Love Her - Andrea Johnston Page 0,10
he finishes with the customers he’s serving. I take the opportunity to push forward the abandoned pint glasses and scan the taps lining the bar.
“Melvin, I don’t have all night!”
Startled, I turn toward the shouting woman next to me who winks and leans forward glaring at the bartender. Expecting the guy to pass me by and give her his attention, I’m shocked when he stops in front of me and removes the empty glasses before wiping down the bar top.
“Excuse my beautiful wife. She’s a bit loud.”
“Shut your mouth, Melvin. I swear you were put on this earth to drive me nuts.”
“See? Beautiful. Now, Shelly, I don’t think Ashton would appreciate you ignoring her friend.”
Thrown off by his comment, I begin to choke on nothing but air. A hand begins patting my back, and I turn to smile at Shelly as she greets me with a huge smile.
“Oh my goodness. Are you okay?”
Clearing my throat, I accept the beer Melvin sets in front of me and take a tentative sip before responding. “I’m okay. Sorry. How did you know who I was?”
“Ash sent us both a text last week that if some guy walked in and looked like he’d had his ass kicked, we should be nice to him. I’ll admit it was a little embarrassing when an MMA fighter was in last night. He had no idea who Ashton was and wasn’t receptive to my asking about jealous boyfriends.”
Shaking my head, I take another pull from my beer. I take it back, it isn’t just the guys who are gossipers, it’s everyone in Lexington. Damn small towns.
“I’m Shelly and this is Mel. Welcome to Doris’s Tavern. Any friend of Ashton’s is a friend of ours and always welcome.”
I take Shelly’s extended hand and shake it before offering my own to Mel. After a few minutes of small talk with Shelly while Mel completes her order, I turn my stool around and people watch. The couples on the dancefloor have transitioned from a fast two-step to a slower pace. Women are wrapped in the arms of their partners, some with their eyes closed and a satisfied smile on their face, while others gaze at the man holding them. I wonder how many of these couples are strangers, just meeting and flirting with what may turn into more.
I nurse my one beer, needing to keep my wits about me so I can drive home. After a few slower songs, the music changes to something more upbeat and the floor fills with people laughing and smiling. While most of the dancers are women, a few men line up in the back. It’s obvious they have no idea what they’re doing but by the way they’re watching the women’s asses and not their feet, I don’t think they really care.
Song after song, I’m transfixed on the dance floor. On her. In a crowd of people, it’s her I see. She never tires. The beat of the music is like a flint, setting her on fire. Boots stomping and kicking in perfect tempo to the music. Beat after beat. Lyric after lyric.
The rest of the dancers don’t hold my attention. Neither do this woman’s mile long legs. The legs that I’ve envisioned more than once wrapped around my neck. Surprising even me, I can’t give the credit to her tight tank top stretched across her perfect and perky tits. No, it’s her smile. Painted cherry red, it’s carefree and full of mischief. Beautiful.
What’s that like? To live a life that is about good times with maybe an opportunity to be a little bad at the end of the night. I wouldn’t know. I’ve carried burdens and responsibilities on my shoulders for most of my life. Until now. Moving to Lexington rid me of a lot of what has weighed me down. Not sharing your location with those that want to suck the life from you will do that.
“Another draft?” Mel asks, and I nod my head without thinking, never taking my eyes off the long-haired beauty on the dance floor. The lyrics tell her to shake it and she does. Her moves causing me to shift my position so as not to embarrass myself.
Spinning in my seat, I reach for the frosty pint set in front of me when someone bumps my arm, sending a splash of the lager onto the bar top. On instinct, I turn my attention to tell him to fuck off. Instead, I’m stunned stupid as a pair of cherry