John continued to grind her for a few more minutes until she felt him slow his pace. She felt the pulsing of his climax and knew that she was not going to find the same thrill.
“Sorry. It’s been a while. We can try again in a little bit if you want,” John suggested.
“That’s ok, it was fun.” Lilly didn’t know what else to say. It was fun for about three to five minutes if she was lucky.
John grabbed himself and held on to the condom, as he pulled out careful not to make a mess on the couch. “I’m going to go use the bathroom.”
“Kay, I am going to jump in the shower when you are done.” Lilly rolled her eyes as he left the room. She grabbed a robe from her bedroom and cleaned up the wine glasses.
John came back out of the bathroom with his pants back on. Lilly hadn’t noticed him scoop them up. He approached her in the kitchen as she was washing the glasses out in the sink. He kissed her on the cheek.
“We good?” he asked.
“Of course.” She was glad he couldn’t see the lack of sincerity in her eyes.
“Sorry I’m not packing more heat down there,” he said as he put his arms around her.
“Huh? What? You are fine. Why would you say that?” Lilly asked.
“I don’t know. I was afraid I wasn’t big enough; I know I’m not that big. I just feel bad that I couldn’t bring you satisfaction.”
“I told you it was fun. The first time can always be a little awkward. You are probably exhausted anyway. We were up late last night and I know how early you had to work this morning.” Lilly gave him the out, and hoped that what she said was true; maybe next time would be better.
“I am actually. I know you want to take a shower too. I’m going to head out. If you don’t have plans tomorrow maybe we can go out and grab a drink. It is supposed to be a nice night.”
“Yeah sure, call me or text me tomorrow afternoon.” Lilly gave him a little peck on the lips and walked him to the door.
CHAPTER NINE
Saturday Night Date
Lilly woke up later on Saturday and was surprised that she didn’t wake up with a whopping hangover. She was however sweating. She forgot to turn the air conditioner on before she went to sleep.
It was so cool from the rain that she had left the windows open. It had not occurred to her that the sun would be shining, she was the one that said the temperature was supposed to go up into the high eighties.
Lilly fixed herself a smoothie for breakfast and decided to go for a jog. She looked through her drawers for the new pair of jogging shorts she got on clearance last fall. She pulled out a pair of cross trainers and strapped her phone to her arm with her ID and a little bit of cash. It had been a while since she used her ear buds, but they still worked perfect.
She didn’t even make it two blocks before her phone started to vibrate, interrupting her music. She knew she shouldn’t look to see who it was, but she already felt like she was going to toss it. Maybe jogging after a night of drinking wasn’t the best idea when it had been months since she hit the pavement.
She pulled out her phone and kept walking to slow down her heart rate. There was a text from John. Before Lilly read the text she looked at the time. It wasn’t even close to noon. Good to know he wasn’t playing hard to get.
She had a vague recollection of agreeing to meet him for drinks again. She wasn’t sure she could take him three days in row.
The text read:
Hey Lilly. I had a great time last night. I’m looking forward to meeting up later. My friend gave me tickets to the Magic Bar for some band called West Front tonight. Not sure if you have heard of them. I can tell him to give them to someone else if you’re not into it.
She didn’t even finish reading the text before she was already hitting the reply button. She felt like someone just opened a cage of butterflies and set them free in her belly.
That sounds like a blast. What time do you want me to meet you there?
Too bad Lilly’s sudden excitement was for the hope that she might run into that guy Leon again. Her phone buzzed again, she looked down.
I can pick you up anytime, the doors open at 8 PM, but the main band goes on at 10 PM.
Lilly grunted to herself. She texted back.
I have some errands to do; it would be better if I meet you there. See you around 8:30.
She was not interested in getting stuck in his car for the night. She was iffy about John. He was already starting to get on her nerves. He was way too available and did not seem like he had a ton of self-confidence. Two things that will never keep a girl’s interest.
Lilly decided it was time for her to treat herself and called to see if she could get a hair appointment. She could use a touch up, but would settle for a blow out. If she could squeeze it in she was going to look for a new outfit.
Lilly didn’t usually go shopping without Ali, but she knew that she was working all weekend. There was a cute upscale second hand boutique that she had to pass on her walk home, she decided to give it try.
Lilly looked at herself in the mirror. She was pleased with what she saw. Her hair was freshly highlighted, blown out and set with long curls. Her hairdresser couldn’t believe how long her hair had gotten. Even with the curls her hair was nearly to her waist.
Her jog didn’t last very long, but being in the sun gave her skin a nice sun kissed tan. Lilly showed it off with a black summer dress. It was the kind of dress she could wear with flip flops or dress up with some glitzy jewelry and a pair of fancy shoes for a party. Tonight she was going to keep it simple and sexy. The black dress had turquoise spaghetti straps. The turquoise was used to trim all the edges of the dress including where it wrapped across the front creating a nice deep line enhancing her cleavage. The mock wrap effect had a small bow just above the turquoise ripples of fabric that exposed more of her left thigh than the right.
Lilly kept her make-up on the soft side, but accentuated her light brown eyes with black eyeliner winged up at the corners and a pair of false eyelashes. She had become a pro at wearing them and found a great waterproof glue that she had even used in the pool. No one ever knew they were fake, but she got plenty of compliments on how pretty her eyes were. Of course if she was with Bethany, she would notice and point out how it was amazing that they made even her brown eyes look good. As if having brown eyes couldn’t ever look good.
Lilly searched her closet for a casual and compact bag to take her ID and phone in, but had no such luck. The sparkly clutch from last weekend would have to do. It was still sitting on top of her dresser. She grabbed her stuff from her armband and stuffed her belongings in the clutch. Lilly finished off her outfit with some midnight peach shimmer lotion and a strappy pair of heels.
It was almost eight o’clock and she was amazed that she was pretty much ready on time. She decided she was going to take a cab over to the bar, if she wanted to hang with John later she could let him drive her home. Hanging out with him in a social setting should prove to be interesting. It would probably make it or break it for her.
The cab let her out in front of the Magic Bar at almost a quarter to nine. So much for being on time. She thought she was going to be early, but the cab took forever to get to her and then they hit every red light along the way.
John was standing on the line that was still growing. This was only her second time there, but she was learning quickly that it was a hot spot. That or the band playing was all the rage. They were there last week too, but she and Ali wound up leaving before they came on. She would have to make sure she stayed long enough to hear them this time.
Hopefully she wouldn’t be the victim of anyone’s domestic dispute or accidental spills. At least she had on black this time instead of a bright white tank. She thought back to the scene and fantasized that someone threw water over her white shirt instead of cranberry juice, like she was in a wet tee shirt contest. Her nipples hardened at the thought of Leon seeing her breasts through her wet tank top.
“Lilly, hey,
over here,” John called over to her breaking her train of thought with a giant grin on his face. He was smiling so hard it looked like it hurt. He had very straight white teeth. She wondered if he had just come from the dentist.
John was dressed in almost the same outfit he had on the past two nights. Of course it was a different dress shirt, again un-tucked with a nice pair of jeans and black boots. He looked nice, maybe too nice for a grungy bar that was used as a local band venue.
Yes, Lilly was dressed up, but girls can do that. They can be decked out and look great next to a guy with an old concert tee and ripped jeans on. Somehow it could work. Lilly had her laid back days, but she liked to go all out when she went out. The night could take a turn and she wanted to always look the part.
“Hey John.” Lilly walked over to his spot on the line and kissed him on the cheek. “How long have you been in line?”
“About ten minutes, I was just going to text you. I was afraid that you were standing me up,” John explained.
“Why would I do that?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t hear from you and it is almost nine o’clock.”
“Oh, I decided to take a cab and it was late and then he might have taken the longest route possible.”
“You should have texted me. I would have paid the fare for you.”
“No worries, I thought about driving, but didn’t want to deal with finding a parking spot down here, I know sometimes the lots are full by now on Saturday nights. Not that I plan on drinking like last night, but I might have a beer or something so I prefer not to drive.”
“You drink beer?”
“Of course, don’t you?”
“Actually no. I never really acquired a taste for it. I usually drink wine or the occasional scotch, maybe vodka.”
“Oh, that’s cool.” I guess, Lilly thought to herself.
“Crazy, I was actually here last weekend for the first time with my friend Ali.”
“You should have had her come tonight. I would love to meet some of your friends.”
“Well, you know Bethany,” Lilly said, she wasn’t so sure that Ali and John would mesh so well. She was a very free spirit.
“You and Bethany are very different. She is way more stuck up than you are. How did you guys become such good friends?”
“We have been friends since we were in the sixth grade. She and I went to different schools, but our childhood homes shared a back yard. She moved by the time we got to high school, but we still found a way to talk almost every day. You would think it would be even easier now with all the social media, but she refuses to sign up for anything. I don’t know if it’s really her or Dick. They seem to think if you have any contact with people on the computer you will automatically cheat on your spouse.”
“They are two of a kind, that’s for sure.”
“I don’t know about you, but I never met or dated anyone I met online,” Lilly added.
“Tickets!”
Lilly recognized the big black guy from last week. He broke up the fight between Leon and that crazy troll.
“Hey little miss thing, you get that stain out of your shirt?”
Lilly laughed, “Oh you caught that?”
“I catch everything that goes on here. I have eyes behind my head. Some of these knuckleheads that come in here and want to start trouble think they can get away with it. People come here to have a good time and listen to music, not deal with other people’s bull shit,” he said as he punched the tickets. “Where’s your side kick?”
“Oh she’s working.” Lilly avoided introducing John. She didn’t really know the bouncer so she figured it wasn’t overly rude, but she could sense the slight tension.
The bouncer handed John back the tickets. “Have a good time tonight. Keep it clean.”
John took the tickets and stuffed them in his pockets. He walked through the door first. Lilly was right behind him.
The door guy tapped her on the shoulder before she walked in. “You know he was looking for you.” He gave her a look, she wasn’t completely sure what he was insinuating, but she got a scare in her belly from the thought of running back into Leon.
Lilly wanted to ask the door guy a million questions about Leon. He was probably looking for her so he could buy her a new shirt or pay her dry-cleaning bill. Lilly smiled at him and followed John through the front door.
The place was already crowded. The music was louder than she remembered it being the week before, but she had already been drinking wine when she and Ali got there.
“Want a drink?” John asked. “We should try to find a seat at the bar.”
“Sure.” Lilly walked behind John through the crowed. She looked around scanning the faces of the people that surrounded them. She was looking for tall, blond and deviously handsome.
Lilly wore heels not realizing how much taller she would be than John. The night before she was barefoot and at dinner Thursday night he had been sitting down.
They got to the bar, but it was two deep. Certainly nowhere to sit. John looked around the bar for a spot to squeeze in. He started waving to the bartender. Lilly just shook her head.
Had this guy never been to a busy bar or a club? What was he doing? Lilly pushed in front of him and found a spot to squeeze in. Maybe it was her thin frame that allowed her to get close to the bar; she had a knack for getting through tight spots.
One of the people working the bar was the short spunky girl from last week. Lilly made sure that she made eye contact with her and gave her a small wave. Marylou put up a finger letting her know she would be right with her.
“What do you want to drink, John?” Lilly turned her head away from the bar.
“Can you see if they have a wine list?” John asked her.
Lilly saw a few people turn and look at him like his head was made out of Swiss cheese. She didn’t answer his ridiculous question; she hoped that if she stared at him long enough that he would give her a serious answer.
John got a nervous look on his face, “Kidding. I’ll have a rum and diet coke.” He handed her a fifty-dollar bill.
Lilly turned back to the bar and Marylou was standing in front of her waiting to take the drink order. Her hair was down and she looked much more feminine, it amazed Lilly how a simple change in hair or make-up could make a huge difference in how someone looked.
“Orange vodka and cranberry?” she asked.
“Good memory, I’m actually going to have a beer. Do you have any IPA’s on tap?”
“Sure do, anything else?” Marylou grabbed a large plastic cup.
“My friend over there wants a rum and diet,” Lilly ordered.
“Hot date tonight?” Marylou laughed.
Lilly twisted her lips and let her eyes do a half roll.
Marylou came back with her change and her drinks. “You should really stick around for the headliner, you girls missed out last week.”
“Really? I guess I will have to stay then, my girlfriend had to work tonight. Thanks.” Lilly lifted her drinks and pushed a tip forward.
“You are awfully popular around here for only being here one time before.” John took the change and his drink.
“Oh, that’s funny. There was a crazy altercation and Ali and I wound up almost in the middle of it. Some girl was going crazy hitting everyone and pushed some guy into me and spilled my drink all over me. I was wearing white, it was cranberry… I became hard to miss.”
“Oh, man. I would have been so pissed,” John said.
“It kind of sucked, but it wasn’t that big of a deal. It will be one of those things that I will be able to laugh about for a long time. It was just a tank top, I can always get another.”
“That’s a great way of looking at things. Just another reason why I like you so much.” John took a sip of his drink and made a funny noise, “That’s a stiff one.”
Lilly’s stomach soured at how enthralled he was with her. She should have liked the attention, but it was starting to make her skin crawl a little.
“Yeah, I didn’t think you normally drank hard alcohol.” Lilly smelled her beer before she took a sip. The hoppy aroma had a sweet apricot finish when she took a sip.
She lifted her eyes up from the cup and through the crowd she spotted him. His eyes were locked in on her. She wanted to look away, but she couldn’t. It was like he put an instant spell on her. Her cup of beer was still touching her lips. She took another slow sip to conceal her gaze.
It occurred to her that she didn’t know how long he had been watching her. The crowd was moving around drifting back and forth from the bar while others were hopping around dancing to the grunge cover band on stage. He stood there, still as could be, holding a bottle of water in one hand. His hair was styled in a way that looked like he just rolled out of bed. The blond messy spikes were a contrast to his already nicely tanned skin.
Leon was wearing a faded black tee shirt and snug jeans, it was hard to tell from where she stood, but they looked black. He lifted his free hand and pushed his hair up. He was wearing an assortment of wristbands or bracelets.
Why couldn’t she be with Ali? This couldn’t be anymore awkward being with one guy and wishing the guy across the packed bar would come talk to you. How could he? What would she say?
“Lilly, are you ok?” John started to wave a hand in front of her.
“Yeah, sorry I was just thinking about one of my jobs, it happens sometimes.” Part of her knew he was standing there talking to her, but she didn’t hear a word he said. “The music is so loud it’s hard to hear you.”
Lilly looked back across the crowd and Leon was gone. Her heart sunk. What if he left for the night? What if he saw her talking to John and assumed she had a boyfriend? Lilly was officially over John.
How could she be into John when she was focused on another guy while he was standing in front of her talking about God knows what. She wasn’t planning on drinking, but she might need something a little stiffer to deal with the rest of her night.
Light and Sweet: Sacred Hearts Coven Page 7