Last Call

by Michele G Miller

  "Well it was great to meet you, honey. You'll be okay, just follow your heart," he suggested; stepping back.

  "Thanks. We'll get together again soon. But with Sara, so we can screw with her love life, okay?" I laughed.

  "For sure, that girl is a mess."

  "Agreed. Drive safe." I pulled the door shut, cranked the car and allowed the flirting glances and laughter from Gage and his groupies to fill my senses all the way home.

  Throwing myself into bed without speaking to my roommates, I desperately willed myself to sleep; praying for harmless thoughts of the zombie apocalypse, or even showing up to school naked. Instead I got Gage.

  An entire night of the sexy superman, a bar and a lot of dirty positions.

  Friday - May 3, 2013

  Six Weeks until "The Wedding"

  Date #6 - Jax (again)

  I awoke dreading the day and feeling guilty. Knowing that I had a date with Jax made the day fly by, but thinking of Gage was killing me. My work at the art gallery was tiring but fulfilling this week as we cataloged a shipment set for exhibition later in the summer. Today I was glad for the distraction.

  The deeper I got into planning the exhibition, the more I found myself liking the work. It was a welcome surprise to think that maybe I would want a job in a museum or gallery after all.

  I spent the early afternoon at a local park sketching the scenery for my first art assignment. I always found solace and comfort in the quiet that overtook me when I put myself into my art. My boy troubles began to melt away.

  By the time I headed home to get ready for my date, the only thing that continued to plague me was Spencer. I was trying to throw him out of my head for now, and since he hadn't called back it was relatively easy. But I still felt somewhat childish and guilty for ignoring him. I simply didn't think I would be able to handle an adult conversation with him right now.

  If I sat and really thought about the past two weeks, I was amazed to find myself juggling dates. When Jax called me Wednesday night I found our conversation to be a little more focused on him and his internship than I would have liked. He was feeling intense pressure to come up with economic planning strategies for businesses that were mindboggling to me, so I forgave him for his lack of interest in my life. I was looking forward to having some one-on-one time with him again. I was also looking forward to getting that kiss he’d wanted to give me two weeks ago. Warmth tingled through me at the thought of a long, hot kiss. It'd been a long time, and evidently I was a little hard up for some affection. Perhaps that was the cause of all my confusion - hard up for some lovin’.

  Brian called that afternoon on his way to a banquet with some other student diplomats. Our conversation was short but sweet. He told me he was thinking of me and wanted to make sure I kept my calendar open for one day next week so we could get together. I was excited that he was going to be staying in Nashville for the summer instead of going home like so many fellow students were.

  Gage also sat at the forefront of my mind; a constant, distracting presence as I went about my day. His warm eyes, his dimpled smile. That thick, compelling accent. I was in deep with that one, all right.

  The more I thought about all of my dates, the more I began to struggle with the thought of dating multiple guys. Especially when I admitted to myself that the thoughts I was having about Gage were becoming obsessive. Feeling stressed about dating more than one guy at a time, I asked Candace her thoughts while we were both dressing Friday night.

  "Cand? Do you ever feel guilty for dating more than one guy at a time?" I called into the bathroom while she worked on her hair. As usual on a Friday night, she was using my bathroom because Sara was showering in theirs.

  "Nah, that's what dating is," she yelled back. "I mean, it's not like you’re going to sleep with them. You're just checking out the options, you know?"

  "I'm not shopping for a car, Candace," I quipped, walking up behind her. She stared at me in the mirror while she worked a flat iron through her blond bob.

  "Yes you are, and you need to check out all the bells and whistles. See what perks they each come with." She grinned. "Take ‘em for a test drive. Wink, wink."

  I couldn't stop the wisecrack that popped into my mind. "See who has the smoothest ride?"

  "Yes! Or who can get the most mileage on one tank of gas."

  "Oh, oh…who goes from zero to sixty in three seconds flat, and who likes to ease onto the gas."

  We slumped against the wall, laughing so hard tears ran down our faces. Candace set the flat iron down on the counter; shaking in a fit of hilarity as we kept pulling out dirty car jokes.

  "You just have to check the dip stick."

  "Oh my lord, Candace," I gasped, sinking to the floor and crossing my legs. "Stop or I'm going to pee myself."

  "Have you two gone insane?" asked Sara, walking into my room and peeking in the bathroom. Candace and I looked at each other and spontaneously broke out into another round of giggles.

  Sara eyed my comfy clothes disdainfully. "Keep laughing it up Miss I’m-So-Sexy, but Jax will be here in thirty minutes," she nagged, walking away.

  "Oh crap, really?"

  I jumped up and hurried to get dressed and ready for my date, while Candace's roaring chuckles echoed through the bathroom as I went.

  Twenty minutes later I applied a coat of plum lip gloss and ran my hands over my hair for the umpteenth time. Candace sat on my bed and watched me while I slipped on two shoes for her to help me pick which looked better.

  "That dress is killer, girlfriend," she admired as I twisted around, poking out my shoes. The black flimsy skirt floated around my knees. I was torn between a strappy black heel and a gold strappy sandal. "I say sandal with your chunky gold bracelets."

  "Gold it is then," I agreed, slipping on the sandal and pulling on my bracelets.

  "He just pulled up," sang Sara from the front of the house.

  I heard her open the door and greet him as I waited the appropriate amount of time, as designated by Candace, before walking out to meet him. I spotted Jax as I followed Candace down the hallway. He was laughing with Sara as he stood in the foyer. His curling dark hair looked slightly damp, as if he'd just gotten out of the shower. He was casually dressy in dark jeans with a light plaid dress shirt. The sleeves were rolled up on his forearms, and a large diver’s watch covered his wrist.

  His eyes met mine as soon as I walked out of the shadow of the hallway, and he excused himself from Sara and walked straight to me. Admiration clear on his face, he leaned in and kissed my cheek with a whispered, "You look gorgeous."

  "Hi to you too." I smiled back and allowed him to take my hand.

  "Where are you two kids off to tonight?" teased Sara like a parent.

  "Wherever she’ll let me take her," Jax answered with a wink.

  "I'll see you two tomorrow morning," I added as we walked out the door. Sara and Candace were both planning rather big nights with their own dates tonight. It wasn't much of a surprise in Sara's case since she tended to think of sex as a bit of a recreational sport. However, Candace surprised me with her declaration earlier in the day that she was planning on spending the night with Tony. They'd been seeing each other on and off for several months, but I didn't realize that it had turned more serious recently. Guilt ate at me for being so wrapped up in my own junk that I hadn’t asked about the events of her life more.

  Jax surprised me with an extravagant dinner at a local steakhouse. It was the kind of place where you ordered everything a la carte, and it was much too nice for a first date.

  "You know you didn't have to pull out the big guns tonight."

  "It's no less than you deserve, and I wanted it to be special. I probably won't get to see you for several weeks again."

  My face fell, but he made up for that damaging news later by treating me to all kinds of hysterical stories about New York and work.

  Once we were finished with dinner, Jax insisted we meet up with a few friends. When he said they’d all be meetin
g at The Garage, my blood pressure rose in anticipation at seeing Gage. Not good. Thinking it might be time to stop going to the same place as my personal kryptonite, I tried to convince Jax to change locations.

  "I'm sorry, but the guys are already there. Besides, I thought you liked The Garage."

  Without a reasonable response to give, I gave up and we made our way there. Finding his friends was pretty easy. There was a large group of them sucking down shots and acting rowdy on the floor. Gage smiled at me when we made eye contact as I made my way across the bar. I tried to ignore him as Jax and his buddies sank deeper and deeper into their drunken debauchery. Even so, I couldn't stop pinning my gaze on the gorgeous bartender who kept haunting my dreams.

  "Let's dance," Jax suggested in my ear after almost an hour of sitting there watching him throw back drinks and talking with his friends. He pulled me to the floor for a dance without waiting for an answer.

  "Does the bartender have something you like?" The question came out of nowhere, and I pulled back in alarm at the slightly angry tone he used. "You two have been making eyes at each other all night. Is there something going on?" he hissed. He pulled me in closer as we danced; his eyes aggressively fixed on mine.

  There was an open back to my dress and his warm hand snaked its way under it; his fingers curling around my ribcage little by little. The closer he pulled me in, the closer his fingers came to skimming the side of my breast. I pushed off of him slightly, trying not to make a scene, but he held tight.

  "Tell me, are you slumming it with the help, Savannah? He looks like he wants to eat you alive." His words slurred, and I knew he'd drunk way too much tonight.

  "You’re drunk, Jax," I hinted quietly. "Why don't I drive you home?"

  "That's an excellent idea," he murmured. "Right after this dance."

  He clutched at my back again and pressed me into his chest. It was easier to let him grope me then it was to get away, so I rested my chin on his shoulder and breathed deeply as I waited for the interminable song to end. His fingers began to graze the edge of my breast again and I jerked back.

  Jax whispered rather incoherently in my ear, and from what I could gather I was supposed to like his touch. As I looked around towards the bar I found myself in Gage's deathly stare. He looked like he was shooting lasers at me with his golden eyes, and I quickly looked away in shame. I was pretty sure that he now had a pretty low opinion of me. My stomach dropped, followed by something more profound ripping through my heart.

  "Can we go please?" I begged. I knew my soft plea was bound to give him the wrong impression, but right now my plan was solely to get him out of the bar. Jax's hand weaved into my hair and pulled my head back so he could look me in the eyes.

  "I'm sorry. I've been rude, haven't I?"

  "I think you drank too much, that's all. I'm not mad at you, but I do think we should leave now," I answered diplomatically.

  "Damn it," he growled a little too loudly. His face was twisted in anger and I glanced around us to see if anyone had heard him. "I've just been so stressed and overworked."

  He sounded miserable. I could see why so many men in the financial district burnt out easily at such a young age. Over dinner he’d told me about a breakdown that one of the owners of the firm had just gone through, and he seemed about ready to snap himself.

  "Jax, why don't you quit? If you’re so unhappy…"

  "What the hell? Quit? I wouldn't be able to show my face if I quit a job like this. It's our life Savannah. It's what we’re meant to do."

  "We?"

  "The privileged. I know you feel the pressure too. You've told me you do," he hissed as his eyes slid to my lips. "I want that kiss from you," he demanded, lowering his mouth to mine. Right before our lips touched, he edged his mouth to my ear and whispered, "Let's give that bartender a show."

  His lips then claimed mine. His fingers sank into my hair and held my face as his other hand slid down the side of my chest and landed on my hip; clasping me to him. I tasted the whiskey on his mouth and wanted to laugh at the sheer irony of my own family’s liquor being the catalyst that put me in this position.

  Not caring about making a scene anymore, I pushed as hard as I could to free myself from his grip. Our mouths parted, but his hand stayed firmly wound in my hair. When I tried to extract myself from his grip, I tugged my head and felt the sharp sting of hair being pulled.

  "Let go, Jax," I warned hotly, my voice a quiet hiss. "Let go now or I will make a scene."

  His fingers released and I lost my balance for a moment. I fixed him with a furious stare and then turned to rush from the bar. As I made a beeline for the exit I kept my gaze cast down. I slammed out the door and walked halfway across the parking lot before I cooled down enough to stop.

  The sound of footsteps echoed behind me and I swung around in the dark parking lot to see Gage swiftly striding my way. "Savannah?"

  My entire body flushed hot with embarrassment when he came closer and called out, "Are you okay?"

  Jax stumbled out of the door at the same moment Gage made it to my side.

  "I'm fine. Just go back inside, okay?"

  "Hey man," bellowed Jax. "I knew it! You gotta hard on for my girl."

  I placed myself in front of Gage and stepped forward to place my hands on Jax’s chest as he walked up. "Give me your keys and I'll take you home, Jax," I coaxed, trying to stop the situation from escalating.

  He swung his arm hard enough to push me off of him as he continued to thunder at Gage. "You think you can touch her, man? She wouldn't let you touch her with a ten foot pole, dude. She’s royalty, and you're just some loser bartender."

  "Jax!" I tried to grab at his arm but he roughly pushed me off again. I was in disbelief that this was the same guy who had been so endearingly sweet to me a few hours before.

  "Just stay back, Savannah," warned Gage; his tone stern as he watched Jax standing there.

  "Dude, don't even talk to her. Get your ass back inside," he snarled, and stepped closer to Gage's proximity.

  I stood ten feet away, not sure if I should run inside for help or intervene myself.

  "Alright mate, we have a cab at the curb for you. Why don't you jump right in and head home for the night?"

  "Are you telling me I have to leave? First you eye my girl all night, and then you have the balls to try to tell me to go home?"

  "Jax," I warned again, taking a small step forward. But this time I got too close, so when he swung his arm around he whacked me hard across the face. His elbow grazed my cheek directly under my eye socket, and immediate, blinding pain shot through my face; causing me to cry out. Jax started to apologize profusely. His words however, were drowned out by an enraged Gage rushing forward.

  Although my face was covered, I heard a torrent of curse words fly out of Gage’s mouth. The curses were followed by the unmistakable sound of a fist making contact with a face. I looked up through my blurry, tear-filled eyes to see Jax stumble to the ground. He was out cold.

  Putting his arms around my hunched shoulders, Gage hustled me around to the back of the building. He cursed steadily all the way across the lot as he escorted me to a small office.

  Once inside, he ordered me to sit still. "I'm going to grab you some ice." I heard the anger in his voice and wanted nothing more than to crawl under the table in my misery.

  Gage returned after a minute with a cloth wrapped around ice. He pulled a chair up in front of me and sat down. He lightly pulled my hand away from my cheek and smoothed the hair off of my face. Taking great care, he brought the ice gently to my injury and held it there.

  The anger I thought I saw was replaced by worry as he began to question me. "Are you alright? Are you dizzy or anything?"

  I started to shake my head no, but couldn’t with the ice there so I spoke as clearly as I could. "I'm okay, it just stings. He didn't really hit me all that hard. Is he okay?"

  "Shit, why do you care?" he asked and then winced as he pulled the ice from my cheek. "I'm sorry, I s
houldn't have said that. He’ll be fine. The guys at the door will get him in a cab and make sure he gets home."

  Touching my cheek lightly he smiled kindly. "How does it feel?"

  "Sore," I admitted, liking the feel of his fingers running over my skin. "He was just a date, Gage. He wasn't important to me."

  "So why did you let him treat you like that? I watched you dancing."

  Shame washed over me as I came to grips with how determined I had been not to make a scene. So determined, I was willing to let Jax treat me like crap. It was Daniel all over again. He must have seen something shift in my demeanor, because he cursed again and leaned in closer with his hand back on my cheek.

  "I'm an ass."

  "Usually yes," I agreed with a tight smile, and then added, "but tonight, not so much."

  "Nah, I am. I shouldn't grill you about him. It's just that when I saw him pawing you and I could see you pushing away I thought…" He stopped talking and I sucked in my breath, waiting expectantly for what he would say. "I always thought of you as so damn spunky that surely you would kick him in the balls at any moment. Instead you ran out of here, and well, you know the rest."

  "Why did you follow me?" I asked softly, leaning into the caress of his fingers on my cheek.

  "I wanted to know you were okay."

  "Thank you."

  "I need to get back out to the bar. They’re covering for me, but it's packed."

  "Oh…yeah, of course." I stood to leave with him but he shook his head.

  "Savannah, you can stay back here as long as you want to. Do you have your car?"

  Shoot. "No, I don't have my car. I can take a cab home." He watched me silently for a moment. His hands went into his pockets and then he stepped back; staring at me like he was trying to read me.

  "Stay here and hang with me for a while. I'll give you a lift home."

  Friday - May 3, 2013

  My Hero

  It was hard to say no when he asked so softly. The warmth of his accent made my toes curl, making me feel like a torn up rag doll as I numbly agreed to stay. He walked me out from the back office area, which opened up to the hallway by the restrooms.