by Taryn Plendl
Lucas was the first one down. He was just a bit smaller than me, probably about six foot one. I had him by about fifteen pounds. He had longer hair than the rest of us, and wore it pulled back in a ponytail. He had a half sleeve of tattoos on his right arm and wore a small ring in his bottom lip. He looked the part of a bad boy, but he was one of the nicest guys I knew.
“How you doing, man?” Lucas grabbed his own beer and sat next to me.
“Not bad.” I shrugged.
“Hey, you did the right thing, Garrett. You know that, right?” He took a drink of his beer, waiting for me to answer.
I nodded. “Yeah, I know. I didn’t have a choice, it was time.”
“He’s gonna be good.” Lucas gave my shoulder a squeeze as we heard the other two meander down the stairs.
“Are we ready?” Ryan asked, looking between us.
Ryan was the biggest of us all. He had me by an inch, but I am pretty sure we weighed about the same. Ryan and I worked out together in the gym regularly. After I quit the team, I was worried I wouldn’t stay in shape, but I was probably in the best shape of my life right now. Ryan worked out to maintain his image more than just for lacrosse. He was a total man whore. The girls loved him, and he didn’t discriminate, leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake.
Ethan was only about five foot ten and was built like Jackson. He was lean and muscular and fast—damn, that little shit could run. If he got the ball in a lacrosse game, there weren’t many people who could catch him. He could spin and run, losing his defender, leaving him wide open. It was fun to watch.
“Let’s go,” I said, standing up and tossing my empty bottle into the recycle bin as I headed to the door.
Their house was literally just off campus. This had been perfect when I was involved in the party scene. We never needed a designated driver. If we could walk, we could get home. We paused on the sidewalk while Lucas locked the door.
The night was cool, and it was already getting dark as we walked toward the main drag. I had to admit that it felt good to be out. It was great to feel the energy of the people around us, young and vibrant, just waiting for whatever the night could throw at them. In a way, I felt like a load had been lifted off of my shoulders—at least for a while.
“Where are we going?” I asked as we slowed down on the sidewalk, almost causing me to run into Lucas’s back.
“Right here.” Ryan pointed at the door. Oh great! Of course we are, I thought, as we stood in the small line to get into Pastimes. My heart rate picked up as I anticipated seeing her again.
I was the last one of my friends to enter. When I paused to hand my ID to Rob, he reached out and shook my hand before he handed me back my ID. “How is she?” I spoke lower so no one else could hear. I didn’t want to try to explain anything to the guys—at least not tonight.
“Fine, not that she would tell us if she wasn’t.” He looked over his shoulder where I caught a glimpse of her moving around behind the bar. I nodded. “Thanks, man.” He nodded back at me, reaching for the ID of the next person in line.
Lucas grabbed a table as Ryan and Ethan headed for the bar to grab us some beers. “Shit, this is going to be funny.” Lucas was watching as Ryan approached the bar. “What is?” My eyes followed to where Lucas was looking, settling on Payton.
“Ryan totally got shot down by this girl last night.” He laughed.
“Which one?” I asked as I watched Payton move behind the bar with expertise. She was so petite, and one would think this crowd of unruly students would intimidate her, but she just took it in stride, laughing and smiling with everyone.
She looked so different than the last time I’d seen her. I would have never guessed that she had been attacked just days before. She seemed so strong and undeterred. It was amazing.
“The little dark haired one.” I felt my muscles tighten as I watched Ryan lean forward trying to charm her, I’m sure with one of his obnoxious pick up lines, and I knew right away that I wasn’t going to let him get that far with her.
“I’ll be back.” I stood up, walking over to where Ryan and Ethan were standing. As I approached, Payton looked over at me and froze briefly. I moved up to the edge of the bar next to Ryan as she continued to hold my gaze. “Hi,” I said softly, slightly mesmerized by her sapphire eyes.
“Hi.” She looked down and fiddled with the bottles she was opening for us. I could see a smile play on her lips as she worked, and Ryan continued to look at us both. I could almost see the wheels turning in his head. She set the beers on the bar, and I moved three of them toward Ethan and Ryan.
“I’ve got this,” I said, looking straight at Ryan, almost daring him to challenge me on this. After a couple of seconds he smirked and nodded as he picked up the beers and walked over to the table.
I handed Payton my money and waited, taking a pull from my beer. I watched her at the register with her back to me. She had on tight jeans that seemed to hug her nice round backside. Her hair hung in soft, dark curls down her back, partially covering the bar logo on the back of her shirt. I felt my heart beat a little faster as I remembered the feeling of having her shivering little body in my arms when she hugged me.
“Um, Garrett … your change.” I shook my head and realized I was still just looking at her as she stood in front of me holding out her hand with several bills in it. I felt my face flush when I saw the small upturn of her lips, knowing that she caught me staring at her.
“Thanks, Payton.” I reached out to take my change, brushing my fingers across her wrist as I slipped her a tip. Her breath caught, and I swear I felt tingles up my arm. Her blue eyes continued to analyze me as I watched her.
“Um, I need to get back to work.” She grinned before turning back to the rowdy crowd of patrons waiting for service.
“Yeah, I uh … yeah, I’ll see you later.” Smooth, Garrett.
“So spill, man, what was that about?” Ryan asked as soon as my butt hit the chair.
“There’s nothing to spill.” I tipped my bottle back, taking a drink as I glanced back over at Payton. She was serving up drinks to a couple of guys seated at the bar. She looked up and caught my eye, smiling slightly before she turned back around.
“Bullshit!” Ryan punched me in the shoulder, making me spill my beer.
“What the hell, asshole?” I shook the beer off my hand.
Ryan grinned. “If that’s the case, you won’t mind me trying to get her number then.”
I grabbed Ryan’s wrist before he could even stand. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen,” I warned.
Lucas and Ethan watched, looking a bit worried, as Ryan and I stared at each other for a moment before he finally smiled and nodded. I let go of his wrist and nodded back.
“Besides, Lucas already told me she shot you down,” I chuckled, trying to lighten the tense mood.
“Nice, Lucas. Way to share my downfalls.” Ryan shook his head as we all broke into laughter.
Within five minutes, Ryan had forgotten about Payton, and he and Ethan had moved onto a couple of girls over by the pool tables.
“You want to talk about it?” Lucas followed my gaze over to the bar.
I shook my head. “Not really anything to talk about,” I lied.
“Not yet, or nothing at all?” Lucas didn’t miss much. That was one of the things I really liked about him. He was the one of the least judgmental people I’d ever met, and also one of the most perceptive.
“Not yet, but a guy can hope, right?” I laughed.
“Well, you got a hell of a lot further with her than Ryan did last night.” Lucas chuckled as he finished off his beer. “She totally shot him down within seconds of him talking to her. She obviously has a good head on her shoulders.” He stood up. “Want another?” he asked as he pointed to my almost empty bottle.
I finished it off in one last gulp. “Yeah, thanks.” I watched Lucas as he leaned up against the bar, knowing I didn’t have to worry about him. Besides, Payton was tied up with someone else, so the re
d head was grabbing our next round.
***
“You sure you’re okay?” Lucas was heading out, and I had just told him I was going to hang out for a bit.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just want to hang out and see if I can talk to her a bit.” Ryan and Ethan had left about an hour ago with two girls they had met earlier.
“I thought you wanted to be home early.” Lucas was grinning at me.
“Yeah, that was before I saw her again.” I laughed.
“Again?”
“Yeah, don’t ask.” I tried to laugh it off, but I could tell Lucas knew not to push it.
“All right man, see you tomorrow.” He clapped me across the shoulder and left.
The bar had cleared out quite a bit when Rob came over and sat down across from me.
“Looks like all of your friends left, huh?” I nodded, knowing what he was getting at.
“I’m hoping to have a word with Payton when she’s done.” I figured honesty was the best route with him.
“I think Shelly is letting her go as we speak. She has class tomorrow, so Shelly takes pity on her.”
We both watched as Payton reached under the bar and grabbed her purse. I stood up quickly, afraid I would miss my chance. Rob put his hand on my arm. “Relax, man. Take it slow; you don’t want to spook her.” He winked and chuckled as he walked away.
He was right; I was acting like a total idiot. There was just something about her that I couldn’t get out of my mind. So vulnerable, yet strong at the same time.
She walked through the side of the bar and smiled when she saw me standing there.
“You’re still here?” She tilted he head to the side and put her hand on her hip.
“Yeah, I was hoping to walk with you.”
She frowned at me. “I don’t need an escort. I’m fine by myself.” She moved to the door.
“I don’t doubt that, Payton. I just wanted to talk to you. If you’d rather, we can stand out front and chat, and then I promise to let you walk home alone, even though I am pretty sure we’re going the same way.”
She turned around and looked at me cautiously. “How do you know what way I’m going?”
“I guess I don’t really, but after the other night I just assumed you walk through the park to get home.” I shrugged, looping my thumbs in my front pockets.
“And you really are going that way?” She raised her eyebrows at me.
“Yes, ma’am. I actually live on Old Windsor.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
“Okay?” I wanted to make sure I heard her right.
She nodded and walked through the door. It had gotten chilly while we were inside. I should have brought a jacket, but it had been so long since I’d been out, that it hadn’t even crossed my mind. Payton pulled her jacket closed and put her hands in her pockets.
We walked for about a minute without talking, it just felt comfortable to be silent.
“You’re awfully quiet for wanting to talk to me so bad.” I could hear the smile in her voice.
I started to laugh. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” She was making me nervous, which was something new for me.
She giggled, and it made my heart skip a beat. It was the first time I had seen her slightly carefree. It was beautiful.
“How long have you worked at the bar?”
“A little over a year now. It is flexible with school.”
I turned to look at her. “You go to school here?” I didn’t realize that. I hadn’t seen her around campus before, and I was pretty sure I would have noticed her.
“Mmm hmm.” She was looking around nervously as we walked through the park, and I felt guilty knowing why she was so concerned.
“What is your major?” I put my hand on her shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze before dropping it back to my side. I wanted to try to get her mind off that night and back on right now.
“Accounting. What about you? I assume you go to school here also.” She smiled back up at me as she walked.
“Yeah. Systems Engineering.” I thought I saw her smile. “What?”
“You don’t look like the engineering type.”
“What type do I look like?” I challenged as I stopped walking.
She bit her bottom lip, turning to look me up and down. “Physical Health … Kinesiology?”
“Nice!” I laughed. “It’s because I have a hot body, right?” I waggled my eyebrows at her as she started to laugh. “Sorry to disappoint you ‘Little Miss Math Whiz’, but there’s a lot more to me than just a hot body!” I pointed to my head, pretending to be offended.
She smiled and shook her head as we started walking again. We were almost to the other side of the park—way too quickly. Her hair looked almost blue in the moonlight. I glanced at her profile in my peripheral vision as we walked. Her features were perfect, from her long eyelashes to her cute nose that sloped up slightly, to her puffy pink lips. I wondered, not for the first time, how soft they would feel against mine.
“Well, I’m this way.” She stopped on the sidewalk and pointed to the right.
“I’m right there.” I pointed to the townhouse about fifty yards to the left of us.
“Well, thanks for walking with me, Garrett.”
“Thank you for allowing me to walk with you.” I grinned. “Goodnight, Payton.”
“Goodnight.” I watched as she turned and walked away.
Chapter 5
I had the hardest time getting to sleep, and ended up tossing and turning most of the night. My thoughts had been stuck on a certain large muscular man. Other than Rob, he was the first guy I had felt comfortable around, but the big difference was that Rob was like a brother to me—family, but Garrett ... Garrett was something entirely different.
I couldn’t begin to explain it, but I wanted to get to know him, and it wasn’t just because he had come to my rescue. He seemed like a mystery. He was huge, muscular, definitely attractive, but he seemed to be so much more. I would have never guessed that he was an engineering major. Go figure.
The guys he was in the bar with were the stereotypical college guys. His friend had hit on me the night before, and I was sure I would have to shoot him down again last night, too, but Garrett had stepped up, and the other guy had backed off. It was interesting to watch them interact, like there was an unspoken respect, and Garrett didn’t come at me with those cheesy pick up lines. I smiled as I thought of some of the ridiculous ones I’d heard over the years.
I yawned and stretched as I climbed out of my soft bed. A hot shower was calling my name, and a nice big cup of coffee. Hopefully that would wake me up enough to be a productive student.
By the time I reached campus, I knew I needed to buckle down and focus. I had an exam today, and my mind needed to be in the game, not on guys. I was never the girl to be easily distracted by a boy; then again, the boys that were usually trying to get my attention were the last ones I would have contemplated spending more time with in the first place.
After I lost my dad, there was a certain stigma that surrounded me. People avoided me for the most part, and to be honest, that was so much better than the ones who didn’t ignore me. When you’re an outcast, people view you as something they can take—to control, if you will. It’s almost like they know you don’t have much left, and they intend to strip you of whatever you do.
I’m not sure what was worse. The taunting and bullying or when I basically ceased to exist after my mom died. I envied her for a while. She got to escape it. I was left to try to pull myself out of a hole that my parents dug. One that no child should have to try to climb out of alone, but I did it, and I never looked back. I took charge of my own life and I vowed to never let someone have the power to destroy me again. I shook my head as I walked into the building, willing the memories to leave.
The day surprisingly flew by quickly. It was a cool and crisp day without a cloud in the sky as I headed to the bar after my last class. It was still early, but I liked to get there early so I could help
Shelly stock and get ready for the hopping Friday crowd. Fridays were usually packed, and we mixed, poured, and served drinks without so much as a bathroom break. It was a great night for tips, and Shelly and I worked the bar well together.
“Hey, Shell!” Shelly was already changing out bottles and stocking behind the bar when I strolled into the dark building and moved behind the bar. Shelly liked to just turn on the light behind the bar until we were ready to open up. I guess it was more relaxing than having the harsh fluorescent lighting overpowering us.
“Hey, girl!” She glanced back at me as I threw my bag under the bar and grabbed the next couple of bottles to hand to her.
“It should be a nice night.” The weather forecast was clear for tonight, and in a town where people walked a lot, that was a good thing. Good weather brought out the crowds, and the crowds brought out the money. Even poor college kids found a way to go to the bars. I think a lot of them would take a beer over their next meal.
“Yeah, it looks like it.” Shelly placed the last bottle on the shelf behind the bar and turned to me.
“So, did that Garrett guy walk you home?” She stepped down from the step ladder and placed her hands on her hips as she waited for me to answer.
I could feel my cheeks heat up, knowing what Shelly was getting at. “Yes, but it’s not like you think,” I argued.
“Is that so? I thought Payton didn’t need anyone to walk her home.” She cocked her left eyebrow up at me, her voice dripping with amused sarcasm.
“I don’t. He lives on the other side of the park, too. He was already going that way anyway,” I snapped back, sure I didn’t sound as convincing as I’d hoped. I was glad when Rob walked through the door so we could drop the topic of Garrett. Unfortunately, Rob didn’t agree.
“So, did Garrett walk you home?” He laughed as I groaned and turned around. Shelly started laughing.
“I’m glad you two find this so amusing.” I glared at them both.