In a bar with my very good girl friend. I hate this bar. She loves it. To me, it epitomizes everything I despise about this town. I walk in with a bad attitude. I also habitually walk into places like I own them. I am not sure why I do this. Is it a defense mechanism or does it roll down from childhood when my father DID own a place? Either way, people either want to get to know me or instantly hate me, based upon my entrance. I am trying to change this...sort of.
We walked in the back door, as "usuals" tended to. She went in first, I followed. Heads turned. I'm sure there were a few groans from the regulars at the sight of me. We sat at the end of the bar. Although my friend was a regular here, she was painfully shy & didn't like to look around. I, on the other hand, marched in behind her, disdain clearly on my face (I'm sure) looking about to see who was here. Oh look, same faces...ho hum. Perched at the end of the bar, on my barstool, I look about & realize my initial assumption was off. Who was this beauty standing by himself, also with a bland look of disdain & boredom? I turned to my friend to say I was going to go play some music, does she want to hear anything in particular? As I go to get up, I feel her hand on my arm. She has a look of pleading on her face. NO, he's a baby. I shrug her off, whatever; evil grin spreading on my face. He's cute I tell her. I saunter over, she is not looking in my direction at all. I pretend to look at the juke box & then try to get my friend's attention. She is not looking. So I turn to the young beauty & ask him if he would be so kind to attract the attention of my friend. He looks as though he's gonna shit himself, but he complies. She comes over, clearly horrified with me. We play some music & return to the bar. She is half seriously and half jokingly admonishing me. We laugh over my boldness.
After a bit, I am seriously bored. I use the excuse that I want to sit at a table & look at the sports news on the tv, I can't see it from where we are at the bar. At first she says ok, I know she feels exposed sitting at the end of the bar, with so few patrons. Then she notices who is standing in the other room, just opposite the table I choose. OH NO. I giggle & go over the table & plop myself down. She is caught between sitting alone at the bar (which exposes her more) or coming over with me. She chooses the latter, but gives me a sharp look. I start up a conversation with the young cutie in a matter of minutes. It's all about sports. We get into a pretty in depth conversation. It felt like 20 minutes but was more like 2 hours. Me completely ignoring my friend. I was smitten. He asked me for my phone number. I gave it willingly. He was 29, I was 37. He was never married, no kids. I was divorced with 2 teenagers. He said something about having just moved there, 2 weeks prior, from somewhere north. I told him how I hated the place. He was riding a friend's couch, while trying to find a place of his own (lie #1? or 50 of the night). He also told me he'd call me in a bout a week, as he was heading back home for a bit, something he had to take care of. Court, I ask? His eyes got wide & he looked panicked for a split second, yeah, he replied. I don't ask what for, what do I care, in college I "dated" a felon, someone who had killed a drug dealer years before. We chat a bit more but then it's closing time. I never even heard last call. My friend & I are permitted to stay, but everyone else has to leave. He tries to give me his number...all 3 of them (local number, where he is staying, cell phone & phone where I may be able to reach him when he's out of town). I slide the paper with the numbers on it back over to him. I won't call you, I tell him. At that point, his friends are getting pissed, he is their ride, let's go already. The female in the pack approaches him, whining about needing to leave, then turns to me to thank me for coming into the bar. He was being a real asshole until I showed up, then it was all about the "beautiful woman who just walked in, look at her, isn't she the most beautiful woman?" He sternly gives her a look & tells her to wait outside, for all of them to wait outside, he'll be right there. Looks sadly at me, picks up the paper I wrote my number on for him and asks if he should just rip it up now. Nope, I tell him, I am beautiful, call me when you're back in town.
Huge grin! Oh my gosh, I think he is so beautiful. I want him to kiss me. SO BADLY. But he doesn't...what?!?!? He just nervously says good night and walks out the door, looking over his shoulder at me numerous times.
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