by E. M. Abel
“So, when does your shift end?” the guy across the bar asked as I cleared out his tab.
It was one thirty, and we were taking last calls.
Shaun and Dre had left about an hour ago. After Shaun’s display on the dance floor, we hadn’t spoken to each other for the rest of the night. I had been careful to stay focused on my work and avoid looking in his direction. It was my first night, so I hadn’t needed any distractions.
My finger hovered over the buttons on the screen as I raised an eyebrow and paused to check the guy out. It was the same one in the polo.
“Soon. Why?” I asked as I finished what I was doing. I slid his receipt across the mahogany bar.
He caught my hand with his and waited until I met his gaze. “Because I’d like to hang out and get to know you.” His thumb stroked over the back of my hand.
I grinned at him before pulling my hand away and wiping it with my towel. I knew that was total bullshit, but it was fine with me. Why play games?
“Are you sure you want to get to know me? Or do you just want to get me naked?”
The guy chuckled and clasped his hands together on the bar in front of him. He watched me for a few seconds before answering, “Would you believe me if I said both?”
I shook my head. “Probably not. But that’s okay. I’d rather just let you see me naked.”
I gave him a devious smile before moving to the other end of the bar and filling more last-call orders.
The night had gone by fast, and Mandy had been right. All the male customers had been curious about the new redhead. That had meant a lot of work and good tips. I liked both. Mandy and I had worked with Trey at the bar closest to the front entrance. We’d made a good team. Mandy was a hard worker, and she definitely knew how to please the customers with her flirtatious personality and Southern accent. Trey was so charming that he could sell hamburgers to a vegan—after having sex with her first, of course. I had a feeling Jay would be very pleased when he saw the sales reports.
The man currently waiting for me at the end of the bar had come in with a friend, but he was now alone. He looked a lot like the other men I’d slept with in the past—predictable and boring.
Twenty minutes later, I was wiping down his end of the bar.
“So, how about we get a bite to eat when you’re done here?” Mr. Polo asked.
The club was closing, and he was the only customer left.
“Don’t you have a job or something? A wife waiting for you at home?” I asked as I continued cleaning.
He chuckled and shook his head. “No. Well, yes. I have a job but no wife.”
I looked down to the other end of the bar and saw Trey and Mandy washing glasses in the sink. “I probably won’t be done here for another hour or so. How about you leave your number? I’ll call you when I’m done.”
“How do I know you’ll call?” he asked with a flirtatious smile.
“You don’t,” I told him with a smile of my own.
Grabbing a napkin, he asked me for a pen before writing his name and number down.
Brad.
About forty-five minutes later, all our side work was done, and Mandy and I were alone in the break room again.
“So, that guy you were talking to is pretty hot,” Mandy said as she pulled her stuff out of her locker.
I shrugged. “Yeah, he’s not bad.”
Mandy put her purse strap on her shoulder and crossed her arms as she leaned on her locker. She looked at me like I was a puzzle she was trying to piece together. “Are you going to call him? Or are you meeting up with Mr. Text tonight? What about that hottie who came in earlier? How do you know him anyway?” she asked as she watched me close my locker.
“Mr. Text?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, girl. There’s no way a text from a woman got that kind of reaction from you.”
I laughed, and she straightened her back and dropped her arms.
“That is, unless…you’re into women, which is totally fine. Women are hot.”
I started laughing again as I began walking toward the door.
She followed me. “So, which is it?”
She was pushy and persistent, but I knew she meant well, so I didn’t let it bother me.
“I’m not a lesbian.”
“Oh, good!” she exclaimed.
I stopped walking.
She stopped, too. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against gay people, but if you’re straight, that means we can gossip about men.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Mandy was definitely a girl who spoke her mind, and I had to respect her for that.
“So, are you gonna tell me which guy you’re into? Or are you going to leave me hanging over here?”
“Honestly?” I waited for her response.
She grinned, and I knew she wanted to hear it.
“I don’t really get into men. I get on them, and then I get off.”
Mandy burst into laughter as she came to put an arm around me, and we walked toward the rear entrance.
“Oh my God. I knew I’d love you.”
“Goddamn, you’re so fucking sexy,” Brad growled as I rode him.
We were in his bed after an hour of eating at a local all-night diner. To his credit, he had been polite, and he’d actually tried to get to know me a little, but I had been careful not to get too personal. I’d had one thing in mind, and that had been getting laid. I’d also hoped to get an orgasm out of the deal. So far, I hadn’t had one, which was why I was on top now. I’d given him a chance to take care of me, but I was growing impatient.
I arched my back and rested my hands on his thighs behind me as I circled my hips faster. I closed my eyes and threw my head back as I felt his dick getting harder. He was going to come soon. It was a race to the finish. I imagined Shaun was under me with his hands gripping my hips as I made him come. The image of Shaun—sweaty and panting with those light green eyes watching me—had me falling over the edge in seconds. I squeezed Brad’s thighs with my fingers, digging my nails in. I began to shake, my insides tightening like a vise, and then I let go. The best part of the orgasm was the moment I let go and allowed myself to just feel.
Brad must have felt it. A few seconds later, his long fingers were pressing into my hips, and he was grunting and swearing as he came. After letting him finish, I rolled onto my side next to him with my head resting on his pillow. I took deep breaths as I basked in the afterglow of my fantastic orgasm.
“God, Natalie, that was fucking amazing,” Brad said between breaths as he tilted his head up to look at me.
His eyes looked lazy, and his cheeks were flushed. He was seemingly basking in that same glow. I smiled and moved onto my back to stretch as my euphoria began to wear off.
Time to come up with an escape plan. “Well, that was fun. Thanks again for dinner—or breakfast, I guess,” I said with a shrug.
I sat up on the side of the bed and began searching for my clothes. Where in the hell are my panties?
“That’s it?” Brad asked.
I fastened my bra around my back, and I peered at him over my shoulder. “Is there more?”
“Well, there could be, don’t you think?” Brad asked.
I stood up and pulled my black shirt over my head. “Honestly?”
He nodded as his eyebrows furrowed a little.
“I’m not really the relationship type. I figured that my offer to let you see me naked in the first few minutes of us meeting would have tipped you off.”
He seemed to relax, and he chuckled a little. I pulled my tight black pants on, and then I buttoned and zipped them.
“Okay. So, I’m just a one-night stand then,” he said before pausing. A hopeful look swept over his face. “Or can we do this again?”
“I have your number.” I smiled and winked at him before turning on my heel and walking out of his room.
I never did find my panties.
Twenty-six.
It was May 28, and I was twenty-six years
old today.
I sighed and rolled onto my stomach in my bed. I inhaled, and I was happy that my sheets actually smelled good this time. I guessed I was growing up. I had managed to keep my place fairly clean so far. Granted, it had only been two days, but still, it was an improvement.
It was my birthday, which meant I wasn’t working or doing anything I didn’t want to do for the entire day. Sitting up in my bed, I decided to look at the wave report before making any plans. I grabbed my iPhone off my nightstand and checked the live camera feed on the surf.
Flat. Guess I won’t be surfing.
Unfortunately for me, Virginia wasn’t the best place for surfing.
After using the bathroom, I stood in front of my mirror to brush my teeth, and I had to hold my hair back as I spit into the sink. It was getting too long. Straightening my back, I pushed my fingers through my long brown hair and held it away from my face.
Maybe I’ll get a haircut.
After drying off my face with a towel I kept by my sink, I made my way into my kitchen for some food. I decided this year was going to be a good one. This would be the year that I found my way and stopped wasting time.
After pouring myself a bowl of Cookie Crisp, I stood in my kitchen, leaning against the counter, as I ate. My apartment was so quiet. The silence was almost deafening. With the bowl still in my hand, I walked into my living room and turned on my stereo. Drake’s newest album came blasting through the speakers, and I instantly relaxed.
Sitting down on my couch, I finished my bowl of cereal as I thought about the night before. I had been surprised to see Natalie working at Red, and I would be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. I knew what men thought about when they watched her behind that bar. They were thinking the same things I was, but she’d turned me down. I wondered if she would turn them down, too. I’d seen the way she was watching me when I was dancing with that blonde. I knew it would only be a matter of time before I had her.
She would be at my birthday party tonight. It was time for me to step up my game before someone else did.
I groaned as I woke up to the sound of Nick singing to Lorde in the other room.
Seriously?
I hadn’t made it to bed until almost four that morning, and now it was—
Eight. Oh God.
Rolling over, I picked up my pillow and used it to cover my head as I tried to muffle the sound of my tone-deaf cousin singing “Royals” as loudly as he could.
After a few minutes, I finally gave up and tossed my pillow and blankets aside. Since it was my day off, I promised myself a nap later. Staggering out of my room, I scowled as I walked down the hallway. When I found Nick washing the dishes, my scowl quickly turned into a smirk as I watched him shaking his ass and using a wooden spoon as his microphone. He had no idea I was there, and I instantly regretted not having my phone with me to document this moment. It was definitely blackmail material.
I snuck into the kitchen behind him. Standing only a few feet away, I shouted, “Good morning!”
The wooden spoon went flying, and Nick nearly fell down as he spun around quickly. I started laughing so hard that tears came to my eyes as he stood there, panting and holding his hand over his heart.
“You bitch! That was not funny! I could have had a heart attack.”
I couldn’t respond. I was too busy trying to keep from peeing on myself.
Nick turned the music down and resumed his chores as I finally regained my composure. For a second, I thought he was ignoring me until he asked me where I’d been the night before. He watched me suspiciously, and I knew there was no point in lying to him. He was too damn nosy and perceptive.
“I made a new friend,” I told him as I poured myself a cup of coffee.
“Oh, yeah? What kind of friend?” He put the last dish away and dried his hands with a dish towel.
“The kind you fuck.” I looked him in the eyes and took a sip from my coffee mug.
Nick’s face lit up with a mischievous grin before he tossed the towel onto the counter. “Ah, to be single again.” He sighed dreamily.
“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”
He raised his eyebrows as he scrutinized my face. “What’s this? Is Natalie getting the relationship bug?”
I smiled and shook my head before moving to the breakfast nook. I sat down at the small table. “I didn’t say that. It would just be nice to find a guy who actually knew what he was doing in bed. I mean, I’d love to have a guy actually make me come for once.”
“Hold on. You had a one-night stand and didn’t even get off?” Nick asked like it was the most unfathomable thing he’d ever heard.
“No. I got off, but only because I’d made it happen. I swear, guys are either too fucking selfish to care if they make women come, or they think they know what they’re doing because some delusional woman told them once they were good in bed. Honestly, most of the guys I’ve been with don’t even know where my clit is, let alone know what to do with it.”
Nick chuckled as he came to sit next to me with his cup of coffee. “Poor thing. Just another reason I’m happy to be gay.”
I peered up at him before taking another sip from my mug. “You’re not helping.”
“Okay, okay. Sorry. Well, I need to get ready for work. You’re coming to Shaun’s birthday party tonight, right?” he asked as he stood to leave.
When I hesitated, he paused to give me a pointed look.
“Right?” he asked again, shifting his weight and cocking his hip.
“Yes, Nick. I’m going,” I drawled, giving him a rebellious glare.
“Give up the act already. You know you wanna fuck him. Just admit it.”
I scoffed. He was definitely right, but I was in no way ready to admit it.
“He’s hot,” I muttered, shrugging. “Anyone with eyes can see that. But he’s also full of himself and probably fits into the category of selfish-bastard-who-doesn’t-care-if-I-get-off.”
“Hmm…isn’t it funny then—how women keep going back to him for more?” Nick asked sarcastically.
He was clearly getting sassy.
“Well, Nick…” I paused to rest my elbows on the table. “Most women are willing to settle for a man who makes them feel wanted. If that man is unattainable, then it just becomes more of a challenge. If they think they have the power to change him, then they feel special, and that’s what all women want.”
Nick shifted his weight again before crossing his arms over his chest. He was never one to admit defeat. “And you’re immune to all of that, I guess?”
“No, I’m just smart enough to know that I wouldn’t be anything more to him than an easy fuck, and I’m okay with that.”
“Is that so?” he challenged.
“Yep.”
“Does this mean you’re rethinking the boycott on Shaun’s shlong?”
I gave Nick an exaggerated smile before taking another sip of my coffee, and he chuckled.
“You know, Asia mentioned something about Shaun needing a woman with commitment issues and an incredible sex drive. Sound like anyone you know?”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
He smirked and began making his way toward his room. “Fine. Don’t tell me. You’ll spill eventually. They always do,” he called out.
After taking a shower and going to get a haircut, I headed over to Dank’s apartment. He had called me over there, claiming to have some kind of emergency.
“I don’t know what the fuck is going on, dude,” Dank grumbled as he let me in his front door.
“What?” I made my way to his beat-up couch.
Empty beer cans were all over his coffee table, and his two-foot bong was sitting on the floor next to my feet. He had wet towels hanging off his furniture, and sand was all over the floors. It made me feel a lot better about the state of my apartment.
Dank paused for a second and stared at me. “What the fuck happened to your hair?”
I rubbed the top of my head with my hand. I’d had the bar
ber cut the sides and back short while leaving a few inches of hair on the top. I knew women liked to have something to hold on to, and honestly, I had been a little apprehensive about cutting it all off. It looked good, but I figured it would take everyone some time to get used to.
“I got it cut. What do you think happened?”
Dank studied me for a few more seconds. It was like his brain needed time to comprehend that it was still me. He shook his head and got back to the subject at hand.
“I need this shit to stay between us.” He scratched the back of his head and looked around the room.
“Okay,” I drawled, worried about what he might say.
“My shit has been itching like fucking crazy, dude.”
Dank started scratching around his pubic area, and I instinctively leaned away from him.
“And I was the first person you thought to call?”
“It’s from that fuckin’ chick I met at the shop! What if she gave me fuckin’ herpes?”
“Did you wear a condom, dipshit?”
“Yes, I wore a fuckin’ condom! But according to the Internet, you can still get herpes from skin-to-skin contact!” he shouted, throwing his hands up.
“Maybe it’s crabs,” I said with a shrug.
“You think so? That’s not as bad as herpes, right? How do you know if it’s crabs?”
“I don’t fuckin’ know. And don’t you dare ask me to look at that shit.”
Dank pulled his shorts away from his waist and peered down at his junk before letting his waistband snap back. “Come on, man. All those women you’ve been with, and you’ve never had crabs or anything?”
I shook my head. “Nope.”
“Gah!” he shouted as he started pacing his living room.
“I think Slim had crabs once, but don’t tell him I told you.” I leaned back on his couch and propped my feet up on his table.