Status Update (Second Chances)

by Carr, Mari

  Georgie started off into the crowd. “Well, we’re here and we paid the five bucks. We may as well make the most of it. Let’s see if we can find a table.”

  Laura struggled to keep up with her friends as they pressed through the throng of people. After nearly being knocked down and having her foot crushed twice by two staggering drunks, Laura began to think there was something to be said for being a grown-up. Maybe she hadn’t missed much after all.

  Georgie found them a tall table near the dance floor. Partiers at surrounding tables had swiped all the stools so they stood around it. “This will work.” Georgie smiled, obviously pleased with where they’d landed. Then her gaze drifted over Laura. “Oh my God. What the hell is on your arm?”

  Laura looked down, confused, until Georgie pointed.

  “My purse?”

  Georgie rolled her eyes. “Why did you carry that gargantuan thing in here?”

  Laura shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought we were going to get a table, sit down, have a few drinks and talk. I didn’t realize it would be like this. Besides, everything I need is in my bag.”

  Georgie shook her head. “Give it to me.”

  Laura knew better than to deny her friend, so she handed the purse over. Georgie pulled her cell phone out. “Put that in your back pocket.”

  Laura tucked the phone into her new jeans, as Georgie dove back into the bag and produced her wallet. Opening it, she slipped out Laura’s driver’s license, a credit card and some cash.

  “That all goes in your front pocket. And that’s all you need.”

  Laura tried to push the cash and cards into her jeans. “Carrying stuff like this would have been a lot easier in my mom jeans. Jesus, these things are tight.”

  Georgie ignored her complaint and turned away. “I’m going to go put this back in the car. You two try to score us some drinks while I’m gone. And don’t let anyone steal our table.”

  Georgie pushed her way back through the crowd, disappearing from view quickly.

  “Why are we friends with her?” Laura asked.

  Kristen laughed. “Because she’s awesome. And she’s perfect for both of us. We’ve been getting too settled in our ways lately. Georgie is forcing us to shake up our routines. I intend to take advantage of her help. Maybe some of her energy and enthusiasm will rub off on us.”

  Kristen made a good point. Hadn’t Laura been depressed by her lack of initiative lately? Twelve months since her divorce had been finalized and she didn’t have a damn thing to show for it. It was time to shake off the dark clouds and live a little.

  “I’m going to hit the bar and grab us a round of drinks. You guard the table. It’ll be nice to have somewhere to put our glasses while we’re dancing.”

  “I’ll take a glass of red wine,” Laura said. Kristen waved her hand to acknowledge she’d heard and walked away.

  Laura studied her surroundings. While the band was loud, she actually enjoyed the music they were playing. The fast, upbeat rhythm had Laura swaying in time. The band looked very young. Given the college crowd, she suspected the performers were probably students from the nearby university that was well known for its Conservatory of Music program. Laura used to take Katie to the school’s Nutcracker performance every year over the holidays.

  “Here we go.” Kristen returned to the table.

  “What’s that? I asked for a glass of red.”

  Kristen placed three shot glasses on the table, then took the small plate of lemons she’d been balancing on top and set it next to the drinks. “You need to loosen up. Wine makes you lethargic. One glass of it and you’ll be yawning and trying to convince us to leave before ten o’clock.”

  “What’s on the lemons?” Laura asked.

  Kristen picked one up and took a tiny lick. “Sugar.”

  Georgie returned from the parking lot. “Hey! Lemon shooters. Great call.”

  Laura loved the taste of lemons. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. “What’s a lemon shooter?”

  Kristen winked at her. “Vodka, and a great way to get the party started, according to the hot bartender.” She lifted her glass, so Laura and Georgie followed suit. “Here’s to second chances.”

  Laura grinned, then lifted the drink to her lips. She paused before she tasted it, the smell of alcohol hitting her hard. Kristen and Georgie downed their shots in one swig, slammed down the glasses and chased with the sugarcoated lemon.

  Shit.

  Before she could talk herself out of it, Laura threw hers back, putting her glass down with as much force as her friends.

  “Lemon,” Georgie said, handing her one. “Quick.”

  Laura was afraid it was too late. The liquor was burning a path down her chest. She stuck the lemon in her mouth and sucked on it, amazed by how quickly the vile flavor of the vodka changed. “Wow. It tastes like a lemon drop.”

  Georgie laughed then hooted loudly. “Hot damn. Tonight is going to rock. I can feel it.”

  A waitress stopped by the table. “Another round?”

  Kristen nodded as Georgie said, “Hell yeah. Thanks.”

  “Are you two trying to get me drunk?” Laura asked.

  Kristen shook her head. “You need to loosen up. You’re too tense.”

  Her friend was right. Her shoulders were in a permanent state of tightness these days. She needed to shake off her stress, her depression.

  They listened to the music for nearly an hour, marveling over the talented girl playing the keyboard. They drank two more rounds before Laura realized Georgie was matching them drink for drink. “How are we getting home? I thought you were the designated driver.”

  “We’re cabbing it,” Georgie answered quickly. “I just let you think I was driving because I knew you’d offer to DD if I said we were taking a taxi.”

  Georgie knew her very well. It seemed strange to think these women had been in her life less than a year. She’d come to think of them as her best friends, and she couldn’t believe she hadn’t known them forever.

  Georgie started dancing in place at the table. “This music kicks ass. I might have to see if the band is selling CDs during a break.”

  The waitress returned to offer another round at the same time three guys approached.

  “Hey,” one of the men said, “we’ll buy this round if you’ll share your table with us. This place is fucking packed.”

  “Deal,” Kristen said, sticking out her hand.

  All three of the men were attractive, but Laura instantly dismissed them as way too young. Hell, they were probably younger than her son, who’d just celebrated his twenty-third birthday.

  “I’m Kristen and these are my friends, Georgie and Laura.”

  “Nice to meet you. Frank, Wade and Randy.” Frank offered the introductions.

  Georgie immediately started chatting with them. Laura’s suspicions were confirmed when the guys said they were seniors at the university and here to see the band because they took an anatomy class with the drummer.

  The waitress delivered another round of shots. Laura was feeling the effects of the liquor, but not in a bad way. She was warm and pleasantly fuzzy. The music didn’t seem quite as loud as it had when they’d arrived at the bar. In fact, she felt like dancing.

  The three guys at their table hit the dance floor as a fast number started and Laura let loose, laughing as she moved in time with the beat.

  “Oh fuck, what’s that?” Georgie asked, giggling.

  Laura tilted her head, confused. “Dancing.”

  Georgie shook her head. “Never do that again. Um, hello, George Michael. Nobody swings their arms around like that anymore.”

  Laura continued to sway, taking no offense at Georgie’s joke. Now that she was here, she was getting into the spirit of rediscovering her younger side. She’d let too many years slip by, allowing herself to lose touch with the world around her, while she changed diapers, drove to Little League games and made Homecoming dresses. “Show me what I’m supposed to do then.”

  Georgie
moved closer. “Dancing these days is like sex to music.”

  Laura laughed. “Well, I guess that leaves me out. I haven’t had sex since God was a baby.”

  Georgie grinned, but she was undeterred. “It’s just like riding a bike. Hey, Mr. Gorgeous, come over here.” Georgie grabbed the hand of a guy from the table next to them. The groups had started to merge, socializing and doing the last round of shooters together. Laura was amazed by the camaraderie and fun a group of complete strangers could have…given enough alcohol.

  “Stand behind Laura. I need a guy for a little pretend fucking.”

  “Awesome,” Mr. Too Young said too eagerly.

  “Georgie,” Laura muttered when the college guy stepped closer to her. There was trying to recapture her youth and then there was robbing the cradle. She knew the difference and had no intention of stealing anything from anybody.

  “Just stand there.” Georgie pointed to her newly recruited dance partner. “I’m teaching Laura how to dance.”

  “Oh. That’s easy.” The guy instantly placed his hands on Laura’s hips, pulling her ass firmly against his crotch. Laura’s mouth fell open when she felt his cock.

  This was supposed to be pretend fucking, right?

  Georgie laughed, demonstrating what she wanted Laura to do. “Bounce a little. Just move up and down in time with—” Georgie paused. “Hey, what’s your name?”

  “Kevin,” he said.

  Laura instantly stepped away, turning quickly.

  Oh hell no.

  She was not going to get dirty-dancing lessons from a guy who was not only very likely the same age as her son, but who also had the same freaking name. “Thanks, Kevin. I think I’ve got it.”

  “You want to practice some more?” Kevin gestured toward the dance floor.

  She shook her head. “I’m good for now.”

  “I’ll go,” Georgie said, grabbing Kevin’s hand and leading him into the throng of dancers. Frank, Randy and Wade included them in their circle, the four men surrounding a laughing Georgie. Laura studied the dance floor and realized the entire crowd was dancing just as Georgie had said.

  “Looks like one giant orgy.”

  Kristen laughed. “You can say that again. Kevin was hot. Imagine the confusion you could cause at family occasions if you showed up with that sexy young thing on your arm.”

  “Very funny. But I’m not the one on the prowl tonight. That would be you. Any promising prospects? I have to admit, I can totally see you as a cougar.”

  Kristen frowned. “Ugh. Hush your mouth. I do not have the patience to teach some hot young stud what to do. I fully intend to find myself a ready-made man, one with the skills required to make me come at the drop of a hat.”

  “Then look no further,” a deep voice said behind them.

  Laura laughed when she spotted Kristen’s law partner, Jason, standing behind them. Kristen and Jason had a love-hate relationship. There was nothing the two of them loved more than to annoy the hell out of each other.

  Kristen rolled her eyes. “Hell will freeze over before I have sex with you.”

  Jason grinned. “No problem. I just bought a thermal hiking jacket from Patagonia. Bring on the cold, baby.”

  Kristen ignored Jason, looking at the man standing with him. “I thought I told you to have Nick wait in the car. Georgie will go ballistic when she sees him here.”

  Nick winked at Kristen. “That’s why I came in. Where is my ex-fiancée?”

  Laura pointed toward the dance floor. “Getting it on with Mr. Gorgeous and his friends.”

  Nick’s eyes narrowed when he spotted Georgie mastering the orgy-style dancing she’d been trying to teach Laura. “Those guys are kids. Are they even old enough to be in here?”

  Kristen held out her hand. “Give me the damn paper to sign, Jason, and then you two need to vamoose.” Jason had texted earlier to tell Kristen she’d forgotten to sign a document he needed for a meeting out of town. He’d offered to stop by the bar tonight or her house very early in the morning as he needed to be on the road by six a.m. Kristen had opted for the bar. From the look on her friend’s face, Laura suspected Kristen was now regretting that choice.

  “Fucking buzzkill,” Kristen murmured as she took the pen Jason offered and signed the paper. “Don’t know why you wouldn’t just forge my damn signature like I told you to. God knows you sign my name better than I do.”

  “And miss all this fun?” Jason took the paper and stashed it away in a file. “Blue Moon is hopping tonight. Nick and I were going to get a couple beers at McMillan’s, but maybe we should stay here. What do you think, Nick?”

  Nick was still scowling at Georgie and her dance partners. “Here is good.”

  Kristen put her hands on her hips. Uh oh. She was about to erupt. Laura had witnessed enough scenes between Jason and Kristen to know it was always better to escape early.

  “I’m going to go to the ladies’ room.” Laura excused herself from the table. No one acknowledged her departure. Kristen was telling Jason to get out, while Nick was inching closer to Georgie.

  “Hey, Laura.” Kevin was back, grasping her hand and pulling her toward the dance floor. “Dance with me.”

  She tried to retrieve her hand, shaking her head, but Kevin was tenacious. She glanced behind him, hoping to signal Georgie for help dissuading the man, but her friend had spotted Nick.

  Cue yet another World War. Tonight was about to implode. Quickly.

  Kevin spun her, resuming his earlier dancing position. This time there was no mistaking what he was packing in his pants as he tightened his arm around her waist, grinding closer.

  She tried to push his hand away, struggling to break free of his grip. While she knew he didn’t mean her any harm, she was more than uncomfortable with his inappropriate rubbing and touching.

  “I really need to—”

  “Laura? Laura Riley?”

  Laura looked up at the sound of her maiden name and spotted salvation in blue jeans, a button-down shirt, and a beloved, familiar face she’d never dreamed of seeing again. “Bryan? Oh my God. What the hell are you doing here?”

  Bryan Sinclair had been Laura’s best friend for four years. An Army brat, Bryan and his family had been stationed at the base near Harrisburg when she and Bryan were in seventh grade. One of the saddest days of Laura’s life had been the day Bryan told her his dad was being transferred. They were halfway through their junior year in high school and Laura had felt his absence in her life profoundly. They’d tried to stay in touch, writing letters and calling occasionally, but eventually, they simply lost touch.

  “I was going to ask you the same thing.” Bryan smiled at Kevin. “Mind if I cut in?”

  Kevin loosened his grip, but didn’t move away. Laura suspected the alcohol was dimming his senses and slowing his response time. “Uh…”

  Laura used Kevin’s distraction to step away from the young man. “Thanks for the dance, Kevin.” She grabbed Bryan’s hand, leading him away from the dance floor and toward the bar.

  As soon as they found a quiet corner, Bryan hugged her tightly. Laura returned the embrace. “You saved me, stranger.”

  Bryan chuckled. “Yeah. It didn’t look like you were enjoying the mauling. Damn, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”

  She laughed. “I’m so glad to see you. I have to admit you’re probably the last person on earth I expected to run into tonight.”

  “I’m here for the band.”

  She laughed. “Wow. Really? How many years has it been?”

  Bryan shrugged. “I haven’t seen you since we were sixteen, so what’s that make it? Twenty-seven years?”

  Laura winced. “Talk about making me feel old. I was just thinking about you the other day.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  She nodded. “One of my girlfriends talked me into joining Facebook. I wound up getting out an old yearbook and started plugging in names trying to find people from school. Your name was the first one I typed in.”

 
“I’m not on Facebook.”

  She grinned. “I noticed.”

  “I’ll correct that oversight as soon as I get home tonight.”

  Laura marveled at how at ease she was with Bryan even after the years apart. Despite all the time that had passed, she could still see the boy he’d been in his face and hear it in his voice. While they’d never been anything more than friends, Laura had felt closer to Bryan than anyone at school. There was nothing they hadn’t talked about when they were younger, nothing they wouldn’t try together. Shortly after Bryan moved, Laura’s ex-husband, Mason, asked her out for a date. Sometimes Laura wondered what Bryan would have thought about Mason’s invitation. Would he have encouraged her to go out with Mason or told her to steer clear?

  They say hindsight is twenty-twenty. That was certainly true for Laura. Mason had come along at a time when she was lonely, missing her best friend, and she’d hopped at the chance to go out with the hottest, richest guy in high school. She wasn’t so sure her answer would have been the same if Bryan had still been around.

  “Are you seriously here for the band?”

  Bryan nodded, pointing to the stage. “The blonde on the keyboard is my daughter, Trina. She’s a sophomore at the Conservatory.”

  “That’s your daughter? She’s incredible. My girlfriends and I were talking earlier about how talented she is.”

  Bryan lit up. It was clear he adored his daughter. “She’s pretty amazing.”

  “Are you just in town visiting her?”

  Bryan shook his head. “No. My company offered me a transfer here a few months ago. Trina had already done her freshman year at the Conservatory and I’d missed the hell out of her. I asked her what she would think of her old man moving closer. She told me to go for it.”

  “What’s your wife do?”

  “My wife passed away five years ago.”

  Laura reached out to touch his hand. “Oh Bryan. I’m so sorry. That must’ve been terrible for you.”

  Bryan nodded. “For a while there, I was pretty much living day to day. But it’s true what they say. Time heals all wounds. I miss her, but I’ve accepted she’s gone and I’ve figured out a way to move forward. So now it’s just Trina and me. I’m renting an apartment in town and she’s living in a dorm on campus. That was the deal. I could follow her to college, but I had to keep my distance.”