“WOW, YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.” Mary-Katherine smiled when I stepped out of my Uber. I tipped the driver and turned towards her.
“This dress is way too tight.” I tugged at the hem.
“It fits you perfectly. See, all that yoga and salad-eating paid off. You’re a skinny bitch now.” She laughed and waved to a group of people that waved back.
“I haven’t lost any weight, I just couldn’t fit into your skinny jeans when you made me try them on while I was on my period...” My words trailed off as we got to the group and introductions were made.
The club was just like college, but worse because we were part of the old crowd—the same crowd Mary-Katherine used to make fun of when we were in college. We gathered around a table and ordered drinks. I ordered a martini, thinking I could just hold it and sip it all night, but by the time the waitress brought it to the table, I had lost my stool to one of Mary-Katherine’s work friends. I just stood on the outer perimeter of the circle and smiled when someone looked at me, or nodded like I agreed with whatever the group said. I started to wonder why Mary-Katherine even asked me to come to the club if she was just going to ignore me.
“Here you are, ma’am.” The waiter handed me a shot glass that smelled like tequila. I watched everyone chug theirs and I took a light sip—yep, it was tequila.
I had too many nights purging Quetzalcoatl from my stomach and flushing him down the ceramic to ever dance with that ancient Aztecan again. I took a step towards the table to my left when the patrons walked away, and put the shot glass in the middle of their empty beer bottles. With one quick step to my right, I was back in the perimeter of the group that had become my permanent home until I could make an excuse to leave. The dress seemed to move up my hips on its own, or rub against my ribs in a way that I was sure would leave a mark, so I had to keep adjusting it. The battle never seemed to be won. The next thing I knew, a voice broke me from the war with my attire and startled me.
Chapter 3: Max
“Me?” She looked at me with a bit of confusion.
“Yes, I think you’re beautiful.” Behind my back I gave a signal to Steve and the volume of the music started to get louder.
“You what?” My words were drowned out before she could hear the last word.
“I said, I think you’re beautiful.” I leaned closer to her, my lips nearly against her ear so she could hear my words.
“I’m sorry.” She blushed and stared at me, her eyes blinking. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
“Tell me you already know it. Tell me that guys say that to you all the time.” I let my lips drag against her earlobe.
“Guys don’t say that...” She tugged at her dress.
“They should. That dress looks really uncomfortable.” I could see redness in her cheeks and they were already starting to glow with faint radiating blush.
“I borrowed it from my friend.” She pointed towards the table. “She’s over there.”
“You can return it when you pick it up off the floor tomorrow morning.” I put my hand on her arm and let my finger slide down the sensitive skin near her wrist.
“Uh... Um...” She took a step back and tried to say something, but the music drowned her out.
“I can’t hear you.” I mouthed and motioned for her to say it in my ear.
“I said I’m not that kind of girl.” She spoke directly into my ear and I ran my fingers along her arm again.
“Why don’t we just go somewhere quieter and talk then? I really do think you’re beautiful, but it is too loud to talk in here.” I reached for her hand and started walking towards the door.
She was mine.
The music was so loud that it was probably hard for her to even think, much less figure out what I was saying. I flashed a thumbs-up to Steve as I walked towards the door and he started lowering the volume before customers started to complain. He knew my tricks because he had seen them repeated so many times. I could feel Abby’s hand sweating as we walked through the crowd and outside the club. The evening air felt nice after being trapped in a room filled with sweating college students. The second we were outside the club, she pulled her hand away and shook her head.
“I need to get back to my friends. That sip of tequila must have really done me in, because I don’t know you.” She moved her hand in a half-circle wave. “It was nice meeting you.”
“Wait, don’t go.” I stepped forward and took her by the hand, preparing to ooze charisma filled with all the manners I could muster—it was a wonderful mask to wear when I met the kind of good girls I liked best. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m obviously not very good at talking to women in clubs. That’s my fault. I just wanted to get your attention.”
“You seem nice.” Her lips twisted into nervous uncertainty and she looked down at the ground.
Here comes the fucking but.
“But, I’m not really interested in going home with someone I just met and I’m not sure the kind of guy that would want that sort of thing is really my type.” Her smile twisted to one of pity, like she felt sorry for me.
“I came on too strong.” I nodded. “I get that. I’m not upset with you for being concerned. I don’t get out much. I’m just a guy that saw a beautiful girl and got a little ahead of myself. You don’t sound like much of a drinker. Would you like to get coffee instead? There’s a nice little coffee shop right over there. You can see it from here. They’re open all night and we can just talk until your friends are done.” I gave her my best I love you smile, buried behind a remorseful stare.
“I really don’t want to go back inside.” She sighed. “Yeah, coffee sounds good.”
“Awesome.” I extended the crook of my elbow towards her and smiled as she put her hand in it.
“Let’s start over. My name is Abby—short for Abigail and I don’t mind if you call me that.” She looked up at me with a smile forming where I had previously seen nothing but hesitation.
Mine. Mine. Mine. All. Fucking. Mine.
“Hey girl. Don’t go falling in love with him. He’ll break your fucking heart.” I looked to the line of people waiting to get into the club and saw one of the women step out of line. She started walking towards us with a purpose, her high heel shoes slamming on the sidewalk with each step.
God, what was her name. I knew her. I fucked her. Valerie? No, it was Veronica.
“I’m sorry, she’s just a crazy person.” I tried to keep Abby’s hand in the crook of my arm, but she stopped walking and turned around.
“This guy?” She pointed at me with her thumb. “Max?”
“Yeah, Max.” Veronica let out a laugh. “What did he do? Offer to take you for coffee so you could have some time to talk? You may think you’re clever enough to resist his charm right now, but give him an hour. Your panties will be drowning in your pussy and begging him to come save them.”
“Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Veronica.” I gave her a death stare, but I knew it was all over with Abby. The rest of the patrons in line were paying attention as well, and Abby seemed a little nervous.
“We call him Mr. Mistake, those of us that let him in. We fell for his charm, fell for his good looks, and of course the fact he’s filthy rich doesn’t hurt. You can follow him and join our club tomorrow morning—he won’t be there when you wake up. Or, you can go back inside with your friends where you’re safe.” Veronica pointed towards the door.
“Abby...” I let out a sigh.
“I’m sorry, I should go.” Abby looked down at the ground as she ran back towards the door.
“This place really needs more bouncers.” I sighed angrily. “Are you still that pissed off at me? It’s been what, two years?”
“That’s the problem, Mr. Mistake—you’re unforgettable. Now that she’s gone, why don’t you take me home and I can make that mistake again.” Veronica walked closer and took my hand as the crowd finally stopped staring.
“We’ve had this talk before. It’s not happening.” I turned and motioned towards my dri
ver who was waiting on the other side of the street.
He did a u-turn out of his parking space and pulled up to the curb. I climbed into the passenger door and slammed it shut, watching Veronica stomp her high heel before she walked back towards the line.
Veronica was a bit of an anomaly. I thought she was a sweet, innocent young woman when I first met her, but she turned out to be a freak. It was a fun night but it was never going to be forever. Veronica seemed to have other ideas and she stalked me for a bit, posting shit about me on social media. She coined the term, Mr. Mistake, and even used it as a hashtag for some of her friends. Occasionally, I would run into her and she would try to get me to take her home. It was the first time she had ruined a date for me, and I was angry I had to go home alone because of her interference.
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Chapter 1: Mia
“Let’s go Wildcats, let’s go!” My pompoms went into the air and I waved them around while the sound of shoulder pads mixed with helmets. Bodies crashed together and the play was over before it even began.
We lost.
It was our biggest game—the last game of the season. The only part of my college career that I cared about ended when our team lost the bowl game. It was time to hang up my short skirt and pompoms. It was the best season the team had while I had been a student there, but none of us went back to the locker room feeling very excited. The cheerleaders that were dating players dressed quickly and ran off to console their boyfriends. I put my stuff in a duffel bag and went home alone. There was a time when a certain blue eyed, blond haired back-up quarterback would have been waiting for me, but when the starter went down, he got the top spot on the team. That meant every girl in the school started throwing themselves at him and he no longer had time for a virgin that didn’t put out. It wasn’t the first time a guy had said goodbye when I didn’t spread my legs. I had been through it in middle school and high school. There was no reason for college to be any different.
I guess I’ll have more time to focus on school now that the season is over and my love life is nonexistent.
Without the short skirt and revealing top, I was practically invisible. The glasses and ponytail I wore to class every day with barely one layer of makeup certainly didn’t enhance my appearance. With the season over, things returned to normal and I finished college without much fanfare. My family came to see the first Franklin girl from Florence, Alabama get her degree from a major university and then I drifted into the workforce. An accounting firm in Texas needed some cheap labor to mash buttons, so my education earned me a starting salary and a desk beside all the others that didn’t graduate top of their class. It was a peaceful life living from paycheck to paycheck in my dingy apartment in the heart of Texas, but it didn’t stop the memories. Every time my head hit the pillow, I was on the sidelines again, cheering so loud my lungs hurt.
Let’s go Wildcats, let’s go!
“MIA, THERE’S A MIXER after work at the Lone Star Pub. You should totally come!” Debbie, one of the other women at the office, tapped my desk as she walked past and then turned to the desk next to mine. “Cindy, are you in?”
“Yeah!” Cindy nodded enthusiastically, but I didn’t reply.
I really do need to get out.
The mixers. It seemed like Debbie managed to scrounge up enough interest for a new party every week. I had been working at Texas Pride Accounting for nearly six months and I still hadn’t made it to one. I kept saying I would, but when my butt hit the couch and the television came on, I couldn’t find the energy to put on fancy clothes. I spent the day trying to convince myself it was going to be different when the day ended, but in my heart, I knew it was unlikely. As much as I wanted to go out and possibly meet someone, the office life just wasn’t exciting enough to keep me partying until dawn like my college days were. I finished my workday, and when it was time to clock out and go home, I was already exhausted and thinking how awesome a nap would be before I finally went to bed.
“Rick was asking if you were going to be at the mixer.” Debbie held the door open for me as I approached the exit.
“He was?” I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
“He’s got a crush on you, but I think he’s too scared to ask you for a date. I bet if you come out with us tonight, he would finally get some courage after a couple of drinks.” She winked at me.
Rick wasn’t a bad looking guy. He was a bit of a geek, but the suit he wore to work every day enhanced his look. He was also the only guy at the office that showed even a tiny bit of interest in me. I wasn’t motivated to date him, but since my options didn’t seem to be expanding, I was open to giving him a shot. My cheerleader credentials weren’t going to land me a date at the office unless I stripped down to my underwear and started cheering people on at the copier. That seemed like a route to unemployment instead of marriage. I went home and avoided the couch, searching through my closet for something that still fit my curves without showing off the five pounds I had put on since graduation. A couple of hours later, I was walking into the Lone Star Pub feeling more nervous than I did the first time I walked into a frat party my freshman year.
“Mia!” Debbie walked over and waved when she saw me. “Damn girl, you clean up good. Why don’t you dress like this every day?”
“It isn’t really appropriate for the office.” I shook my head back and forth.
“You’re crazy. The bosses love legs.” She put her arm around me. “Mia’s here everyone!”
I WOULDN’T CALL THE first hour a total disaster, but I was a bit out of my element. It was clear that everyone there had formed a bond and I was kind of an outsider. I finished my first drink quickly and started on my second. There were two distinct groups at the pub and the other one seemed to be a lot livelier than ours. There were plenty of couples and people that were all alone, but my attention kept getting drawn to the group of very attractive girls on the other side the bar. They were putting back shots like I did in college, laughing and hanging all over each other. I tried to stay focused on my group, but I couldn’t help but stare. It was like a memory unfolding, calling on me to embrace it. I was almost startled when I felt a hand on my arm.
“Mia?” I turned to see Rick smiling at me. “I’m glad you decided to come out with us tonight.”
“Hey, Rick!” My response was too loud, especially when the music ended before I finished his name.
“Can I get you another drink?” He motioned towards the bar.
“Sure—actually, I’ll walk over with you.” I followed him towards the bar and saw Debbie winking at me as I walked.
He’s got me alone. I’m away from the pack. If he’s going to ask me out, now is the time.
Rick ordered drinks and I took a seat at the bar while we waited. He made small talk, nervously dancing around whatever question he might have wanted to ask me. I tried to smile and show interest, but he wasn’t making it very easy. His eyes kept drifting over to the group of girls and I seemed to take a backseat to them. From my seat at the bar, I was closer to them and able to hear their conversations. I recognized the terms they were using, the formations they were joking about—they were cheerleaders. They looked a bit older than most college students, but they were throwing around cheerleader terms like I used to do with the squad. When Rick finally lost his courage or his interest and invited me to rejoin the group, I decided to walk over and talk to them instead.
“Hi, I’m Mia.” I raised my hand awkwardly. “I couldn’t help but overhear. Are you all cheerleaders?”
“Like you don’t recognize us?” A woman with brown hair threw a few strands of curls over her shoulder and stared me down. “We’re the Texas Cowboys squad, obviously.”
“You’re cheerleaders in the NFL?” My mouth fell open in shock. “Wow, that’s awesome!”
“Please don’t ask for autographs, darling. We’re just trying to have some girl time.” Her faced turned to a scow
l and the rest of the group started to stare at me like I was a lost puppy begging for a treat.
“No! Not at all.” I shook my head quickly. “I was a cheerleader in college.”
“Oh, one of those.” The woman with brown hair smacked her lips. “Couldn’t make a pro-squad? It’s okay darling. Not everyone who gets to swing pompoms in college is good enough for the big time.”
“I mean...” I felt my face flushing with embarrassment. “I’ve never tried out. How does that work?”
“Your cheer coach didn’t get an audition lined up for you? You must not have been very good.” A blonde titled her head with a sarcastic scowl as she joined the conversation and the rest of them nodded their heads in confirmation.
“Well...” I looked down at the floor. “How do I audition?”
“Look it up online, and please leave us alone. We don’t have time for fans right now.” The group turned away from me and started talking amongst themselves again.
Was I this horrible to people that tried to talk to us in college?
I did as they requested, but I had a new focus. I had thought about trying out for a team after college, but the girls were right, my coach didn’t think I was good enough. The cheerleaders at the bar were pretty, but they didn’t look like anything more than normal people when they weren’t wearing their uniforms. I went home and looked up the information online. Tryouts were less than a week away. I tried to reassure myself as I filled out the information. I knew there would be a lot of other girls competing for whatever limited spots they had, but I couldn’t turn down the opportunity. After I filled out the form, I looked online for some local gyms. I had less than a week to try and get myself back in shape. I hoped it was enough time. The last thing I wanted was to embarrass myself by looking like a klutz when I finally got another shot at the one thing I loved more than anything else in the world.
Small Town Seven: Reverse Harem Romance Page 15