Dear Heart, You Screwed Me(10)

I chose a wine, easy and simple.

“Do you come out every weekend?” I ask as I take my own mouthful.

“Most,” sitting back into the booth she swirls her straw round, “but it’s hard with shift work and my friends work at the hotel too so it’s rare we all get off at the same time. Alex might meet us after his shift, but who knows. He can be flaky,” she beams.

“That sounds good. Be nice to make some more friends if he does come.” I shrug my shoulders up as if it isn’t a big deal, but in reality, it’s a really big deal.

“So, Reese, tell me about you.” She leans forward, her elbows resting on the table.

Just as I was about to open my mouth a couple of the guys behind us wrapped their arms over the top of the booth and turned to face us.

“Ladies,” the twang of his American accent made my tummy flip.

“Hi,” Connie said in a high voice, turning the top half of her body to face the guys. I stayed where I was. My head dipped but lifting my eyes to look at the men.

One had copper hair, emerald, green eyes, and a jaw that was sharp and chiselled. He looked like he had walked straight out of a magazine. The other guy had blonde hair, blue eyes and glorious tanned skin.

“What are you beautiful ladies up to tonight?” The copper haired man asked Connie.

“Oh you know, having a few drinks, we may go dancing... get some food… see how we feel.” Her head snapped round to smile at me. A small smile danced across my lips. I couldn’t work out if it was forced or real. I found it really heard to decipher between the two lately.

“What about you handsome?” I watched as Connie flirted effortlessly. I felt the skin under my cheeks begin to glow as the blonde-haired God’s eyes were pinned to me.

“Not sure yet, having a few drinks, we may go dancing… get some food… suppose we will just see how we feel.” He winked, his teeth sinking into his bottom lip as he pulled at it softly.

“Sounds like a sturdy plan,” Connie laughed, “maybe we will see you later?” I couldn’t work out if she was asking or telling this guy.

“I’ll bet on it.” He winked again, pulling his business card out and passing it to Connie.

The air crackled between the both of them for a moment before the copper haired guys friend swooped in.

“Would you ladies like another drink?” he asked, but his eyes and attention were pinned on me.

“We would love another drink.” Connie beamed, pulling her straw out of her glass and knocking her drink back.

“Woohoo for me, a glass of sauvignon for Reese.”

“Reese,” the blonde-haired God tested my name out on his tongue, his accent and how velvety his voice sounded covered my skin in goosebumps.

I blushed again.

Get a grip woman.

“Do you still want wine? Or would you like something else?” he asked softly as he slid out of the booth behind us and stood at the end of the table.

“Wine is fine, please,” I mutter, managing to find my voice.

His eyes widened slightly, a small smile creeping onto his face.

“You’re English?” he seemed surprised.

I nodded.

“Oh, Colt here loves an English girl, don’t you buddy?” The copper haired guy bellowed as he stood behind Colt and squeezed his shoulders over his suit jacket.

I watched as Colt rolled his eyes and shrugged his friend’s hands off him.

“Excuse us, I’ll be back with your drink.” He turns and walks toward the bar, his friend following him.

Connie looks at his card before flipping it between her fingers.

“Kieran.” She smiles before turning it over again. “Always good to have a backup for us to find if the night dries up.” She winks before putting it in her bag.

“Do you do this all the time? Pick guys up?” my tone came across abrupt, I didn’t mean for it too.

“Most of the time yeah, I’m single. I’m young. I am always careful, no harm in a bit of fun is there. I don’t want to settle down anytime soon,” she shrugs her shoulders up, her eyes burning into mine.

“I get it.” I smile at her.

“What about you? Is this the norm for you?” she leant across the table. Her fingers linked together as her hands rested on the surface.

“No,” a scoff of a laugh left me, “do I look like I do this often?”

“No,” she laughed with me, “are you with someone back home?”

My heart crushed inside my rib cage.

I shook my head, my eyes falling to the table. I couldn’t look at her, because if I did then she would see the pathetic mess I was. Swallowing the burning lump down in my throat and blinking away the tears, I willed myself not to cry.

“Reese?” Her hand slipped over and covered mine.

“I’m fine,” I sniffed, pulling my hand from hers. Wrapping my fingers round the stem of my wine glass I knocked the remainder back.

I felt Connie’s eyes on me as she watched. Slamming the glass base on the table with force, I shook my hands out and cracked my neck from side to side.

“I’m okay.” I smiled at her.

I wasn’t okay.

Far from okay.

But I didn’t want to get into this tonight.

Colt and Kieran stalked back over to the table with our drinks and a tray of shots. I heard their table cheer as they stopped and placed the drinks down.