3. You Want To Hit On Me, Nick, You Do It Sober
You Want To Hit On Me, Nick, You Do It Sober
Nick
Do you have pets?
That’s what I went with. What was I going to follow that up with? You should bring them around sometime. Jesus , Nick, real smooth.
I thought I’d caught her interest. I’d noticed her at the barbecue a few weeks ago and was sure she’d been checking me out. I considered trying to talk to her that day, but she was with her son, and then I was called away to an emergency.
When I saw her here today, I knew I had to get an introduction, and then I heard her sing. Shit, her voice is pretty — the curve of her ass in that tight black dress is pretty nice too.
I don’t know what I was thinking. I should know better .
I’m not good with women. I never was. They seem to like me, but then I fuck it up. I can’t talk to them in the right way. I don’t have the confidence or cockiness that Doug and Leo have. I just always seem to say the wrong thing. My last relationship ended because when she said I love you , I said, I know. It’s not that I didn’t feel the same way. I mean, I think I felt the same way, but women make my brain scramble, and the wrong things come out.
I usually wait until I’m a couple of drinks in and can pretend I’m a little smoother than I am, but when I saw her with Bree, I thought that was the best chance to get a real introduction. I didn’t anticipate her pretty much running away.
I sink another beer as I watch her rush back to the small stage set up and see the interaction with the guitarist: the way he smiles at her, touches her arm, the wide happy grin on her face, and I feel such a fool. Why would a woman like that, confident, fun, beautiful, and talented, someone who makes people laugh and embrace her despite barely knowing her, ever be interested in someone like me when I can’t even muster up the balls to talk to her without a buffer?
I’m an idiot.
I’ve had too much to drink. I know I have because the sip of beer I just took turned my stomach, so I put the bottle on a nearby table as Bree steps in front of me.
‘Dance with me,’ she demands, and I shake my head no. ‘I’m sorry, did it sound like a request?’
Taking my hand, she leads me to the dancefloor. We’ve danced together before, it’s not a big deal. I don’t have the same issues talking to Bree or Zoe, which is stupid because they are ridiculously beautiful, but I’ve just known them for so long.
‘You want to tell me what’s up, or are we going to start a guessing game?’ she asks as we start to move to the music.
‘Nothing’s up.’
‘Guessing game it is.’ She rolls her eyes. ‘You caught your dick in your zipper?’
‘Jesus, that’s where we’re starting?’
‘Well, you look fuckin’ miserable, so I thought it must be bad.’
I can’t help but laugh. Bree has always been able to turn my mood around.
‘I’m fine, really. I’m just tired.’
‘Nick, you’re at a wedding with your friends, and you’re sitting there with a face like Doug.’
I laugh at that, too. Doug moved back to Forest Falls about a year before I did, and I couldn’t believe the man I found. My fun, happy friend was a grouchy asshole until he met Cara.
‘I’m in my feelings. Don’t make me talk about them when I’ve been drinking.’
‘Nicholas, you know me better than that.’
I groan. ‘Bree, can we just dance and not talk?’
Taking pity on me, she agrees, but with a caveat. ‘You get in your feelings again, reach for your cell, not a beer. I’m always happy to talk to you.’
‘ Bree .’
‘Nick, I get it you’re busy, you have your routine, and don’t get to hang out like the old days, but we still love you, you’re still our friend, and we’re going to keep pushing to include you in stuff until you realize you’re safe to come down from the castle.’
Her words hit me in the chest. I went away to college and cut them all off. It wasn’t intentional, just life got in the way. Doug and Leo were out there young, free, and single in the city. Bree was off in the academy. Zoe was married to Luke, her childhood sweetheart. They were happy living the small-town life, and I was studying hard to become the best goddam vet in the world. I had to be the best; it wasn’t an option for me to be less than exceptional.
So, I stayed away, I worked my ass off, and that’s pretty much all I did. I didn’t go to college parties, and I didn’t date. I had too much on the line. I ran every morning. I worked all day and studied all night, and I had no intention of ever coming back to Forest Falls. I came back to see Luke once when he got sick and then for his funeral, and I thought that was it — I was done with this place.
Here I am, though, back where I started. When my brother got sick, I had to be close by, so I came home. We had no idea how long he would have, so my visit became permanent. I moved into my apartment, set up my clinic, and four years later, I’m still trying to figure out my place in this town.
‘I don’t know who I am here anymore, Bree. I don’t fit in.’
‘Don’t be an idiot,’ she scoffs. ‘Nick, you left town to study and build a life for yourself. You weren’t banished or run out of town for something unforgivable. You fit here the way you always did. We missed you.’ She taps my cheek, and my eyes find hers. ‘We still miss you.’
I processed Bree’s words with more beer, which was stupid, and as I stumbled to the bathroom and bumped into Missy on her way out — that much was very clear.
‘Oh, Nick, you scared me.’
She laughs, bringing her hand to her chest, and I lean against the door frame.
‘Sorry, didn’t mean to. ’
‘Okay.’ She looks around me, and I realize I’m blocking her exit, but I’m pretty comfy, propped up like this. ‘Are you okay? You look a little…’
‘You look good in that dress.’ Oh no.
‘ Okay , thank you.’
‘I bet you look better ou…’
‘Don’t finish that sentence.’ She holds up a finger, and I would cringe if I weren’t so drunk. ‘You want to hit on me, Nick, you do it sober.’ I inhale and feel my head spin. ‘Do you need to use the bathroom?’
She thumbs behind her, and I nod again. ‘Yep.’
‘Okay, well, if you let me out, you can get in.’
I start to step back when the guitarist, the one who had her laughing earlier, walks into the hallway.
‘You okay, Miss?’ We both turn to him and find him scowling as he looks between Missy and me as she steps out of the bathroom.
‘Yeah, honey. I’m good.’ She smiles at him again.
‘Okay, baby.’ Baby? ‘We’re all packed up and ready to go.’
He holds out his hand for hers, and she takes it, and he doesn’t break eye contact with me. He’s her man, and he doesn’t want me looking at her. Message fuckin’ received .
I watch them walk away before shutting myself in the bathroom. Even if she were interested, she’s unavailable.