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Sabrina harrumphed. “Nah, I’ll just eat some pretzels at the bar. I want to save room for the alcohol.”
I chuckled. On her best day, Sabrina couldn’t hold her liquor, and I worried that her stomach would be too empty when she started throwing back beers. Who was I kidding? She’d be sloshed within minutes, pretzels or not.
“If you say so.” I zipped my purse and stared out the window at the old brick buildings that lined the streets of downtown. “What’s the name of this bar again?”
Sabrina had convinced me to go to a new bar that had opened a few weeks ago. It was country-and-western themed with live music and a mechanical bull. It wasn’t exactly what I would have called my style, but it was the perfect spot to go dancing with my friend. I’d even pulled out an old pair of pink cowboy boots and a matching hat I’d bought during college.
“It’s called The Boot Scootin’ Bar,” Sabrina answered, as if she were one of their national spokespersons. “And I heard they have the best margaritas in town.”
The Uber driver pulled up to the entrance of the bar and we handed him a cash tip before hopping out. The neon lights around the perimeter of the sign of a giant cowboy boot outside the entrance were a bit garish, but men and women dressed in their finest western boots and hats funneled through the entrance as fast as the bouncers could open the stanchions. It seemed Sabrina had been right about it being the latest hot spot in town.
As we made our way inside, my heart raced with anticipation. The bar would, no doubt, be full of single men. I said a quick and silent prayer that the new medication would do what Doc had promised, and I wouldn’t have to live through another nightmare. I should have considered that before I left, and if Ty asked, I would assure him I had thought of it.
The smell of stale beer and whiskey hit me as soon as we stepped through the entrance. The country music was loud, and I couldn’t help but smile. This was exactly the kind of place I needed. I’d been so focused on Ty and my business that I couldn’t wait to let loose.
Sabrina grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the bar. She shouted her order over the noise, and within seconds she had a beer in her hand. I was more of a margarita kind of gal, so I ordered one and sipped it slowly as we made our way to the dance floor.
As soon as we stepped onto the wooden planks, Sabrina twirled around and squealed with excitement. We put our empty drinks on a nearby table, then she grabbed my hands and pulled me into the fast-paced line dance. There was kicking, thigh-slapping, toe-tapping, hip-gyrating, and spinning. I laughed and followed her as best I could, trying not to trip over my own feet. I wasn’t exactly the most coordinated shifter in town, but no one pointed or laughed. It didn’t seem to matter to anyone that I was a stumbling, bumbling, trainwreck of a dancer.
The music was intoxicating, and in this place, with all these random, unassociated people, I finally felt free from all of my worries. The night had just begun, but I already knew that it would be one for the books.
After the song stopped, we went back to the bar and pulled out a couple of stools.
“I think I’m ready for those pretzels.” Sabrina signaled the bartended for another round.
As we snacked on pretzels and sipped our drinks, I noticed a couple of guys over Sabrina’s shoulder. They were eyeing us pretty intently, so I wasn’t surprised when they got up the nerve to walk in our direction.
It was nothing new for us. We were used to men hitting on us in bars. The only difference now was that Ty and I were together, so I had no interest in their attention.
“Hello, ladies.” A man with a slight southern drawl stepped in front of Sabrina when she turned on her stool to look at them. His black hair was slicked back, and he wore jeans with a nice blue dress shirt that had pearl button covers.
Sabrina looked from him to me and back, then flashed her sexiest smile. “Hey there, cowboy.” She had a tone, a way of being that conveyed everything she wanted to say without actually saying it.
She oozed sexiness. It came naturally to her, and I had yet to see a man who wasn’t drawn to her flirtatiousness like a moth to a flame. I sipped my drink, trying to stay in the background as Sabrina soaked up the attention, but my presence was a safety net in case anyone got too aggressive.
The man smiled broadly, flashing a set of perfect white teeth. He extended his hand to Sabrina. “Hi.” He gave her another smile. “I’m Jack.”
“Very nice to meet you, Jack. I’m Sabrina.”
Jack’s friend eyed me. I flashed him a smile, but shook my head. Ty would kill these guys.
“She’s in a happy relationship,” Sabrina said. “Don’t mind her.” She gave the other guy a once-over. He was blondish with stormy gray eyes, an equally gray shirt, and pointy boots. “What’s your name?”
He cleared his throat. “Jason.”
Sabrina continued to flirt with Jack and Jason while I stayed distantly friendly.
“Want to dance?” From the other side, a blond-haired, blue-eyed man placed a hand on my shoulder.
I didn’t like being randomly pawed, and I wriggled out from under his grasp. “No, I’m sorry. I’m taken.”
He shrugged, then went to the other end of the bar where a group of scantily clad women were giggling loudly. They might as well have had a blinking LED sign that announced they were there to get laid.
Jack must’ve overheard my comment about me being taken. He leaned down and whispered in my ear, “Oh, come on.” I shook my head, but again, he moved in closer. “He isn’t here, and no one but you and I would ever have to know.”
“I said I’m taken.” My voice was firm and brooked no room for further conversation. I turned and faced the bar, slurping down the last of my margarita, hoping I’d seen the last of Jack.
I overheard him asking Sabrina to dance, but she took my cue and turned him down.
