Why Did It Have To Be You?

by T. L. Quinn

  Prologue

  I hear the bell on the door to the bar cling as I suck the olives off of my drink's stir stick. I am working on my third drink of the night, sitting all alone at a run down bar that is just around the corner from my apartment.

  It must look a little ridiculous to the few people that are here that I am wearing a birthday crown and have on a tight, short dress while most of the occupants are in ripped jeans, stained t-shirts, and ball caps. Oh well. I am finding it hard to care what anyone thinks about me as the alcohol from my third drink is starting to make my brain a little more foggy and a lot more confident.

  I wonder if anyone would care if I danced on a table? It is my birthday after all.

  The confidence doesn't last long though, and soon I am back to wallowing as I begin remembering why I am here all alone on my 21st birthday.

  I don't usually spend that much time feeling sorry for myself, but I am making an exception just for tonight since I can finally legally drink my sorrows away. Or at least try to drink them away.

  My two best friends Ally and Jessica are both out of town this week for a work conference. They both work together at a marketing company and are constantly flying all around for business trips and "work" conferences. Seems more like vacationing to me with all the partying and events they attend. I can’t complain too much though because I often benefit from their jobs

  when they give me all the extra goodies they got for free from the companies they represent.

  I knew about their trip ahead of time, so we planned to celebrate my birthday this weekend. I’ve known Ally since freshman year of college, and I know she is going to make the party unforgettable. I think her exact words were “You are getting so trashed this weekend!”

  She pretty much lives to party and find the next hot guy to take home. The first time we met in our shared college dorm room, she already had three guys’ numbers that she met while moving in. Although I’m not quite as adventurous and outgoing as she is, we compliment each other well, and I couldn't imagine what my life would be like without her.

  Ally met Jessica when she started working at the same marketing firm as her. They became fast friends, and now the three of us are all besties.

  My sisters both sent me happy birthday texts, but that is about the extent of our usual conversations. We text each other on birthdays and occasionally send a funny meme to each other, usually related to our childhood and growing up.

  I don't not get along with them, but we aren't close either. Lauren and McKenna are super close, and I have always been the odd one out. They are both outgoing and social. Not that I was a lonely geek growing up or anything. I just like to stick to a smaller group of friends rather than making a new friend every weekend. Our personalities just never quite meshed together well. We usually see each other on holidays and special events but other than that, they are more like acquaintances than family. Plus, they are a couple hours away, and it's a Tuesday night, so even if we were super close friends, I don’t think they’d make the drive out just to get a few drinks.

  Having my party postponed isn't the reason for my pity party though. I am not one of those people who has to celebrate on the exact day. Hey, you want to do Christmas in January? Thanksgiving in October? I am all for it just as long as I get to celebrate at some point. The reason I am letting myself mope and drown my sorrows tonight is that I was supposed to be with my boyfriend right now. We weren't going to do anything crazy, but I was going to get all dressed up with this skin tight dress and birthday crown and we were going to hit up a few of the bars downtown. Instead, I am sitting all alone at a bar that looks like it was made for alcoholics. I don’t think there is even a jukebox. Just tables and liqueur. Oh and I guess their bar food isn’t bad.

  I blow at some hair that has fallen in front of my face and sigh. I am still trying to figure out why he didn’t call me this morning. We could have worked things out like we usually do.

  He stormed off last night after yet another fight about Maddison. I like to think of myself as an open minded and modern girlfriend, but when your boyfriend is close friends with his ex, it is not easy. Sure they have known each other since middle school and she was having a bad night after her boyfriend dumped her, but why does it always have to be Brian to come to the rescue? Doesn't she have any girl friends to cry with? I sometimes think she makes up these "tragedies" just so she can get him alone with her. I didn’t even remember that she was dating anyone. Couldn’t have been for too long because she was single last month when we all went over to Brian’s friend Jason’s house.

  The last thing Brian said to me before leaving my apartment was "She's one of my best friends and she needs me. Why can't you understand that?"

  I was angry he was choosing her over me, but we've had this fight before and so I tried not to dwell on it.

  When my birthday rolled around the next day and I still hadn’t heard from him, I began to feel more angry. It is my birthday for crying out loud. That has to be more important than some ex-girlfriend/best friend's problems. The more I thought about it the more upset I got.

  When 7 o'clock came around, which is when we were supposed to meet for dinner, and he still hadn't called or texted. I turned off my phone, put on my sexiest dress, and headed to the only bar within walking distance since I didn't have anyone to drive me home. If he wants to ignore me on my birthday over something I should be upset with him about, then I guess we don’t need to be in a relationship anymore. I think. Maybe. I don’t know.

  Anyway, that's how I ended up in this dive bar with an empty plate of chicken wings and a buzz that is getting stronger by the minute.

  I look down and see my third drink only has a few sips left and I get the bright idea that I need to do some birthday shots. I call over to the bartender. "What's your favorite shot?"

  He purses his lips to think a second and I interrupt him before he even answers. "Wait! Give me your most girly shot and most manly shot!"

  He chuckles at that. "Coming right up."

  As he turns, I add on "Within a reasonable budget. I don’t want some old fancy whisky that cost fifty dollars a shot.” I must not be too drunk if I can still be budget conscious.

  He turns and winks at me. "Got it."

  As I am waiting for my birthday shots, I hear footsteps coming up to the bar from whoever just walked in. Looking around, it seems like most of these guys came straight from work without showering.

  I hope this new person doesn't try to sit next to me. I don’t need some smelly guy ruining my perfectly good spot at this bar. I take a glance to my left and my straw falls from my mouth.

  He is definitely not what I was expecting.

  The first thing I notice about this new mystery man is how tall he is with his fancy navy blue suit that fits him like a glove. Think Ryan Gosling in “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” Not one of those big, bulky suits most business guys wear. No. His suit forms to every curve of his body and man what a body it is.

  I notice he has one of those fancy watches too, and I wonder why he would be in a bar like this. Doesn’t really seem like his scene.

  My curiosity leads my eyes to scan over his body more. He has broad shoulders and toned muscles that I can tell he has even under his jacket. His tie is loose at the neck like he is trying to relax after a long day at the office. His hand is rubbing at his neck as he takes a seat and that's when my eyes move to his face.

  His straight jaw and nose perfectly go with his bright green eyes that have thick eyelashes and sit under dark, masculne eyebrows. I have never seen eyes so vibrant and colorful in real life. They draw you in so you can't help but stare, and it feels as if he is looking right back at you into your soul. Oh shit!

  He is l
ooking at me. Right at me. Staring at him.

  His mouth tips up on one side with a knowing smirk, and my eyes widen as I quickly look away. My face heats and I can't tell if it is from the alcohol or the embarrassment of being caught gawking. I spin my straw around in my drink to busy myself.

  Suddenly, the bartender shouts over to the mystery man. "Hey Dean, want your usual?"

  The man, "Dean," nods his head, and the bartender walks toward me with my two shots.

  "One shot of whiskey and one shot of coffee vodka, with chocolate syrup and whipped cream on top."

  The bartender sets the drinks down in front of me, and my eyes glance over to Dean. A full blow smile grows on his face. Of course his teeth are bright white and perfectly straight. Is there anything wrong with this man? He holds up his hand. "Hey Craig, I changed my mind. I'll take that as well." He nods his head in the direction of my two shots. Craig smiles and goes to begin making him the two shots as well.

  Dean smiles at me and gets up from his seat around the corner of the bar. He takes his jacket off and starts walking toward me. I swear it was like he was moving in slow motion the way he looks so perfect doing something completely ordinary.

  Then he is suddenly right next to me and sitting down on the barstool next to me. I feel my heart beat pick up a little.

  "Interesting choice of drinks you have there." he says with a grin as he sets his jacket on the back of the stool and begins rolling up his dress shirt sleeves, exposing his magnificent forearms.

  My heart rate picks up another few notches. Is he flirting with me? No. There's no way. He is obviously older than me. Probably mid-thirties. He wouldn't be interested in a twenty-one year old getting wasted on her birthday. He’s probably just bored.

  I give him a small smile. "I wanted to have a variety to figure out what I like, being legal now and everything." I gesture towards myself thinking I am showing him it is my birthday from my fancy dress and birthday crown, but then I realize I am just moving my hand up and down my body showing off my slightly too skimpy dress. His eyebrows shoot up and my mouth drops open in shock and embarrassment. .

  "I mean legally allowed to drink." I quickly add.

  He smiles at that. "I see, Happy Birthday." he points up to my crown and I give an awkward smile back.

  Then he continues. "And did you? Did you figure out what it is you like?"

  The way his smirk follows that question makes me think he is talking about more than just alcoholic beverages.

  I try to play it cool and shrug. "I haven't tried them all yet."

  I reach for my shot glasses and down the whiskey first. It burns my throat as it goes down and my eyes start to water. I quickly reach for the coffee shot and throw it back. The whip cream helps to ease the burn from the whiskey.

  Craig comes over with Dean’s shots and he tips his head back as he downs them both as well, just in the opposite order with the whiskey being the chaser to the coffee shot.

  After he sets his shot glasses back on the bar, he turns to me. "Can I buy the birthday girl a drink?"

  I feel my confidence starting to return again after the alcohol from the two shots start to hit me. I nod my head yes at Dean and he turns back to the bartender.. "Craig, I'll take my usual now and one..." he looks at me in question to see what I would like.

  I lift my shoulders like I don’t know. "You probably know more than I do."

  He laughs. "I usually just drink scotch."

  I know I don't want any more straight up alcohol drinks. "Sex on the Beach."

  Dean bites his bottom lip to hold back a grin like he knows I just chose that drink to bring sex into the conversation.

  The little bit of sober me left inside knows I don't hook up with random strangers I meet at bars especially since I just broke up with my boyfriend. Did we break up? Not contacting your girlfriend on her birthday means you broke up? Right? But I can’t help but entertain the idea of being with Dean. I mean how could I not? Look at the man.

  Still, I don’t want him to get the wrong idea so I quickly add on, "I like anything with peach. It makes it go down your throat so much smoother." I stop. Jesus. Did I just make a blow job reference? He's at me smirking again. Why can’t I be normal?

  "So what are you doing at Charlie's Pub all by yourself on your birthday?"

  I glare back at him. Guess nothing is too personal with this guy. "Maybe I like Charlie's Pub. Maybe it's my favorite place with my favorite wings, and I chose it for my birthday." I raise my eyebrows at him in challenge.

  His smile grows further at my snarky remark, but he just raises the bar by continuing to push the subject. "Charlie's isn't exactly known for their wings."

  "I guess not. What exactly are they known for? Must just be sexy strangers who insinuate you have nobody to love you so you have to spend your birthday alone getting hammered?" I snap back at him.

  He completely ignores the second half of my sentence. "You think I'm sexy?"

  "Oh my god." I roll my eyes at him, but because I am feeling buzzed and I don’t actually know this man, I decide to spill all the dirty details.

  "If you must know, my friends are out of town this week, my family isn't in the area, and my boyfriend is probably over at his ex's comforting her because her boyfriend who she may have just made up dumped her and she needed her best friend." I do air quotes with my fingers when I say best friend. “But I’m not sure because he hasn’t tried to contact me all day.”

  When I look over to Dean, the smile has dropped from his face, but then it quickly returns as he gives me a sarcastic "Ouch."

  "Gee, thanks."

  Craig comes back with our drinks, and Dean does a cheers motion with his glass and clinks it against mine. "Well, at least you have a sexy stranger to buy you drinks."

  I laugh at that. "Asshole." I smirk and sip my drink. It actually does go down my throat so smooth. The peach makes it taste like juice, so I drink it faster than a normal drink.

  "So how about you? Want to tell me what a fancy-schmancy guy like you is doing in a dive bar on the southside. Downtown seems more like your scene."

  He tips his glass up to his lips and his eyes look into mine from above the glass. He raises an eyebrow "Is that right?"

  "Yup. I bet my whole apartment is the size of your entryway closet."

  He laughs and almost chokes on his drink. "Oh, so we are playing the assumption game are we?"

  "Yes. Just like you assumed I was a lonely girl at the bar who needed saving by blessing me with your manly company." I mock as I exaggeratedly flutter my eyelashes at him and take another sip of my drink.

  He smirks as he takes another sip of his drink. "Pretty sure you're the one who eye fucked me when I got here."

  This does make me choke on my drink, and I start coughing uncontrollably. Did he just say I eye fucked him? I mean I did. But did he really say that?

  "Oh really? And you just thought you'd take me up on that offer?" I say jokingly.

  "Yes."

  My breath stops in the middle of an inhale and my eyes widen. Again, I was not expecting that response. Are guys always this forward?

  No. The answer is no. It is just this arrogant, cocky, sexy...wait where was I going with this?

  I try to brush off what he said by changing the subject. "So, you never answered my question. What are you doing here?"

  He doesn't seem disappointed I didn't respond to his advance and just shrugs "I know the owner."

  "Oh really? So every once and while you step down from your extravagant lifestyle to spend time with us lowly folk because of the perks of knowing the owner of a dive bar?" I wink at him.

  He scoffs and turns to me. "Look who's talking. You’re the one who is wearing a hot as sin, teeny-tiny dress to a bar with a bunch of middle aged men with beer guts."

  His eyes skim down my body slowly, and I feel chills run up my arms. When his eyes finally make their way back up to mine, he adds "And yes. I do come here for the perks."

  My mouth goes dry
, and I know I need to level the playing field or this man is going to make me do something I regret. I narrow my eyes at him and then act like I’ve come to a realization.

  "Oh, I guess you do fit in then. You know? With all the other middle aged men." I use my hand to motion around us.

  He runs his hands down his face in frustration and groans but there is a hint of a smile on his lips. "You little brat." he chuckles. Then he looks back over to me. "So I suppose this means you don't want to find out about the perks that are in the back room?" He gives me a devilish smile.

  The backroom? Do I want to know what is in the backroom?

  "Maybe I like middle aged men." I guess that answers that question.

  His eyes darken, and suddenly he is standing and grabbing my hand pulling me toward a hallway I thought just led to the bathroom. He's grabbing keys out of his pocket and unlocking a door at the end of the hall never letting go of my hand the whole time. I let out a small giggle. He pulls me into the room, but then nothing happens. Drunk me was imagining him pushing me against the wall to make out with me or something. We are both just standing there doing nothing, and it takes me a second to realise what I am looking at.

  A pinball machine.

  There is an old pinball machine in the small room along with a desk and a couple of chairs. I laugh both out of surprise and embarrassment that I thought he was just going to take me back here and ravish me.

  He hands me a couple of quarters and leans his head toward the machine suggesting I play. I insert the coins and try a couple of times, but I seem to be out of practice since the last time I played was probably at an arcade when I was ten. I go to pull the lever to shoot the ball into the game again, but his hand suddenly encases mine and he whispers in my ear "Here, maybe you need a middle aged man to show you how it's done."

  My breathing becomes shallow, and I can feel my heart beating faster. I can feel his chest against my back and his strong arms come around me to place his hands over mine. We stand like that for what seems like minutes but is probably only seconds. Finally, he says "Ready?" and I nod my head unable to get words to come out of my mouth.