Page 6 of Just A Kiss

I don’t reply; I just take a drink of my beer. I watch as Allison and Lindsay shake their asses to the music, laughing as they have a great time out on the dance floor.

The song ends and they head for the bar. I follow behind them, pushing my way to the bar next to them. Joe comes over, taking their order before nodding to my empty glass. I hand him my card. “I’ll get these ladies’ drinks this round,” I tell him.

“Lee.” Lindsay turns to me. “You didn’t have to do that but thank you.”

“Anytime. Are you ladies having a good time tonight?” I ask.

“Yes!” Allison calls out. “It was one hell of a week, and this is just what we needed tonight.”

“Busy days in the ER?” I ask. I could smack myself upside the head at that stupid question.

“I swear it was a full moon all week. We had the busiest shifts we’ve had in a long-ass time.”

“I understand completely. We went out on more calls this past week than we usually do.”

“It was something. I’m just thankful for a few days off.”

“Me too,” I agree with them. “Do you ladies have a table? You’re welcome to join us over at ours,” I offer up.

“Thanks, we’ll do that,” Lindsay says. Joe returns with our three drinks and my card. I quickly sign the slip before tucking my card into my wallet and leading the ladies back to our table.

I make quick introductions when we reach the table. Due to our jobs—the ladies being ER nurses, and all of us guys being EMTs or firefighters—our paths often cross when we’re dropping patients off at the hospital.

Lindsay falls into a conversation with a few of the guys about someone they brought in the other day, which gives me the perfect opportunity to talk to Allison.

“How’ve you been?” I ask.

“Oh, you know, the usual. Work, sleep, laundry, repeat. How about you?”

“Pretty much the same.”

“How are your parents doing these days?” she asks.

I can’t help but smile at the mention of my parents. “They’re doing good; Mom retired at the end of last school year. I don’t think it has quite hit her yet that when the summer ends, she’ll not be returning to the school.”

“Good for her! Is your dad retiring anytime soon?”

“Not for another few years. Mom’s going to be helping my sister and her husband out with babysitting their new baby.”

“Aww, when did Alley have a baby?” she asks, and I can tell she genuinely wants to know.

“About a month ago, a little girl,” I tell her, pulling my cell out to pull up one of the pictures of my sister and niece.

“Oh, she's so precious! Tell her I said congratulations!”

“I’ll do that.”

“So, what else is new with you? Still proclaiming the bachelor life?” she asks.

“You know it.” I wink at her.

“Some woman is going to rock your world one of these days, and you’re going to fall head over heels in love with her, and I can’t wait to watch. It’s always the ones that protest the most that fall the hardest.”

“Nah,” I proclaim. I take another swig from my beer before expanding my reply. “Only if that woman is you,” I tell her.

“Me?” she questions. “Why me?”

“Please don’t break my heart and tell me I’m the only one that felt those sparks between us all those years ago at prom? I still compare every kiss to that one,” I tell her honestly.

---