When Preston turns to grab my beer I swivel on the bar stool towards the door and I am met by Austin’s angry glare. He is standing, leaning against the wall just inside the door with his arms crossed over his chest showing off his biceps that I love so much. His face is displaying hurt and sadness along with anger. I know I shouldn’t care, but seeing him hurt makes me ache. Still feeling a pull to Austin, all my heart wants to do is go to him. When will this cease?
The sound of the bottle cap releasing causes me to break eye contact and spin back around to Preston who is looking at me questioningly. Not knowing how to react, I just smile.
“Thanks.” I say as I prepare to pick up the drinks.
“Sawyer, wait.” Preston stops me by grabbing my hand with his and leans over the bar. “I would really like to see you sometime. You know, outside of our places of employment of course.” With his free hand he grabs one of the small square napkins and a pen from his pocket. “Could I have your number, gorgeous?”
“Sure.” I say, slowly pulling my hand from his so I can write my number down. I mask my excitement as I calmly slide the napkin back toward Preston and he grabs my hand again. “I will be waiting to hear from you. Better get back to work, pretty boy, looks like you have some thirsty patrons.”
Before he can say anything back, I stand, pick up the drinks, and make my way back over to where the girls are. The night may have started out a little rocky, but the end definitely made up for it.
CHAPTER SIX
It’s been a long time since the sun actually woke me up. My eyes won’t succumb to the brightness, so rather than open them; I reach blindly toward my nightstand to check the time on my phone. Squinting my eyes to avoid the light from the home screen, I noticed the small number two hovering over the icon for new messages. The first message is a number I do not recognize but I could never forget the napkin exchange at the bar.
Unknown: Hey Dolly, hope you had fun and made it home safe. Talk to you soon :)
A smile fills my face and I giggled at the thought of even slightly resembling the beautiful Dolly Parton, though I appreciate that his pretty boy self even knows who she is. The memory of last night’s flirtatious banter swims briefly in my head. It’s a good thing I remained somewhat ahead of myself and consumed plenty of water throughout the night. A few more shots could have drastically increased my chances of acting like a lustful buffoon and dragging him home with me. That would have been embarrassing. Note to self: Do not drink too much around the hottie behind the bar!
Deciding against replying this early, I exit the message and the next one pops open. Again, a number without a name, except this one I’ve known by heart for years.
Unknown: It was great seeing you. You sure are a sight for sore eyes baby.
I close my eyes and shake my head. This is the first text from Austin since the night at the lake and I am not even sure what to think. I plop my head back on to the pillow knowing damn well I won’t be able to go back to sleep.
I take a quick shower and throw on my comfy Sunday outfit of loose khaki shorts and Jameson Feed T-Shirt. Walking into the kitchen, I notice through the dim light of the living room Cheyenne passed out face down on the couch. She was still in the navy dress from last night and I had to cover my mouth silencing the laughter at the sight of her bare butt cheek on display.
“What a hot mess.” I whisper as I place my glass beneath the ice dispenser in the fridge door. The abrupt noise from the ice falling into my glass startles sleeping beauty and she flails around clumsily falling to the floor. No hand could cover the laughter that I let loose at the sight of now both butt cheeks displaying a full moon in the living room and the rat’s nest of hair piled on top of her make up smeared face.
“Yikes, Lady Gaga, have a good night’s sleep?” I raise the water glass to my mouth right before I quickly have to duck out of the way of a flying pillow.
“As a matter of fact, I feel quite rested.” She states as she rolls the rest of the way over straightening out her dress and wrestling with the tie in her hair.
“My goodness girl. Matt, I mean Mike, or was it Max? Oh wait, you danced with all three! If only they got the full Chey effect, the morning after. They would be lining up at your door to take you home to meet their mama’s.”
“Ha ha ha. Only very few are lucky enough to get to wake up next to this beauty.” She pats the side of her monster of a hair-do and puckers her lips.
I throw my head back in laughter and grab the aspirin from the counter handing her three of them along with my glass of water.
“Think you could pull yourself together and come with me to grab a coffee. I got a couple interesting text messages and need my girl’s advice.”
“Oh la la, pretty boy already making a move?”
My cheeks flush slightly thinking about Preston’s message. “Just go get in the shower. I really need my coffee!”
“Ok, ok! Give me fifteen minutes.”
“It might take you fifteen minutes just to get a comb through that hair.”
“Don’t hate! I’ll be right out.” She drags her feet into her bedroom and I hear the shower start up.
Becka is already at work since her shift started at seven this morning. Thankfully the fact that she had to get up early helped us pull Chey out of the bar at a decent hour. Any longer and she may have had the whole crowd on the dance floor. Man she has got some dancing stamina. I need to learn to keep up.
I straightened up the living room, putting all the misplaced pillows back on the couch and sat down with my phone in my hand. I opened my messages re-reading the simple words that cause such torment in my mind. It shouldn’t bother me this much. Austin has a girlfriend. Maybe he is just being nice and wants me to feel comfortable being at the same school and hang out spots. In fact, it makes me feel a little uncomfortable that he can act like nothing happened between us and we are old friends. Which we are, but it doesn’t change the fact that I haven’t received one single text or call from him and now this. ‘You are a sight for sore eyes baby’ I can picture those kissable lips whispering those words right into my ear, just has he did every time we seen each other after he moved.
Cheyenne’s bedroom door swings open as she prances out in cut off jean shorts, a Sharks t-shirt, and a surprisingly cute ponytail considering the mess it was in this morning. The light make up is a refreshing look for Chey.
“Don’t we look comfy and laid back this fine Sunday morning?”
“C’mon, I may not always look country, but my roots grow deep. My Sunday best outfit seemed appropriate. Plus you only gave me fifteen minutes, this was the best I could do.” She winked at me tossing her phone into her bag and slipped on her flip flops.
“I love it. It reminds me of the simpler times of middle school summers down by the lake. Just you, me and whole lot of trouble to be had.”
“Oh man, those prissy bitches didn’t know what hit ‘em! Though it didn’t take long to figure out it was a water balloon!” Cheyenne was right. Those were the days.
“No kidding! The looks on their faces were priceless.”
We laughed for a minute remembering the time we spent tormenting my brother’s friends and their girlfriends. We spent a whole summer pulling pranks and almost got caught a few times. I’m pretty sure my brother knew the whole summer long, but never ratted us out. I’ll have to thank him for that next time I go home.
“Good times friend! Let’s go get us some energy and see how our friend is holding up.” Cheyenne says, making her way towards the door.
“Should we bring her some aspirin?” I held up the bottle and then slid it into my bag as Chey dramatically nodded her head up and down. “Agreed. Let’s go.”
Walking the short distance to the coffee shop, we continued laughing about the summer fun we used to have. With our usual order of drinks and bagels placed, we grabbed a table and looked around for Becka. Shortly after our arrival, she trudged over with our order on a tray. She slid in beside me, plopped her head do
wn, and mumbled into her arm.
“Was that English?” I questioned the inaudible noise she made.
Lifting her head just enough to reveal her mouth she stated, “I said, I’m never drinking again.” Chey and I empathized with her for a moment as I handed her the aspirin. Becka’s eyes grew wide and she threw back the pills like a true junkie, washing them down with some of my iced coffee.
“You’re welcome, Princess. Hope your day gets over quick. Though, you might want to get back to work, there is fierce looking lady eyeing you down.” I warned.
“Who, Myrtle? Aww F her. She is just the assistant manager who thinks she runs this place. If I didn’t feel so shitty I’d probably slap her today.” She looked up and over at Myrtle, who was still glaring. “Alright, alright, back to work. See you guys later. I think it’s going to be a dinner and movie cuddle session kind of night. You in?”
“Definitely!” Chey and I spoke in unison. Becka flipped her short blond hair around and made her way back behind the counter to help the next customer.
“So, don’t think you got away without telling me about the messages. Spill it skank.” Cheyenne raised one eyebrow and I knew she was ready to listen and help me sort through my thoughts.
I pulled out my phone and let her read the two messages that had been consuming my thoughts. Two completely different thoughts. One of something new and exciting. The other something old and confusing. Cheyenne must have agreed judging by the look on her face.
“Whoa, is he serious? Does he think he can just toy with your emotions or has that rock of a head gotten even harder? I mean, ok, so it really didn’t give away too much, but come on, he hasn’t sent a message in months and all of a sudden he sees you looking all hot and feels the need to let you know?” She lets out an exasperated sigh and slumps back into her seat.
“I know! It’s crazy. Is he just being nice, trying to make me feel at ease living in the same town? Maybe he thinks we’re just going to start hooking up like nothing changed. I don’t know. I’m probably just reading too far into this.” I sighed deeply. Cheyenne shrugs and I nod “Yeah that’s it, maybe I am overreacting and he is just being friendly.”
“Just ignore it. Don’t respond or it will open up a door you don’t want to enter right now. Play it cool, like it meant nothing, which it probably did. Plus, on a positive note, Preston not only got your number, but he used it immediately! Brown Chicken Brown Cowwww!”
This puts a smile on my face and the mood is instantly lightened.
“You’re the best. And you’re right, as of now it means nothing. Just a friendly text that I am going to ignore. As a matter of fact…” I slide my phone back over to my side, open the message and hit delete. “Message Deleted” I flash Cheyenne my phone to show her my accomplishment. It took me a couple months before I deleted Austin and every reminder of him out of my phone after we broke up.
Chey and I exchange a high five and relax back into normal conversation about the upcoming week. With my phone in my hand, I realize there’s still one more thing left to do. I store Preston’s number in my phone as PrettyBoy and respond to his earlier text.
Always a pleasure. Made it home safely. See you around.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Other than a few quick texts back and forth over the past few weeks, The Preston and Sawyer Show is on serious hiatus, along with the rest of my life. Work and school have me running ragged. Between the lectures and reading assignments, these so called easy classes were not what I am used to. The junior college was a whole different ball game and it is taking me some time to get used to this level of course work. Cheyenne has also had her head in the books and Becka has been picking up extra shifts at the coffee shop. We barely see each other or have any kind of social life.
Chey-Town: Ahhh 4 more mins in this lecture! Can’t wait to run out of here. What are you up to?
Off work at 7pm. Wanna grab a drink? It has been wayyy too long and I’m finally free for the night!
Chey-Town: FREE! Heck yeah! I have some errands to run so let’s meet at Penny’s around 7:30. Sound good?
It’s a date! See you later Alligator! Xoxo
Finally, I have a night off without homework. This is going to be a much needed girl’s night. And who knows maybe we will even run into Preston. I haven’t seen him in weeks and honestly, I kind of miss him. We hardly know each other but there is just something about him that intrigues me and makes me want to know more. Everything in fact. I haven’t heard from Austin, which confirmed that he was just being friendly and I’m glad I didn’t read too much into the message.
I walk into Penny’s and sit down at the bar. To my disappointment, I see only one bartender, a guy named Jonathan who I’ve met one other time. He turns and smiles as he approaches me. Hopefully he doesn’t see the sad expression as I realize that Preston isn’t working and I’m stuck with him for the night. Extremely nice guy, and pretty handsome, just not Preston.
“Hey there. Sawyer, right? What can I get you to drink?” Jonathan asks while looking at me appreciatively.
“Good memory, Jonathan.”
“You too.” He looks pleased that I remembered his name as well.
“I’ll have a-” I’m cut off mid-sentence by a familiar voice from behind me.
“Michelob Ultra for Dolly here.” I turn in my stool to see Preston wearing his infamous panty-dropping smile. He has a rag in his hand with a bottle of cleaner. He must have been wiping down some of the tables in the back when I came in.
“He’s correct. Thank you Jonathan.” He hands me my beer and turns to finish washing the mugs in the sink.
“Haven’t seen you around much? School got you wrapped up too?” He walked around the bar and put away the cleaning supplies.
“Ugh, in the worse way. I thought I signed up for a light course load, but I am just not used to the big campus style quite yet.”
“Yeah, it takes time, but you’ll adapt. Let me guess, you did your first two years at a junior college?” He asks, now standing directly in front of me with the only bar separating us.
“Yes sir and I hope so. I would actually like to enjoy some of my freedom of being on my own.” I take a long swig of my beer and let out a tiny burp. “Oooh excuse me, although I feel much better now”
Preston laughs and shakes his head. I smile, but before he can say anything, my phone rings and I reach into my purse.
“Chey baby, where are you? It’s almost eight!” Girl is always late.
“I am so sorry Sawyer. Marie’s brother was an accident and she doesn’t have a way home so I offered to take her.” Cheyenne explain in a rush.
“What? Oh man, that’s horrible. Tell Marie I will keep her family in my thoughts. Drive safe and I will see you later at home. Love you.” I know firsthand how accidents affect you and was not at all upset at her cancellation.
After a quick good bye we disconnect. I close my phone and put it back in bag. “Rats!” I say reaching for my beer.
“She found rats?” Preston asks looking rather confused.
“No silly, it’s an expression.” I let out a light giggle. “Cheyenne’s friend from class has a family emergency and doesn’t have a car. Chey offered to drive her home which is about an hour south of here.”
“Well, that’s really nice of her. Sucks that you got stood up, though.” He looks up at the clock and gets an interesting look on his face, as if he is up to something.
Ignoring the look, I respond, “Yeah, shit happens. Well, I guess I will pay for my beer and head home.”
“Nah, the beers on me. Are you hungry?” Preston asks looking more like a nervous boy than the confident sexy bartender I am used to.
“You don’t have to do that. I can buy myself a beer.” I throw a five dollar bill onto the bar and purposely ignore his question.
He grabs the five and turns towards the sink. “Here ya go. I paid for the beer, and she’s tipping you five.” Preston hands Jonathan the bill.
“Thanks Dolly.”
Jonathan replies with a wink. I glance at Preston and notice him glaring at Jonathan. Interesting.
“Oh great, now you too.” I smile at my new nickname and shake my head. Grabbing my bag from the bar hook, I stand to say goodbye and leave.
“Wait, you didn’t answer my question.” Preston’s brows reveal a quizzical look and I play dumb.
“You asked me a question?”
“I asked if you were hungry. I get off in a few minutes and would like to take you to a small diner outside of town. What do you think?”
I am so hungry, but I am not sure if I should go with him. Who was I kidding; all I can think about is getting to know him and what better way to do that than over food.
I collect my thoughts and swallow the insecurity of the situation.
“Sure, that sounds nice.” I calmly reply, and Preston looks relieved, as if he thought I would turn him down.
“Great, give me fifteen minutes, here’s another beer while you wait.” He slides the bottle down the bar and I catch it in my palm.
“Ahh, Flanagan strikes again.”
He turns with a smile and a wink and I’m pretty sure I’m in big trouble with this one. He makes me feel like there is no one else around. I’m still not sure if it’s the whole ‘new and exciting’ thing or if there really is something there.
Deep in thought, the minutes pass by and before I know it, Preston is back in front of me, smiling.
“I’m all set, you going to finish your... well should I say, start your beer?” Preston points at my beer bottle, which is covered in condensation. I hadn’t even taken a sip yet.
“Uh, yeah.” I grab the cold beer and tilt it back as it rolls easily down my throat. I have been known to chug a beer like a man, but I typically don’t put on a show in public bars. Great. He probably thinks I’m a barbarian!
I pull the beer away from my lips and try to hold back the ever-famous burp that typically follows. Instead, settling for a muted version in my mouth.
Picking up the Pieces Page 5