My last class for the day is almost over and I’m heading to meet up with Cheyenne and Becka to grab some coffee. I see Chey in line and jump in beside her.
“Hi Lady! You look like you could use an extra shot today.” Cheyenne states as she wraps me in a quick hug.
“Ugh, that guy about put me to sleep during lecture. How was your day so far?”
Cheyenne drops her head back and begins to fake snore. “Same here, except mine actually did put me to sleep.”
We walk up to the counter and Becka flashes us her I’ve had too much coffee today smile and bounces up to take our order. “Hi girls, what’s it going to be today? I’m off in fifteen.”
We both order iced mochas with extra shots of espresso, and then take a seat at a booth in the corner.
“So, I was thinking we should maybe go grab a few drinks tonight. You up for it Chey?” I ask, already knowing what her answer will be.
“Well that’s the dumbest question you’ve asked me all week. I’m always down for a few drinks on Tuesday. Let’s see what Becka wants to do.”
“Ohhh, is there a plan brewing?” Becka slides in next to Chey, as if on cue. “I’ve been wanting to check out that bar on University that just reopened.”
“Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, Penny’s!” Chey piped in.
“Sounds fun. As long as I don’t have to get dolled up, I’m in.”
“Oh Sawyer, you’ve been stuck in the country for far too long.” Chey gave me a pitiful look.
We all laugh and decide to head back home to relax a bit before going out. I take a quick shower, throw my hair up in a messy bun, and slip on cut offs and a tank top along with my favorite leather sandals. I make my way out to the kitchen knowing I still have a few minutes before the other two are ready. It’s time for a few shots to start the night. Grabbing the bottle of whipped vodka from the freezer I prepared a shot for each of us.
Cheyenne and Becka make their way out in the kitchen, causing me to look down questioning my outfit choice. They are both dressed down from their usual going out attire, but still not quite what I consider to be casual Tuesday wear.
“Should I change?” I ask as I look down at myself.
“Heck no, wear what you want, it’s just Tuesday.” Cheyenne states. “Oh boy, are those what I think they are?” Chey grabs up one of the hot pink shot glasses and hands the other to Becka.
“Just a little something to get this night started.” I lift my glass and gesture the other girls to do the same.
Cheyenne wiggles her eyebrows and begins her toast. “To the guys in our past, and the ones that won’t last. Cheers to a good night!” We all giggle, clink our glasses and tip them back.
Penny’s bar is about three blocks north of our apartment on University, which is about a five-minute walk. The parking lot is empty which makes me wonder if it is in fact, reopened. Getting closer, we noticed the door propped open and made our way inside. Other than a couple of college kids at a table in the front, and the bartender who is busy making drinks, we are the only people in here.
We decide to take seats at the bar, since they are all open. I pull out my stool and hang my purse on the convenient hook under the ledge. As soon as I look up, my gaze is caught up on a pair of familiar eyes; the same ones that have been in head, piercing my thoughts.
“MAC2233,” I said as a wide smile spread across his face causing my pulse to quicken.
“Hey there, it’s Preston. Guess we didn’t formally introduce ourselves.” he reaches his hand across the bar and I take it into mine. A sudden chill covers my body the moment his hand touches mine, remembering the feel of them previously around my waist.
“Hi, I’m Sawyer.” With his hand still in mine for longer than what seems necessary, I’m glad the lights are dim so that he doesn’t see the color flushing my face.
A fake cough to my left interrupts. “Hi, I’m Cheyenne and this is Becka.”
Preston releases my hand and shifts over to shake with the girls. “It is nice to meet you both, I’m Preston.”
“Do you two know each other?” Becka says with a quizzical look on her face looking back and forth between Preston and I.
“Not exactly, we ran into each other at the bookstore on my first shift.” I explain, keeping it simple.
“Literally.” I look back at him and we both let out a chuckle. “What can I get you ladies to drink tonight?”
“Vodka cranberry for me please” Cheyenne orders her usual drink of choice.
“Make that two!” Becka follows.
“And I would like a Michelob Ultra please.” I have learned that I can better pace myself while drinking beer rather than liquor on top of shots.
“Ahh, a girl who enjoys beer.”
“Well, I am just a simple girl.” I respond and smile at Preston.
“I’m sure you are far more than simple, Sawyer.” The color rushes back to my cheeks again and I pull out my card to pay for the drinks, not knowing how to respond to his comment.
“Not a chance, this ones on me. I’m still trying to earn your forgiveness, remember.” He winks and turns to make the drinks.
Oh man am I in trouble. He’s hot and charming and I have inkling he can’t help but flirt with me. It’s been so long since I’ve had this strong of an attraction for a man. He might just be the one to get me out of this crazy Austin funk I have been stuck in. His eyes take me to another world, and oh lord, what that lean body does to my head. All I can think about is what it would feel like to wrap my thighs around his slim waist, and put my mouth on his pouty lips. What I wouldn’t give to...
“Seriously, earth to Sawyer!” Chey tapped me on the back of the head sending me straight back to reality just as Preston turned with our drinks.
“Uh, sorry, what’s up?” I say trying not to make it look like I have been caught daydreaming.
“Nothing, never mind.” She turned back toward the bar. “Wow, Preston, you guys sure bring in a crowd around here.” Cheyenne stated.
“Trust me. It’s not always like this.” He stands with his arms crossed over his chest leaned back against the counter and takes a look around. My lady awakens at the site of the tattoo reappearing under his shirtsleeve and I want nothing more than to rip it off his back to reveal the rest of the ink.
“I sure hope not, this place is too close to home to not be our ‘spot’.” Becka chimed in on the conversation right before sucking down the rest of her drink.
Preston reached for her glass to make another.
“I tell you what, why don’t you girls come by this Saturday for the re-opening Back to School Party. I’ll put you on my list to get in. We have a DJ performing along with some live music and drink specials. Guaranteed to ‘bring in the crowd’.” He smiles as he throws up air quotes gesturing toward Cheyenne, and I enjoy his attempt to keep up with her wit.
Chey tips her drink back and lets out a baby burp. “I think we can manage to come by and see if it’s up to our expectations.”
Preston looks in my direction as if he is awaiting my confirmation, so I oblige. “Yeah, sounds fun.”
His smile spreads wide across face, accenting his strong jawline causing me to bite down on my bottom lip unable to remove my gaze. His eyebrow rose slightly and a smirk appeared as he caught me staring, but turned around to grab a bottle of tequila. “You ladies want a shot?”
In unison, we simply reply “Hell Yeah!”
After an hour or so and a few drinks later, we decide we should head home. I stand next to my stool and throw down a twenty-dollar bill.
“It was nice to formally meet you Miss Sawyer”
“I couldn’t agree more. I’m looking forward to Saturday.” I throw him my best smile and walk out with the girls in tow.
“Bye Preston!” The two girls shout back a little tipsy from the double vodkas they threw back.
“Goodnight ladies.” He yells across the bar. With that, I chance one more glance back at him. He is busy wiping down the bar but looks up to catch
my stare and without saying a word, he winks at me and turns to the back of the bar.
Yes. I am definitely in trouble.
CHAPTER FOUR
“Sawyer!” I had just gotten into my room after my shower when I heard Cheyenne bellowing my name from the kitchen. I am not sure how it is even possible that we haven’t been evicted or even had a complaint filed against us regarding the obscene amount of noise that comes from this apartment. If it’s not Cheyenne’s loud mouth, it’s our jams on the radio and supreme surround sound during chick flicks. There is a serious possibility our neighbors are deaf.
Rather than screaming back, I strolled into the kitchen and found Cheyenne and Becka both standing at the island with six empty shot glasses lined up in front of them.
“You know, ya’ll could have let me get dressed first,” I protested.
“Why would we do that, when you look so sexy in that towel?” Slapping Cheyenne’s hand away from pulling at the cloth covering my nudity, I wrapped it tighter and made sure it was properly tucked in. Cheyenne laughed and reached into the freezer, filling each glass with our favorite vodka and passing them around. “Alright ladies, here are the first of many shots we will throw back tonight, hopefully, getting one of us laid.”
“What are we toasting to?” I ask as I lift my first shot.
“To you getting laid.” Cheyenne raised her glass up and Becka followed with a wide grin, both holding their arms up waiting for me to join them.
“Real classy Chey.” I roll my eyes as we clink our glasses, tap them in the counter and toss them back.
The bestie and I have always had different outlooks on most everything, but especially on guys. As long as I have known Cheyenne she has never had a serious relationship. In high school she had a steady hook up, Sam, and I had hoped it would turn into more, but never happened. When asked about it, she would simply claim that she was not meant for commitment and preferred to ‘keep her options open’.
“We don’t expect you to hook up with Preston tonight, Sawyer. But, we were kind of hoping for some time in the very near future.” Becka said as she picked up her next shot and held it up. “To hot bartenders.”
“That I will definitely toast to.” Blushing, I raise my glass and we all take our last shot. Other than his obvious good looks, there is just something about Preston that keeps pulling me in. He’s different from the guys in my hometown, by no means is he country, but I like it. I’m intrigued to say the least.
“Okay let’s start getting beautified. Sawyer do you think maybe you could dress up a little tonight? Definitely no jeans.”
“Yes, Cheyenne I think I can handle that.” I call out as I am closing my door. I had already planned my outfit out for the night and surprisingly did not include wearing jeans.
I finished getting dressed and added some mousse to my almost dry hair. Since I had a few spare moments while waiting on the beauty queens to finish up, I decided to call home to say hi to the family. I haven’t been able to talk to them as often as I hoped as school and work are keeping me pretty busy.
“Hello.”
“Hey Mama.” I sighed out.
Hearing her voice sure makes me home sick. I haven’t been gone long and I already miss it.
“Hi sweetheart, how are you doing? How’s school?”
“Good. I’m good and school is good. It’s a lot different from the junior college, bigger classes and more kids, but I am getting along pretty well.”
“Doesn’t surprise me, you can handle anything, Sawyer.”
“Thanks Mama. So how are things there?”
“Everything is running fine, other than your Daddy and Ben butting heads. You know, old school versus new school.” I laugh because I know exactly what she means.
When Ben returned from college he started suggesting we update things around the ranch. It didn’t go over very well. Daddy was too stubborn and set in his ways. After the accident, while Ben was in charge of the operations, he started slowly incorporating some of his new ideas. Daddy hasn’t been adjusting too well to the changes and it’s been an ongoing battle between the two of them ever since.
“If Daddy would stop being so dang stubborn, he might realize that Ben is only making things easier for everybody in the long run. What about Martha, how is she?”
“I hope you are sitting down for this. She is actually helping out more now than she has ever. She’s even been pulling shifts at the store three days a week after school.”
I nearly feel off the side of my bed.
“Wow. You don’t say. What brought on this change?”
“Ben. I saw him pull her aside one day and they spent an hour or so talking. I don’t know what he said to her, but ever since that day, Martha has been getting her chores done without being asked and she even makes it to the shop on time for her shifts.”
“Well good. It’s about time.” I will have to remember to ask Ben what it was that he said to Martha to get her ass in gear.
“Listen sweetheart, I have Theresa calling on the other line and I need to catch this. I am sure it’s about the upcoming fundraisers. We have lots to plan. I love you and we all miss you and can’t wait to see you.”
“Tell Theresa I said hello. Love you too, Mama. Bye.” Hanging up I stare down at my phone. Just hearing Austin’s mom’s name brings me down.
One of the hardest parts of our breakup was feeling like I lost his family too. The Davis’ never treated me any differently afterwards, but for me, it was hard. Just being around them broke my heart a little more, realizing how much everything had changed. His mom tried to get me to sit down and talk to her a few times, but I always made up excuses as to why I was unable. I haven’t seen or heard from Austin in over eight months, after he walked away from me and started ignoring all my calls. I am not even sure how much he talks to his family or how much he tells them. I did, however, get the vibe that Theresa didn’t approve of his new girlfriend. A few months back, she asked me to meet her for lunch and went on about how Austin was just going through some phase and in the end we would work it out. Theresa believed since we were kids that we were meant for each other. I used to believe this too.
Standing from the bed, I take one last look in the mirror. I kept my makeup light with just bronzer, shimmer eye shadow, mascara, and lip gloss; my every day tools. Letting my natural wavy hair air dry would usually be enough for me, but tonight I wanted to step it up a notch. I added some loose curls in with my curling iron and ran my fingers through, finishing it off with a light hair spray. With a step back, I admire my work.
“Looking good, sister.” I say to myself, proud of the step outside of my shell.
Knowing I am the first one ready, I head out to the kitchen and get the next set of shots ready. We like to get a good buzz before going out anywhere. It allows us to save money, plus we are already in party mode when we arrive. Back home we weren’t able to pregame like this since everything was so spread out. Driving with a buzz could cause a lot of problems. Living in the city and so close to everything makes it very convenient.
I have the shots poured by the time the girls exit their rooms.
“Really Sawyer? That’s what you called getting dressed up?” Cheyenne is eyeing me from head to toe, and her main focus of disgust appears when she notices my choice in footwear.
Looking down at myself, I don’t see what the issue is. I chose a strapless peach sundress with a wide brown belt around my ribcage and paired it with my dark brown pointed toe cowboy boots. The pink and peach flowers stitched up the sides really tie it all together. Or so I thought.
“Are you kidding me? This is my best dress and my nicest, not to mention, cleanest boots,” I said placing my hands on my hips.
“Sometimes it is still hard for me to believe you two came from the same place.” Becka laughs as she makes her way to the counter looking like a vixen in her black corset top, white ruffled mini skirt, and red high heels. Her short blonde hair is fluffed up full of volume, and her makeup is flaw
less. It just suits her, even the cherry red lipstick.
“The dress is nice. Really, I like it. But come on, boots? And would it kill you to wear a little more make up?” Cheyenne is tapping her leopard print peep-toe heel, which is perfectly matched with a navy halter dress. The open back falls extremely low, and you can almost see the top of her panties. Well, that is, if she is wearing any. Her smoky eye makeup intensifies the honey brown color which is still eyeing my boots. At this moment, I would like nothing more than to snatch that side pony tail and give her a little shake. But instead of violence, I use my words.
“Hey, this is me,” I say as I hold out my arms. “If Preston doesn’t like it, well that’s too damn bad. I won’t change. For anyone.”
“Ok girl. You are right. And sexy, no matter what you wear. Come on let’s take our last shots before we head out.” Cheyenne wrapped an arm around me and we all lifted our glasses.
“To new friends.” Becka says while looking over at me. Since my arrival, Becka and I have grown close and the three of us make a well-balanced trio.
“To new beginnings all around.” I raise my glass to meet hers and look to Cheyenne.
“To the many new sexy guys I hope to meet and become acquainted with.” Cheyenne winks and taps our glasses. Becka and I smile, shaking our heads. After such a long friendship, there isn’t much that could come out of her mouth that would surprise me. I’m sure Becka has come to this realization by now.
As we gather our purses, I noticed Becka has a quizzical look on her face as she turns to Cheyenne.
“So, what’s that five date maximum thing you have?” She asks.
“Oh lord, please tell me you aren’t interested in her sick dating style,” I say with a scared grin on my face
“Actually it’s more like three, but who’s counting.” Cheyenne says and we all start laughing. “What can I say, I get bored easily. Come on, let’s go. Sawyer’s got a fine ass bartender to see.” She grabs our hands and pulls us out the front door. The alcohol is officially in full effect and should make for an interesting night.
Picking up the Pieces Page 3