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4
Natalie
I realized how weird I must have seemed to everyone else in the room that I was wearing earbuds and staring at my screen in the middle of a gig, but I hadn’t realized there was going to be a band when I’d arrived at the bar. Once it became clear that was what was happening, I’d considered leaving, but after thinking about it had decided I wasn’t ready to see an end to the night just yet.
On the other hand, the thought of going somewhere else didn’t appeal either. I was comfortable where I was—I had an entire booth to myself, and though the crowd was getting drunker, nobody had bothered me, not even to ask if I needed the whole table, or if I had friends coming.
I couldn’t be sure I’d get so lucky at a second venue at that time of night, so I decided to settle in for a while longer, order nachos for dinner, and kill two birds with one stone by catching up on some movie viewing. I needed to refresh myself on a couple ahead of grading papers over the weekend, so it worked perfectly.
Okay, so watching Lord of the Flies alone in an increasingly packed bar wasn’t most people’s idea of a great Friday night out, but since I was no longer with Doug, I had nobody to please but myself, and I was very happy with the status quo, if I took the whole being unceremoniously dumped part out of the equation.
“Must be a fascinating show.”
I jumped a foot in the air, almost dropping my phone in the process.
“Excuse me?”
The movie had ended a few minutes after the band had left the stage, so I’d taken my headphone off, and was scrolling through social media. However, I’d clearly been absorbed enough in the goings on in Facebooklandia not to have noticed anyone approach me until he was speaking pretty much right into my ear. Though the band had finished, the house sound system was cranking, and the dance floor was rocking, so I wouldn’t have heard him otherwise.
I turned around to find myself peering into a familiar pair of bright green eyes. Oh.
“Well, you were watching TV throughout the entire gig, so I guess that either we were horrible, or whatever you were watching was just so gripping you couldn’t tear yourself way. Now, not to blow smoke up my own ass, but I know we didn’t suck, out there tonight, so…?”
It had occurred to me before I’d been scared to death that it was probably past time I went home—it was getting weirder for me to be alone in a heaving bar, engaging with nobody and nothing apart from my device.
Not that I cared what a roomful of strangers thought of me. That was actually part of the point of the Fuck It List—to give less of a fuck about other people and way more of a fuck about my own happiness. Still, now that he mentioned it, I was starting to feel a little odd, and like I needed to explain my random behavior.
“I don’t know if you sucked or not. I was doing some research for my job and got carried away with what I was doing. It was nothing to do with the quality of the music, I promise. And to be fair, I didn’t realize there was going to be live music here tonight or else I probably would have left before it started, but since I didn’t, I just rolled with it.”
He was still standing side-on to my table, and although I was on a raised platform, I had to look up a little to maintain eye contact. I became hyperaware that due to the noise, he was standing a shade closer to me that I would want or expect a stranger to.
“Why would you have left? You don’t like music?”
“No, I do, but just not…” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them, so I faltered, letting the sentence die off without finishing it. I wasn’t trying to be rude.
“Just not our music.”
“No, that’s not what I was going to say. I’m sure you’re very good. It’s just that the rock thing in general isn’t my bag.”
“How can you be so sure we’re good when you clearly didn’t listen to a word?”
Wow.The conversation wasn’t going well.
“Well, judging by the way the crowd was responding, it was clear you can rock a room. Everyone seemed to be having a great time.”
“Except you, of course.”
“Not at all. Like I said before, it really wasn’t like that, but I’m sorry for being rude. If I’d known the band would have been aware of my presence, I would definitely have gone home. I should have. Speaking of which, it’s about time I—”
“No, don’t go. I’m not trying to be a dick. You were under no obligation to listen, so don’t feel you have to leave. I’m really not trying to make you feel bad, honestly. Let me buy you a drink to show there’s no hard feelings.”
“No. Thank you. It’s okay, I really should be heading off, and not because of anything you’ve said or done. It’s just getting late, that’s all.”
“Please? Stay for one drink with me. I’m intrigued.”
As he spoke, a waitress walked past my table almost on cue, and he reached out, holding her wrist gently to get her attention in the dark, loud room. She stopped in her tracks, and as she turned to see who had touched her, her entire body seemed to come alive with recognition. She looked slowly down at his hand still lightly resting on her wrist, then raked her gaze over his body, finally meeting his eyes. The smallest of smiles graced her lips, as a frisson of sexual energy visibly rippled through her body. So hot.
He smiled at her politely before turning back to me. “What would you like?” He leaned in closer this time, and as his breath gently caressed my ear, I could totally understand where the waitress was coming from. My whole body was suddenly hyper-sensitized, a rash of goose bumps sweeping across my skin like wildfire.
Part of me wanted to refuse the offer—I hadn’t actually said I’d stay, after all—but another part of me clearly had no such restraint. “Rum and coke please.” The words were out before I had time to stop them.
He nodded, turning his attention back to the server. “Make that two, please.”
The look the waitress flashed him suggested that she’d like to give him a lot more than just drinks, yet he seemed either oblivious or impervious to what else she had to offer. Noting his indifference, she frowned—maybe she was unused to guys resisting her advances—then popped her gum a few times before turning on her heel and sashaying away from the table, ponytail swishing as she went.
He watched her for a few moments before turning to me. “So, mind if I join you?”
