Kylie squirmed while riding in the passenger seat of Jessy’s car. They had dinner at a trendy sit down restaurant, where Kylie took lots of pictures of their dinners as reference for her video channel. But even that couldn’t distract her from how uncomfortable her dress was.
They arrived close to the bar at a parking garage and walked over. The shoes Jessy lent her dug into her heels, despite them being comfortable before they left. The dress only fit her after she squeezed into a pair of slimming underclothes that went from above her stomach to past her thighs. She questioned her ability to be able to use the bathroom in this outfit after they had left the apartment. After an interesting time in the restroom at the restaurant, Kylie decided that it would be a good idea to limit her fluid intake for the night.
The bar was a bit crowded with friends and couples swarming in groups around tables and at the bar top. The music began to die down as the band mounted the stage to begin preparing to play. As she was going through the crowd, she caught a glimpse of a tall man with brown hair and an exquisite jaw line at the bar, but lost sight of him in the chaos. As she moved from the door, Jessy grabbed her arm.
“Hey, I’m so sorry,” she said, her face panicked. “Work is calling about an emergency and I have to take it. Go ahead and get a drink at the bar and I’ll meet up with you in a few minutes.”
Kylie didn’t want her to leave, but as it was for work, she nodded while Jessy went outside to finish her call. She made her way over to the bar feeling as if her dress was going to slide all the way up against the slick fabric of her underclothes as she moved. She felt ridiculous that her outfit didn’t quite fit right and imagined that it showcased every embarrassing lump of her body. Jessy said that it looked great on her, so she went with it to get the fashion show over with before she looked at the outfit. Kylie was also sure that her hair had come out too poofy and was frizzy from walking around through the windy night. To make matters worse, her heels were killing her, making her unsteady on her feet. A guy stepped back and bumped into her, causing her to nearly fall over. A hand appeared to catch her.
“You alright?” Kylie looked up to find a man standing over her with greasy hair and wearing a Hawaiian shirt that didn’t fit him.
“Yes,” she stood and smiled at him in appreciation. “Thank you.”
“Here, let me help you to the bar.” He took her hand before she offered it and dragged her over.
“So, beautiful,” he said, his tone as greasy as his hair. “What’s your poison?”
“Excuse me?” she asked, confused.
“What are you drinking?” he clarified.
“Um…” she stumbled.
“Bartender!” he shouted, getting one’s attention. He placed his empty beer bottle on the bar. “I’ll have another one of these, and the lady will have…?”
“Oh, nothing for me, please,” she said, waving her arms in dismissal. “I’m fine.”
“We can’t have that, beautiful,” he said. “Come on!”
“Okay,” she conceded. “I’ll have a diet soda.”
“That’s it?” he badgered. “You came to a bar to order a soda? You have to have a little something something, am I right?” He gestured to the bartender who glared at him.
“A diet soda, please.”
“Alright, alright.” He held up his hands as if in defeat. “Maybe I can convince her to get something a bit harder later.” He winked at the bartender who blinked at him in annoyance before leaving to get the order.
“So, what’s a nice looking thing like you doing in a place like this?” He leaned against the bar and looked her up and down.
Kylie shivered at his gaze, but decided that since he was nice enough to help her and to get her a drink, she could at least be nice too. A chat couldn’t hurt before Jessy came back to scare him away. “I’m out with a friend.”
“Oh?” He seemed surprised. “Been a while since I had two.”
He laughed at his own joke and Kylie tried to smile so to not antagonize him while alone, but felt ill by his notion. She again looked towards the door for her salvation, but a few more patrons entered instead of Jessy. All Kylie would need to do is give her a look and this guy would be running away with his egotism between his legs after Jessy finished with him. The bartender returned with the drinks.
“So, did you come to listen to the band?” he asked after taking a swig of his new beer.
“Um, yeah.” Kylie sipped at her coke. “I heard they were good.”
“They’re not bad,” he said. “I’ve heard better. I can show you sometime.” He stroked her hand.
“I’m good with this one, thanks,” she said, pulling her hand away.
“Oh, whoa, now,” he said defensively. “I didn’t mean to offend you. Just here, being nice.”
“You didn’t,” Kylie said, not wanting to make things worse. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine, baby,” he said, sliding his hand across her waist. “No hard feelings.”
Kylie recoiled from his touch. She glanced over towards the door again, to no avail, when the bartender came over.
“Is there anything else I can get you?” he said, looking Kylie right in the eye as if to ask her something else with the look.
“No,” the man said sharply. “Unless she wants to get something harder than a little diet soda.”
“I’m fine with this, for now.” Kylie wished she knew how to get away from this guy, but she was afraid of how he’d react while he had her cornered by the bar. Most guys like him didn’t like taking no for an answer and she didn’t want to find out the consequences of doing so.
“You gotta let loose once in a while,” he said. “One drink isn’t going to break any laws.”
“Maybe later,” she said, trying to appease him. She looked again for Jessy.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” he said before leaning in close to her ear. “And afterwards, we can go somewhere quieter?”
“Umm…” Kylie was at a loss for words. There was no chance she was going anywhere with this guy and despite the risks, she was going to have to speak up. “I don’t-“
“Well, if you’re too good for me…” he interrupted.
“I didn’t say that-”
“Then it’s decided,” he announced, as if to convince the bar rather than Kylie. “We’ll go after our drinks.”
The audacity of his behavior shocked Kylie. She glanced again at the door.
“Hey, isn’t that your friend over there? Looking for you by the stage?” he said pointing across the bar.
“Oh, where?” Kylie stood on her tippy toes to get a better look, but saw nothing of Jessy at all. With her being so tall, there was little chance of Kylie missing her, but there was no sign of her. “I don’t see her.”
“Oh, must have been my mistake,” he said, drinking his bottle deeply.
“Why don’t you down that so we can get out of here?” he said, sliding her soda over to her.
She considered the challenge of getting her underclothes off when all that soda hit her bladder versus appeasing him. She decided to distract him instead until Jessy found her. “So what’s this band’s anyways?”
“I don’t remember,” he said, as if agitated. “I doubt they’re worth listening to. Let’s hurry and get out of here.”
His sudden change in attitude sent alarm bells through her mind. Kylie stepped back only for him to grab her arm and pull her closer to him. She pulled her arm away right when the bartender came by in a flash, causing the guy to curse at him. Kylie wasn’t sure what was going on in all the commotion, but the guy tried to run off only for a tall man to grab him.
“Hey!” he said, gripping the guy around the neck with his arm. “Long time no see!”
“Get off! I don’t know you, asshole!” he cried, trying to push the tall guy off.
“That’s true, you don’t. But you’re about to get to know him very well,” he said as he released him and shoved the guy towards a bouncer who appeared beside Kylie.
Regardless of the sudden commotion, Kylie felt relief after they dragged him away. “Thank you,” she said as she looked up at her savior, filled with gratitude.
Kylie’s breath gasped. It was the same guy who caught her eye when she entered the bar. The casual, white button up shirt he wore accentuated his muscular build. He had it tucked into a pair of black slacks that sculpted his hips and legs. His hair was dark brown and, though short on the sides, came down to just brush over his deep, blue eyes that seemed to look almost through her.
“You’re welcome,” he said, as he extended his hand to shake hers. “I’m Damon.”
“K…Kylie,” her voice stuttered as she took his large hand into hers. His fingers adjusted to cup hers and he stroked her knuckles with his thumb which sent a spasm of butterflies through her stomach. However, guilt creped in along with the gitters. She was still married, even if she left her rings at Jessy’s apartment.
“Now that is a beautiful name,” he said with a half smile that lit up his face, highlighting a slight dimple on his right cheek. “It’s nice to meet you. Do you mind if I join you for a drink?”
Kylie’s mouth almost fell open. This gorgeous man wants to have a drink with me? What’s the catch? Guy’s didn’t have drinks with her unless there was an ulterior motive, at least that was the case before she got married and was much thinner. Now that her body was larger than before, no one even flirted with her unless it was to get to Jessy. Could that be it?
“No, not at all,” she said, her stomach twisting at the thought of someone so nice using her like that.
“So, what brings you here tonight to see a band that has yet to start for some reason?” he asked, getting comfortable leaning against the bar while focusing on her.
Kylie tried to ignore the bubbling somersaults his gaze did to her. She distracted herself by looking over towards the stage and noticed that the band members were messing with their equipment. It seemed something with the wires wasn’t right.
“My friend brought me to get my mind off of a few things,” she said, deciding it was the best version of her sad story.
“Yeah, I saw you walk in with a tall blond woman,” he said, making Kylie’s heart sink.
“Y…Yeah,” Kylie said, disheartened.
“Sounds like a pretty good friend to help you out like that,” he said, taking a sip of his beverage. He made a gesture to the bartender.
“She’s my best friend.” Kylie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear to try to hide her disappointment. Wait, why do I care if he’s into Jessy? I have too much on my plate anyways. She shook her head and sighed to push her feelings down into the pit of her stomach. She needed to change the subject.
“So, why did the bouncer take that guy away?”
“Oh, did you prefer his company over mine?” Damon said as he tilted his head with a side smile.
“God no.” She cleared her throat. “I’m wondering what he did.”
“I don’t suppose you noticed that the bartender took your drink away?” She glanced around, surprised that it was in fact gone. She looked up at him, confused. “I saw him put something in it and the bartender tested it. It was positive for something and they took him to the back to await the police.”
“Oh, my god,” Kylie gasped. Covering her mouth in shock, she looked over at the bartender who nodded at her, before setting a fresh drink next to her. “I had no idea. How could someone do something like that?”
“Considering how you were reacting to his conversation,” Damon began. “It was the only way he could get a date to go home with him. The sleaze ball.”
“You were watching me?” she asked. A mixture of surprise and disbelief descended through her chest.
He looked around and fiddled with his glass. “Yeah, I have been since you walked in. To be honest, when someone that gorgeous walks in, it’s hard not to notice.”
His eyes met hers, and she melted inside, but reminded herself he was not talking about her. “Yeah, Jessy turns heads wherever she goes.”
“Who’s Jessy?” His eyes squinched in confusion.
“My friend. The one you noticed.” She took a sip of her soda to avoid eye contact. Of course he was watching me so he could come over and talk to Jessy when she came back.
“It wasn’t her I noticed at all,” he said, lightly stroking her chin to make her look up at him. “Kylie.”
The way his voice caressed her name shot goosebumps up her arms. Words escaped her and her cheeks heated at his touch or his words. She couldn’t tell. The only thing cognitive through her mind was the way his lips curled into a slight smile after speaking her name.
He retracted his hand almost as fast as he reached over. “Um, so…” He cleared his throat. “What things made your friend bring you here to forget about? Bad day at work?”
“I wish it was that simple,” Kylie said, trying to keep images from the last few days out of her head. “It’s not something I can talk about right now.”
“Alright, then I won’t ask anything else. I’m happy to talk about anything with you,” he said. “Since it’s not the source of your distress, what is it that you do for work?”
Kylie took a sip of her soda, trying to decide how much was safe to tell him. Though he didn’t seem like the type of guy to take advantage, she was still a bit wary after dealing with the last one. He was, after all, a stranger in a bar, despite the fact that he saved her from a horrible situation.
“I work in marketing,” she said. That’s vague enough.
“Oh? What sort of things do you work on?”
“Nothing too exciting,” she said, looking away. “Some social media pages for a few clients.”
“My secretary was saying that we should get a marketing consultant.” Damon smiled as if amused by the coincidence. “Do you have any advice?”
“Just to do your research on the company that you choose,” Kylie said. “We get plenty of clients who make demands that we can’t fulfill.”
“It’s hard to decline clients,” Damon said. “I know from experience how demanding they can be. I finished opening a graphic design home office today.”
“That’s impressive,” she said. “Not too many people now-a-days are taking a chance like that.”
“I’ve been running it out of my apartment for a few years now,” he said. “I was able to build a big enough portfolio and consistent clients to make it happen. We finished setting up the office.”
“That’s a big step,” Kylie said.
“That’s actually why I’m here tonight,” he said. “My friends… who I guess are my employees now… wanted to celebrate.”
“You’re here with other people?” Kylie asked, embarrassment flaring. “I didn’t mean to hold you up from them.”
“It’s fine,” he said, dismissing her worries. “They’re much happier that I’m talking with a woman than drinking with them. They’re right over there.”
He pointed to a table over by the other side of the bar where two men and a woman sat, staring at him with big grins on their faces. They waved at him as they smiled. Kylie waved back.
“Why is that?” she asked, curious.
“They were getting on me that I don’t date much and that I should put myself out there more.”
“Is there a reason you don’t?”
“I work quite a lot,” he said. “But the real reason is that I really haven’t found someone I vibe with yet. Till now.”
“Till now?” she repeated, trying to process what he said.
Just then, Jessy showed up looking exhausted with a familiar fire in her eyes.
