Spanish Nights

by Anna Vaughn

  Chapter 7

  Emma closed her laptop and stood up, stretching her arms over her head. She’d just spent the last three hours going over her ideas with her parents and figuring out how to get everything she suggested done for as little money as possible.

  She wanted to just fall into bed but the pool tournament was starting shortly at The Tipsy Leprechaun and she was curious... Curious about how many people would be there, what drink specials they had, and if the charming waitress she kept meeting would be working or playing.

  She went to her room and looked through the clothes she’d hung up the other day. It was cool at night but it still felt warm to her compared to the Irish weather she’d left behind a few days ago.

  She stepped into her black skinny jeans and a pair of black flip flops and went with a dressy white tank top. She plugged her straightener into the converter and quickly ran it through her cobalt black hair.

  Emma checked her reflection in the full-length mirror. She’d left her hair down and slung her small black bag across her body. She double checked her eye makeup. She hoped the grey, smoky tones brought out her blue eyes.

  Twenty minutes later she was walking down the promenade towards the bar, the sound of the ocean’s waves crashing into the shore. The nearly full moon lit up the deserted beach.

  This is almost romantic except for the fact that I’m alone.

  It was almost three years since she broke up with her last girlfriend. She was always too busy to make time for someone else in her life.

  I need to make an effort when I get back home, maybe sign up for a few dating sites.

  Emma knew she wasn’t cut out to be a player no matter how easy it would make things. She just had to accept that she needed to be more open minded and start spending more time in gay bars.

  It only took a few minutes to get to The Tipsy Leprechaun. She squeezed her way through the crowd that were outside smoking and made her way to the bar.

  Despite it being busy there was a relaxed vibe with popular Irish songs in the background. Emma tried to get her order in but there was a wall of people in front of her waiting to be served.

  She felt a hand gently resting on the small of her back but before she could turn to see who it was the light touch was gone and the waitress she’d met before was standing beside her.

  “Hey,” Emma said, noticing that she wasn’t wearing the black t shirts all the staff were wearing. “You’re not working tonight?”

  “No. I always have Thursday nights off.”

  “You’re lucky. You must have a nice boss,” Emma said, noticing for the first time how striking her eyes were; an alluring rich brown with golden flecks.

  The woman laughed softly. “I am the boss.”

  Emma could feel her cheeks getting warmer. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be. How would you know?” she asked, holding her gaze. “I’m Laura by the way.”

  “Emma,” she said as she shook her outstretched hand, noticing how soft her skin was.

  “I’ll get you a drink if you want to go get yourself signed up. They’re starting in ten minutes.”

  “Sure. Thanks. A bottle of San Miguel, please,” Emma said before she made her way to the back of the bar in search of the pool table.

  She found one of the bartenders with a clipboard and he took her name down after Emma gave him the €10 entry fee.

  “Here you go,” Laura said, handing her the bottle of beer a few minutes later.

  “Thanks. Have you signed up already?”

  “No. I’m just watching tonight,” she said, bringing her beer to her lips. “Looks like you’re first.”

  Emma glanced over at the chalkboard where they were writing up the names for each game. “Wish me luck,” she said as she went to find a cue stick.

  Chapter 8

  Laura smiled at Brian as he made his way over to her with two bottles of beer in hand.

  “Hey. Are you trying to get me drunk?” Laura asked as she took the drink from him.

  “No. It just looks like you might need a little encouragement,” he said, tilting his head in Emma’s direction.

  “What? No. I don’t think she’s interested. I’m not even sure that’s she’s gay.”

  “Laura, you have to get back out there,” Brian said. “It’s been a year.”

  “I know how long it’s been.”

  Laura tried not to think about Alicia. She was just about getting over her but she didn’t think she was ready to get involved with someone else.

  Alicia had been a lecturer at Malaga University but she was offered a job at NYU a little over a year ago and she took it, without asking Laura about it.

  They’d been together for four years but Alicia said that she didn’t want to have a long-distance relationship.

  And that was it. Laura was devastated.

  Everything was fine one day until Alicia had made her decision to pursue her career, completely forgetting about her, instead of trying to find a balance between the two.

  “I know that look, Laura.”

  Laura turned to face him. “What look?”

  “You like her.”

  “Brian, seriously… I think you need to worry a little bit more about yourself and less about me. You’re forty and you’re single.”

  “And you’re thirty-six and single. What’s the difference? Just answer the question,” Brian said as he brought his beer to his lips.

  “Yes, she’s attractive… But do you think she’s gay?”

  “I don’t know. You’re supposed to be the expert.”

  “Do you remember that time you hit on that woman when we were in Marbella and she turned out to be gay?” Laura asked.

  “Of course, I remember. I couldn’t believe my luck. She was easily the most beautiful woman in the bar and then of course you went off with her.”

  “Yes… Yes, I did,” Laura said with a soft laugh as she clinked her bottle of his.

  “Oh no,” Brian said backing away from her slightly. “I know what’s going on here. I’m not doing your dirty work.”

  “I’m just saying that if you think she’s so great why don’t you go talk to her yourself?”

  “And then if she’s gay you’ll just swoop in and take over?”

  “Maybe.”

  Brian shook his head. “Fine,” he said eventually. “But you owe me big time.”

  “You’re actually playing her next. She just won.”

  Chapter 9

  Emma reached for her beer and took a long drink. She glanced over at Laura while she chalked her cue stick. She could have sworn that her and her friend had been watching her the entire time she was playing.

  She looked around her. The tournament is what everyone is paying attention to at this end of the bar. I shouldn’t read too much into it.

  It did make her slightly nervous though. She nearly missed her shot on the eight ball.

  The guy that Laura was talking to came over to the table and picked up the cue stick that was left in the centre of the green felt.

  “That was an impressive win,” he said with a warm smile.

  “Thanks,” Emma said, meeting his dark eyes. “I recognize you…”

  “You were in my bar yesterday.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Where are you from?” he asked.

  “Galway.”

  “Really? Me too. What part?” He bent down to pick up the triangle and rack up the balls.

  “Oranmore.”

  “I’m not too far away. Athenry.”

  “I’m Emma,” she said, extending her hand.

  He shook it firmly. “Brian. Nice to meet you.” He stood back so that she could break. “Good luck.”

  “Thanks. You too.”

  “Unfortunately, I have a reputation to maintain,” he said.

  “That’s completely understandable,” Emma said as she bent down and lined up her first shot. She pulled back and thrust the cue stick forward sending the balls flying in all directions
and potting two of them. “As do I,” she said with a competitive smile as she lined up her next shot.

  Emma potted the next three balls before missing her next shot. Brian followed suit and sunk five solids in a row before missing.

  Emma potted her final two balls with ease and crouched down to line up her shot on the eight ball. She bent down and took her time before taking her shot.

  The black fell into the top right corner but the white trickled dangerously towards the top left pocket and eventually fell. She’d just lost.

  Brian held out his hand. “Good game. Unlucky.”

  “Thanks. Well played,” she said, shaking his hand.

  “I’m here with Laura so I’ll probably see you later on,” he said as he reached for the chalk.

  “Good luck with the next one.”

  Emma headed back to where Laura was standing with her back against the bar. Laura was wearing black shorts and a grey tank top that showed off her bronzed skin. Emma couldn’t help glancing down at her blush-pink lips. She was beautiful.

  “That was unlucky,” she said when Emma stood beside her.

  Emma nodded. “I’m a bit rusty... Can I get you a drink?”

  “Sure. Thanks.”

  Emma moved down the bar away from the crowd watching the pool and waited for the bartender to see her. She glanced over at Laura and noticed Brian laughing with her. Laura playfully hit him on the arm.

  Of course, she’s straight.

  She caught the bartender’s eye and ordered three bottles of San Miguel after noticing that Brian was having the same as them.

  As she carried the drinks back to the two of them, Brian had his arm draped around Laura’s shoulder.

  And they’re probably together.

  “Here you go,” Emma said, handing them each a bottle.

  “Thanks,” Brian said and Laura echoed that a second later.

  “So, you’re waiting for your next opponent?” Emma asked him.

  “Yes. I’m not sure I’ll make it past him,” he said, glancing over at the table. “He’s going for the sweeping brush.”

  “I’m sure you’ll hold your own,” Emma said, noticing once again how close the two of them were standing together. “So how long have you guys been together?”

  Emma watched Laura nearly choke on her drink and Brian looked over at Laura with his mouth open.

  “Why is that such a crazy idea?” Brian asked Laura.

  “Sorry Brian,” Laura said when she’d recovered. “Of course, you’re a catch.” Her eyes moved to Emma. “Sorry, he’s easily offended… and single.”

  Brian took a drink. “And she’s gay… also single.”

  Emma looked at both of them and burst out laughing. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend anybody.”

  Laura elbowed Brian. “You’re up next.”

  “Good luck,” Emma called after him. “I’m so sorry about that,” she said to Laura.

  “Don’t worry about it. It actually happens all the time.”

  So, she is gay… Emma took a drink. “So where are you from?”

  “Philadelphia originally. I grew up in New Jersey and I’ve spent some time in New York City too.”

  “How long have you been here?” Emma asked.

  “Twelve years.”

  “Wow. So why the Costa Del Sol?”

  “I did a lot of travelling when I was younger. I spent months in Spain, going all over but I just loved it here. I live in Malaga City. Have you been there yet?” Laura asked her, turning to meet her eyes.

  “Not this trip.”

  “You’ve been here before?”

  Emma nodded. “Too many times to keep track. This was our family holiday destination growing up. My parents moved out here fifteen years ago.”

  “Really? And you were never tempted to move out here too?”

  “I was. I still am but I went into business with my brother. We’re based in Dublin so that’s been my home for the last ten years.”

  “What do you do?” Laura asked her.

  “We run a marketing agency. Everything from graphics and web design to search engine optimization.” Emma watched Brian break to start the next game. “Would you ever consider going back?”

  “To the States? No… The way of life is so different here. Everything is so relaxed. I’ve gotten used to that lifestyle now. I couldn’t go back,” Laura said before she took a drink. “Wow, Brian is on a roll. I think he’s going to win this one too.”

  They both watched him eye up his shot on the black. He calmly lined up the cue stick and hit the eight ball into the middle pocket.

  “He’s good,” Emma said, watching him shake his opponent’s hand. “So why didn’t you play tonight?”

  “If I’m being honest, I thought I might run into you. I’d hate to have missed the opportunity to get to know you because I was playing pool.”

  Emma’s slender eyebrows rose and she could feel her cheeks darkening. Definite flirting. She brought the bottle of beer she was holding to her lips. She didn’t know what to say to that.

  Laura’s gorgeous but do I really want to go there? I’m here to work.

  “So how long are you here for?” Laura asked, breaking the silence between them.

  “I haven’t exactly decided yet. Maybe two or three weeks? I’m spending some time with my parents.”

  For some reason, Emma didn’t want to reveal the real reason why she was here. Probably because Laura was in direct competition with her parent’s bar.

  Chapter 10

  Laura didn’t know what to make of Emma’s reaction to her blatant attempt at flirting.

  How far do I want to go with this?

  And should I really be pursuing someone who’s only here for a couple of weeks?

  Maybe that’s exactly what I need.

  Laura took another drink as she mulled that thought over.

  Although I still don’t know if she’s even gay. Emma didn’t balk at what I said a second ago but she hasn’t reciprocated either.

  She didn’t seem interested in Brian which was always a good sign.

  Brian did well when it came to women and the two of them often found themselves competing over the same woman.

  She’s probably not even single. She’s beautiful. She runs her own business.

  Fuck it.

  “Do you want to go for a walk on the beach?” Laura asked her. “There’s a meteor shower tonight.”

  Emma turned to look at her and Laura met her steel blue eyes. “I’d love to. I’ve never seen one before.”

  “Really?”

  “Well, I’ve wanted to but anytime I knew that one was happening it was too cloudy at home,” Emma said, tucking a lock of black hair behind her ear.

  “Do you want to go now? We can bring our drinks with us.”

  “Sure.”

  Laura reached for Emma’s hand and lightly held onto it as she led them through the crowded bar towards the exit.

  Chapter 11

  Emma gazed to the right at the waves crashing into the shore, her eyes falling on Laura before she titled her head back to see if she could spot any meteors.

  On the way to The Tipsy Leprechaun she’d been thinking about how romantic the beach was at night, the moon reflected in the shimmering water below, and here she was walking through the sand with a beautiful woman who appeared to be interested in her.

  Now she just had to decide if she wanted to get involved with her or not.

  What harm would one kiss do?

  She would be going home soon. It didn’t have to develop into any more than that.

  Although she seemed to be okay with one night stands lately. Why not one more?

  Emma took a sip of beer and paused to look up at the sky. It was hard to see any meteors while they were moving.

  They were the only ones on the beach though and it was nice walking beside Laura especially when neither of them felt the need to make small talk. Their bare feet pushed through the sand, both of them carrying their flip fl
ops in their hands.

  She felt Laura’s arm gently against her lower back. “Did you see that one?” she asked, pointing with her bottle of beer in her hand off in the distance across the endless ocean.