FIVE
Tequila
I hate bars and dance clubs. Why am I a bartender? Well, it’s not the same, I guess. Going to a bar for fun is a completely different experience than working there. One brings in cash, what about the other? The alternative is pure agony. I prefer being at home with my fish.
And that explains why I'm single.
“Stop tugging at your dress. You look hot.” Angel nudges me while signaling for the bartender.
“I'm hoping that by pulling it down, more material will appear. It’s way too sexy. And I think you forgot it wasn’t you who was wearing this tonight,” I yell over the mixed hip hop and pop music thumping.
This outfit would've been perfect for me at nineteen, before I became obsessed with calories. Approaching thirty, I notice my curves becoming more pronounced, particularly my well-shaped butt. I could blame the booty gains on Angel’s exercise program, but then I would deny the credit of my moral support ice cream. I despise being showcased.
“I didn’t forget. You fill out that dress better than I can.” She passes me my drink, which has a yummy strawberry flavor, and takes us to the two unoccupied seats at the bar's end.
“How did Venom allow you to come here tonight?”
“Oh, sweetie. He doesn’t allow me anything. He knows better. Besides, he’s probably already circled the place three times. And I would guess…” Her eyes glisten when she talks about her man. The way those two fell in love remains a mystery to me. But they work. He was meant for her and she for him in some weird, twisted fate. “He’s on his fourth loop. Eventually, he'll gather the courage to park his Harley and sit in the parking lot. When he's done pouting, he'll walk in and stand at the back of the club, watching me like a stalker.”
I'd say she nailed that flawlessly. It’s something he would do.
“Do you hate it?”
“Hate what?”
“Him being so possessive of you.”
Her smile reaches the edge of her glass. “Not even a little. He’s protective and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Besides, I’d be doing the same thing. But pulling a bitch’s extensions out if some snatch laid her dirty finger on him.”
It's admirable to see her cheeks turn a rosy shade when she talks about her ol’ man. Must be such a powerful emotion.
A sense of warmth envelops me as a tall, confident stranger stands beside me. With his well-groomed hair and immaculate appearance, he emanates a triumphant businessman. Traits that have the power of making a woman weak in the knees.
The stranger with the swoon-worthy, smooth and bare jawline nods at us. “Greetings ladies.” His stone-colored eyes bore into mine, causing heat to radiate through my entire body. “Can I buy you two another round?” He's so good-looking, he could be straight out of a movie . Incredible white smile and hair so playful it reminds me a lot of…
Shit.
Not every man needs to remind me of Throttle. I need to quit. My goal is to take my mind off him. But staring at this beautiful reminder doesn’t help.
“My boyfriend would castrate you, so I’ll pass.”
The guy chuckles, but fear flashes in his eyes when he realizes Angel wasn’t kidding. And I’m pretty sure the massive gulp of his beer solidifies it.
“But my friend would love another.” Angel pinches my arm. I'm itching for him to go away since I haven't had any romantic or flirtatious interactions with a random guy in ages.
“Yes. Thank you.” I smile and as he orders, I kick Angel’s heel under the bar. She's the reason I'm in this situation.
She shoots me a side eye. “What? I’m helping you. The guy’s stacked.” She eyes him up and down like a dessert, but when her gaze falls over his shoulder, her smirk drops. “I’ll be right back. Need to go say hello to a certain lover boy of mine.”
I squeeze her arm. “You're going to leave me alone with this guy?”
“Never. We’ll be over there.” Angel points to Venom, who's holding up the wall with his gigantic frame and biker boot, scowling furiously. I’m surprised his face doesn’t freeze that way.
Watching her go, my nerves kick into high gear. I am by myself and uneasy being left with an attractive guy and I'm unsure how to act or speak.
Jesus, Tequilal . You are not this awkward. You are twenty-six years old. Twenty-six! Get your damn shit together.
“That the boyfriend who would castrate me?” The stranger nods over my shoulder. Venom holds Angel close, his arm serving as a protective barrier.
I snatch the drink he bought and take a huge sip. It’s dangerous for alcohol to taste like Fruity Pebbles. Especially when you need liquid courage to survive. “That would be him. And she wasn’t kidding. He would have murdered you.” I chuckle, but I am very serious.
He laughs, then uses a cough to calm his nerves. His cough is even sexy. Is that weird?
“Right. Well, wouldn’t want to test those waters.” His eyes sparkle under the neon lights, making me warmer. “It's you that interests me, not your friend.”
With embarrassment oozing from my pores, I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Thanks. Though, my friend is the prettier one. She’s more confident and I admire her for it. Totally jealous. Not jealous of her. More like envious. Oh! I guess that’s the same thing. Ew, now I sound weird and…”
“Whoa, hey.” The heat from his hand on my shoulder sends a nervous shiver through my body. “Slow down, killer.”
After taking a breath, I wish for a big hole to appear so I can seek refuge in it. “I’m sorry. I babble a lot when I’m nervous.”
Way to go.
“It’s cute. You’re cute.” He sweeps the strands of hair off my forehead, and I realize any other time I would be annoyed at a stranger doing that, but with him, it’s nice.
“Listen, you caught my attention. Not your friend. So, what’s your name, gorgeous?”
My name? Should be a simple question. Tequila or Hazel? Tequila or Hazel?
“Hazel.” Giving my club alias didn't sit right.
“Beautiful. I’m Caleb. So, what do you say?” He glances toward the center floor. “Dance with me?”
A noise escapes me before I can stop it. It was rude to snort in the man's face. But dance? Oh, boy. Am I supposed to grind on him? Booty to groin.
I despise being an introvert.
He flashes me another one of his rich smiles and I melt.
“Okay.” I cave.
He offers his hand, gesturing for me to accept it. With a brief pause, I take a quick look back at Angel and Venom. She approves with a thumbs up, but Venom gives me a skeptical glance. He’s asking me if I’m all right, and I give a small smile for reassurance.
Caleb leads me to the center floor while an early two thousand throwback song plays. I exhale and surrender to the music's control. I always loved to dance. When I was a teenager, I used to pretend I was Britney Spears, dancing to "Oops I did it Again" in my room. A warm body embraces me from behind, pulling me out of my flashback. Hands grip my waist, guiding me closer.
“You’re so sexy.” Caleb’s whisper pricks my skin.
Blushing, I get a surge of confidence. In an instant, I'm transported back to my teenage years. I move my booty into him and grind to the rhythm, reaching my arms up above, wrapping them around his powerful neck.
He runs his hands over my body, tracing every curve. I'm not prepared for what he does next. He slips a finger up the hem of my dress, and I tense.
I ensure Venom and Angel aren't watching because Venom would pull me off the floor. As the crowd obstructs our path, I shift in his embrace, now facing him, and interlock my wrists behind his neck.
When he leans in closer, I swear he inhales, sniffing my hair. “Mmm, you smell like roses.” He pulls me tighter.
But… roses. Our little rendezvous ends.
“Is everything okay?” he asks.
“Yeah, everything’s fine, but I think I’m going to go find my friend.” I step away, planning a quick exit.
Softly, he takes my arm. “Hey don’t leave yet. At least not before I had the chance to get your number.”
I pause at the skin-on-skin contact. I wish it affected me more. His touch. I want it to electrify me. But there’s nothing.
With a smile, I enter my digits into his phone because there’s no harm in that. I look for any red flags in his contacts. Maybe a bulk of women’s names, but zilch.
“It was nice meeting you. Thanks for the drink.” I scurry through the crowd, searching for Angel. Finding both her and Venom, I head their way.
Venom pushes away from the wall. “You good?” Eager to pounce and bite, he looks over my shoulder.
I nod.
“Down boy. Of course, she’s good. She was dancing with a delicious man and enjoying herself.”
“Watch it, woman.” Venom teases.
“I’ll admit, I had fun, but I’m ready to go.” I wrap my arms around my middle, securing myself.
“Okay, sure.” Angel rubs my arm in comfort. Was I this lovesick?
The moment we step outside, the brisk air sends a chill through me.
"I wish you had picked a cute jacket for this," I say to Angel. The dress leaves nothing to the imagination and I’m positive my nipples are on display from the lack of material.
“Or actual fucking clothes. The both of you.” Venom shoots an angry glare toward his ol’ lady.
“Hey. I was trying to distract our girl and take her mind off her lover boy with messy hair and a hang-around permanently attached to his dick.”
“Great. He knows too.” I was looking for that hole to fall into.
Venom's empathic smile screams, I’m hopeless.
After Angel and Venom lock lips in a heartfelt goodbye, we jump into her Camaro. “So, tell me about Mr. Hottie. You two looked like you were grinding pretty well together.”
“He asked for my number. I have my doubts that he will call or text, and even if he does… I don’t think I’ll answer.”
The sound of Angel snorting and the blinker clicking fills the air as we turn down a side road. “And excuse me when I ask… why the fuck not?”
Yes, Tequila. Why not? Good question.
“Well… I’m just not sure it’s a great idea. I don’t know him.”
“No shit, girl. No one knows anyone when they first meet someone. That’s why they call it dating.”
I play with my dress while gazing out the window. “Yeah, I guess.”
“Stop making excuses and promise me if he does text you, which he will, you’ll answer him. And if he asks you out, you will go.”
Does rejecting a date make me a brat? I know I’m a nice girl, but there’s always something holding me back. Or someone.
“I can’t promise, but I won't rule it out just yet.” There. Good job Tequila.
“I’ll take it. It’s better than nothing.”
We pull into the club next to my car. I drove here because Angel still doesn’t know where I live. No one does. And I’m superb at keeping it a secret.
“Night is young. Want to find out what the guys are up to?”
Not really. I can already tell her what a particularly tall biker with tattoos is doing. But of course, my unhealthy curiosity is dragging me inside and I regret it. I should leave with a bit of my dignity intact. Each of our boys has a woman sitting on their laps. Some of them with their tongues intertwined. Well, Hush is by himself nursing water like always. I’m sure Throttle is amongst them, though I don’t see him.
“Never mind. This was a bad idea.” Before I can sprint away, Angel grabs me by the waist.
“Oh, no you don’t. Bar. Us. Now.”
“Has anyone ever told you you’re abnormally strong for a girl?”
She laughs. “There are a couple of douchebag men who can vouch for that.”
“I’m sure Venom would love to have you home. Let’s go.” Again, her grip is exceptionally sturdy.
“He’ll be fine. He knows where I am and I’d invite him, but… he’s not keen on hanging around here yet. And I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual.”
True. The guys still haven't matured with Angel and Venom. Some argue that it’s justified. But Venom has certainly shown his worthiness of respect. And the love he has for her is obvious.
Giving up on leaving, I allow myself to relax. Although I keep tugging at my dress, wishing for it to stretch by seven inches. This is the most revealing outfit I've ever worn. Especially here and around Throttle. I prefer a laid-back look, wearing jeans or leggings and a simple top. Nothing flashy. I want to embrace my body, but my personality won't let me. My momma always said, “ show off those curves, baby girl. ” I’m not saying I never like to dress up. It was just unwanted attention I didn’t enjoy.
I settle onto my stool, making sure not to stumble upon Throttle. And just like that. The prickly sensation on the back of my neck makes me glance at him. Each time I spot him looking at me, my heart's knee-jerk reaction is the same. His smoldering eyes have me entranced and unable to break my gaze. Unable to catch my breath.
I'm uncertain why he keeps scowling at me. His eyes are filled with darkness and it’s terrifying. Menacing. He looks lethal, but I’ve never been more alive.