the DJ.
The dance floor is filled to capacity, exactly how I like it.
I check and the jewelry clips adorned on my sneakers jazz up the sturdy—yet necessary—footwear.
My dinner companions have been joined with more of UC’s roadies and crew, such that we’re over twenty people.
We mix and mingle with others from LA, as well as people in town for a good time. This club certainly is delivering.
Someone taps the back of my shoulder. Kieron holds up a mug. “Beer?”
“Thanks.” Shoving aside my earlier creepy vibes from him, I take the drink from the tall and lanky member of UC’s team.
He’s wearing a pair of dark blue jeans, a long-sleeved fitted maroon shirt, and loafers.
His long blond hair is pulled into a ponytail, and his goatee seems well kept.
Totally acceptable. We begin dancing to one of Hunte’s newest chart-topping anthems.
“What have you been up to during the break?”
“I’ve actually been working,” I reply to him. “Luke asked me to help Coop buy a new wardrobe, since his luggage got lost.”
Kieron takes another sip of his beer. “Wow. That must suck. He’s the boring member of the band.” He winks at me. “I should know, given I’m his guitar tech.”
“He’s not too bad,” I defend Coop. Then, considering all that’s gone on between us, I amend, “Well, all the time.”
“He plays a mean guitar, I’ll give him that.” He watches me finish my beer. “Let me take the empty for you.”
“Thanks.”
He places it on a nearby table together with his, then reappears. Grabbing my hand, he twirls me, causing me to laugh. And praise the footwear gods for keeping me on balance. We dance to a few more songs, until I wipe my sweaty forehead. “I need a break.” My foot does, too.
“Sounds good. Let’s grab a seat over there.” He points toward a bunch of overstuffed club chairs.
We make our way to the side, where only one chair is empty. “It’s a chair and a half,” I note. “I’ll share.”
“Works for me.”
Kieron sits first. Turning my back to him, I allow him to guide me onto his lap. For such a tall guy, I manage to fit in pretty well next to him. He calls over a server and soon we have two more beers. At least he didn’t get more tequila.
“Tell me, what exciting things has Coop been up to with you besides shopping, of course.”
“We’ve certainly done a lot of that. Got him most of what he should have in a good wardrobe. Other than shopping, we’ve gone out to dinner a few times. And to a bookstore.” We also went to the botanical gardens where I spilled my guts about the cult. Plus other things…
He chuckles. “As I said, Coop really knows how to have a good time.”
“It hasn’t been all bad. I did get to bake bread in his amazing kitchen. And watch my favorite movie in his media room.”
“Well, that makes up for everything. I can never resist home-baked bread.” He winks.
“You would love this one. It has beer and raisins, which sounds terrible, but believe me when I tell you it could change your life. Fresh out of the oven with butter and cinnamon, it’s so good.”
“Damn.” He rubs his stomach. “You’re making me hungry.” He pushes his long sleeves up to his elbows, exposing his watch.
“Oh,” I grab his arm and bring it upward. “I took Coop shopping for watches yesterday too. He got an Omega.”
“La-ti-da,” Kieron replies. “This watch cost a fraction and can tell the time just as well.” He taps the face. “It’s ages old, but takes a licking and keeps on ticking.”
I nod, my attention stealing to some excellent dancers taking up the dance floor.
“I think you deserve to let loose, especially after having been cooped up these past few weeks.” He chuckles. “Cooped up. Get it?”
I swat at his chest. “I appreciate a pun when I hear one.”
“Come here.” He snuggles me close to his body, which I allow. Why the hell not? It’s not as if I’m in a relationship or anything. Not even dating anyone. I can do whatever the fuck I please.
I inhale, and am rewarded not with patchouli and jasmine, but with sandalwood, causing my olfactory senses to pout. Hey! I shouldn’t feel disappointed. No. Way.
“Here, let me take this from you.” Kieron takes my half-full beer mug and puts it on the floor next to his empty one. His arms go around my body and he pulls me tight. “I like this.”
“It’s nice,” I agree. I slide my hand down his arm and interweave our fingers. He has calluses like Coop, which makes sense as he is UC’s guitar tech. I ask him the same question I asked Coop weeks ago. “Do they hurt?”
“What? These?” He holds up our entwined hands. “Not much.”
Coop told me all about his skin care regimen for them. I shake my head. “Do you have any rituals around them?” Coop mentioned filing his.
“Not really. Want to kiss them and make me feel all better?”
Why not? I’m a free agent. I bring his palm to my mouth and kiss the calluses on his fingertips, which are a bit more pronounced than Coop’s. I guess he hasn’t filed them in a while.
“There you are!” My makeup artist friend appears. “I asked the DJ to play a UC song. Come join me!” She grabs my hand and pulls me to standing.
I give Kieron an apologetic look and go with her to the dance floor. “Refocused Destiny” rings out across the club. She asks, “Did I interrupt something over there?”
“Nothing serious. Kieron and I were only having some fun.”
“After this song, I can return you to him.”
Kieron is nice, but … he’s no Coop. Dammit! I came out tonight to get laid, and Kieron seemed like he was into me. What is stopping me from sealing the deal? An image of Coop standing in a dressing room trying on a new pair of pants appears in my mind’s eye. “Go away!”
“Excuse me?” Kieron materializes at my side.
“No, not you,” I say, correcting him. “I was having a conversation with myself.”
He leans down to my ear. “I don’t want you to leave, for sure. I was lonely sitting over there, so I decided to join you.”
I allow Kieron to guide me around the dance floor. I do a modified shake and shimmy and swirl, in deference to my stupid ankle. While I enjoy my time with him, UC’s actual guitarist is preventing me from indulging in a quick tryst with the guitar tech. Damn him!
Soon, the all-too-predictable question arrives. “Want to go somewhere a bit more private?” He kisses my neck.
I love sex. I still need to make up for my dry Oklahoma teen years. Yet, no man ever came close … stop it. Kieron is the one asking me now. I should climb him like a tree.
My earlier negative opinion of him swirls with confusing ones surrounding Coop. I can’t get out of my mind enough to be able to enjoy anything, let alone sex.
“As awesome as that sounds, I better not. I have to catch an early flight tomorrow morning.”
“Are you sure? I could make the flight go by with a nice ache inside you.”
Alright, that’s simply nasty. What a line! “I’m positive.” I step backward. “I gotta leave if I’m going to get any sleep before the long flight tomorrow. Good night!” I wave to him, kiss my girlfriend, and exit the club, arranging for a car service to pick me up.
What the hell just happened?