Beneath This Man(140)

'I'll get the drinks.' I slide off the stool and grab my purse. 'Same again?'

'Do you need to ask?' She rolls her eyes and waves her empty glass at me.

I fight my way to the bar and wait my turn, attracting the attention of some muscle pumped, ponytailed slime-ball. I ignore his leering stare and order our drinks.

'Hi, can I buy you a drink?'

I glance around and smile sweetly. 'No, thank you.'

'Come on, just one drink.' he presses and moves in closer.

'No, really. I've got it, but thanks.'

The barman places one glass of wine on the bar. 'I've just got to pop down the cellar. We're out.' He leaves me stood at the bar with ponytailed guy dribbling all over me. I roll my eyes, not that the barman notices.

'Maybe I could take you out sometime then?' He is really close now.

'I'm involved with someone.' I say over my shoulder. He can't have missed the gigantic diamond on my finger. I take a swig of my wine.

'And?'

I turn towards him. 'And...I'm involved with someone.' I flash my ring and he nods, but not in an accepting way. I think I've just made the challenge more interesting.

'He's not here, though, is he?'

'No, lucky for you, he's not.' I reply curtly, turning back towards the bar. I'm immensely relieved when I see the barman approaching.

He places Kate's wine down and I pass him a note, willing him to be quick. My skin is prickling under the leery eyes of the overinflated man stood next to me. I take another long sip of my wine and try to blank him out. I'm beyond exasperated when the barman signals no change. He walks off to the end of the bar and starts faffing about in various tills.

Ponytailed creep moves in closer. 'If you were mine, you wouldn't be out of my sight.'

Oh good God! 'Listen, I've tried to be polite. Back off!'

'I think we could show each other a good time.' He runs his fingertip down my arm.

I jump, instantly furious with myself for appearing anxious, but then I'm distracted by the barman returning. Thank God! He hands me my change and I grasp Kate's drink quickly, keen to escape this toad. Turning a bit too hastily, I drop my coins everywhere.

Fuck!

I place the glasses back on the bar and retrieve the coins within grabbing distance and leave whatever else there may have been. I'm not that desperate. I grab the drinks and catch my heel awkwardly causing me to stagger slightly.

'Shit!' I curse. Now he'll think I'm pissed and easy.

I'm met with the twat again when I turn back around. 'A bit drunk, sweetheart?' he sneers.

'Fuck off!' I've tried to be patient.

'Oh, feisty.' he laughs, as I push my way past him, thinking how grateful he should be that Jesse isn't here. He would be flattened by now.

I make it over to Kate and place the drinks down a bit too sloppily, spilling a considerable amount. I shake my head mildly and take my position on the barstool, staggering again. Kate frowns at me.

'Shoes.' I mutter.

'Are you okay?' Kate leans forward, looking all concerned.

'Yeah, I'm fine.' I assure her. I'm not drunk. This is only my third glass of wine.

'Who was that idiot?' She nods in the direction of the self-proclaimed stud muffin as she has a sip of her fresh glass of wine.

'Exactly that...an idiot.' I say shortly. 'Anyway, you have some explaining to do.'

'I have?' she blurts.

'Yes, you have, and don't you dare brush me off. What's going on?'

She glugs down more wine, refusing to meet my eyes. 'What are you talking about?'

I feel myself getting a bit impatient with my fiery friend. She would never allow me to evade her questioning, and I wouldn't anyway. We tell each other everything. 'I'm talking about you, Sam and The Manor.'

'Fun!' she snaps.

'No! Don't you dare!'

'I'm just having some fun, Ava. What are you? The sex police?'

I recoil, 'So there's no feelings?'

'No!'

'You know, if you were me, you'd be twiddling your hair.' I huff, and take a long swig of my wine. No feelings? She's impossible. 'Okay, try and help me out. Being as you're refusing to open up, I'll dump my shit on you. I value your opinion.' I smile sweetly.

She ignores my snipe, her eyebrows shooting up. 'This sounds serious.'