Cocky Notes - Leesa Bow Page 0,3
intention of getting laid tonight, I down the shot.
The bartender lines up salt and a slice of lemon. “Why do I do this?” I mumble and shove the lemon in my mouth and suck.
“Because it’s the best way to get wasted.” She hands me another round.
“I’m done,” I tell her, wiping my mouth and embracing the shiver running along my spine.
A chuckle sounds to my left. “I find this is the best chaser,” says a guy with a voice as smooth as the Bailey’s I’m looking at on the shelf.
I turn to meet the most amazing blue eyes. I’m caught in a haze of blue, the alcohol controlling my delayed reaction time.
“This…” he says again and holds up a glass of beer to avert my gaze, “… works best for me.”
I take the glass from his hand and take a few mouthfuls without question. The burp passing my lips turns heads two bodies deep at the bar.
Georgia’s head falls back in laughter.
“Was that me?”
“Honey, own it. Not even I could match that one.” He smiles, and I want to listen to the way he talks. Sure, he’s hot. Copper brown hair. Chiselled chin. And man, those dimples—I’m struggling to look away. But it’s more than his good looks. There’s something about him. He has energy surrounding him, and it’s drawing me closer because I’m in need of happy vibes.
He waves the bartender over and orders another three beers.
Georgia has appeared on his other side. “And you are?”
“Chance Bateman.”
“Not drunk,” I tell him.
He chuckles, and it’s a hearty sound. I smile, watching his dimples like they have their own stage. “Never been a problem before. In fact, I perform better without the booze.” He waggles his eyebrows.
“Yeah, yeah.”
“I’m talking about playing football. Came here after my team’s game, so yeah, I’m not drunk.”
“Football?” I know enough that the AFL season is yet to start.
“Soccer.”
“Georgia, take a photo of us.” I hand her my phone. “My dad’s a fan of soccer.”
“Sure, sure…” He shoots me a wink, and on him it’s sexy. “That’s what they all say.”
“For real. I can’t wait to tell him I was chatting with one of the players.”
“Did you win?” Georgia asks, raising the camera.
His arm loops around my shoulder. “Yep. And we’ll be the team to beat in the finals.”
“Rather cock-sure of yourself.”
“Chance here thinks arrogance wins the girls.”
I look up into another pair of baby blues and wonder if blue contact lenses were handed out at the door.
“You AFL guys think your shit doesn’t stink,” Chance says, and slaps his friend’s back. Both hug with another mateship pat on the shoulder.
“On this occasion, he’s not bullshitting. Chance here is the new face of Australian soccer, so he doesn’t classify as a loser.” It takes a moment for my brain to catch up.
Georgia hands over my phone and joins the circle. “Reef Burton.” It’s like she’s speaking her thoughts out loud, which I appreciate because now I have a name.
“Hey.” He holds out his hand.
“Georgia,” she says, smiling as though she’s in front of a camera.
He nods to me. “So, Georgia, you’re not on the loser friend list?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I murmur.
“Right. Let’s run with that.” He raises his beer and, unlike his friend Chance, hot surfer guy is drunk. Maybe even more so than me. “See how long you can go without insulting anyone.” His blue eyes lock with mine. Damn, I could do him and stare into those hues all night long.
“Okay, buddy.” Chance places an arm around Reef’s shoulders. “Not sure what’s going on here?” He glances at me, and I raise my hands and shrug.
Reef regains his balance and unloops Chance’s arm. “How’s Adele? Your parents?”
I back up a few paces and turn to my friend. “I’m gonna go. I have to start early in the morning, and I want to check on Dad.”
“Are you kidding? Look who we’re hanging with. This never happens,” Georgia whines and adjusts her blonde locks to fall neatly over her shoulders. “Five more minutes, babe.”
“I’m done. Stay if you want. I can’t risk being so hungover I’ll miss my alarm, and there’s no way I can lose my job. Even worse, if something happened to Dad while I’m out… I gotta go.” My nerves are on high alert thinking about it. Being this close to Reef Burton isn’t helping the tightness in my chest.
“All cool. There’ll be other times. I’ll cab it home with you.”
“Thanks.” Another time when Reef Burton and I