Page 52 of Tides and Tidings

Rose: Why are you at a bar?

Blythe: To have a good time.

Rose: Bee, how drunk are you?

Blythe: It’s really none of your beeswax. Just say you miss me too.

Rose: Of course I miss you. Be safe. Make good decisions!

We’ll see about those good decisions…

Charlie

The way Blythe has let loose tonight has shown me a different side of her. I knew she knew how to have a good time, but seeing this has been fun. When I returned from the bathroom, I watched as she danced to her favorite songs, her curls hitting her in the face. Her hand with her drink was up in the air and she was shaking her ass to the music.

At that moment, she wasn’t Blythe, the bookstore owner. She wasn’t the woman who stepped up to be Wren’s mom. She wasn’t even Blythe, the girlfriend. She was the thirty-one-year-old woman who was letting loose for the first time in a very long time. She’s gone through hell with her family since moving here and deserves to let go.

I placed my empty cup down on a table and made my way to her.

“Excuse me, ma’am, are you here with anyone?” I asked, my lips against her ear.

Blythe glanced over her shoulder at me, “Oh, hi. I’m not. Are you here with anyone?”

So this is the route we’re going down.

“Nope. I’m only in town for one night and looking for a good time.”

“Funny, I am as well. I have a nice hotel suite by the river. Room 1138, if you’re interested.” She flirted back.

“Oh, that’s one of those suites, right?” I mentally patted myself on the back. I could never flirt like this sober. I’m too awkward.

Blythe bit her bottom lip, “It is.”

“You have a great eye for choosing rooms.” That one was lame.

She turned to face me and wrapped her arms around my waist. She rested her chin on my chest, “Charlie, I’m drunk.”

She pouted and closed her eyes.

I realized my sobriety was gone a few minutes ago.

“I am, too.”

The style of music changed to early 2000s hits, so we were both in our element.

“Dance with me!” Blythe got a second wind of energy.

She turned around and pressed her perfectly curved ass against my crotch. Her evil grin over her shoulder indicated she knew exactly what she was doing. She rocked her hips back and forth as I moved carefully behind her.

“You’re mean,” I growled in her ear.

“I’ve not done anything!” She feigned surprise.

“You won’t be able to walk tomorrow,” I grabbed her hips with my hands and pulled her back into me, ensuring she could feel what she had caused.

“Oops.” She turned and batted her eyelashes. She motioned for me to bend down to her level. “I need to go to the bathroom.”

“I can walk with you.” I offered.