Page 5 of Wildcat
Neither of us lets go right away, and I am very much enjoying the feel of his rough hand against mine and the warmth spreading through my insides.
“Can I buy you a drink?” he asks, still holding my hand hostage in his.
“Are you taking pity on me because I got fired?”
“Pity?” He withdraws his hand and shakes his head. “I saw you toss a drink in a guy’s face earlier. I don’t think you need my pity.”
“You saw that, huh?” I cringe, even though that guy totally had it coming. I motion to the table he left. “What about your friends?”
“They’re heading out soon anyway.”
He drags a stool out for me at the bar and then takes the one next to it.
“Oh,” I say as I perch myself on the other side of the bar I worked tonight. “I see. I’m the last resort so that you don’t have to drink alone.”
As soon as I say the words, I realize how silly they are. I bet he could get any girl in here to have a drink with him. He laughs it off, and when Mike comes over to take his order and places a couple of coasters in front of us, I lift a hand in an awkward wave.
“I think I like you better when you’re on the paying end of things.” He winks and tries to play it off like he’s kidding, but I don’t doubt the sincerity of that statement. “What can I get you?”
“Can I get a vodka soda?”
Mike nods, and we both look to Leo for his order.
“Just water. Thanks.” He places a twenty on the bar.
“You’re not having a drink?” I angle my body toward his, which is also, thankfully, away from the TV, as Mike places the glass in front of me.
“Wish I could. I’ve got to be up early in the morning for—” He stops himself, and then a half-smile tugs at one side of his mouth. “I have to be up early.”
“You signed up for an eight o’clock class, didn’t you? What kind of monster are you?”
He chuckles and takes a drink of his water. “What about you? Do you go to college here?”
“No. Well, it depends on who you ask.” I shake my head. How many embarrassing things can spill out of my mouth in front of this guy? “It’s a long story.”
One dark brow lifts. “Well, now I’m intrigued.”
He leans a big bicep against the bar and gives me his undivided attention, so I give him the basic rundown of my messy life. At this point, he’s either a glutton for punishment or enjoying my disaster of a night/life.
Footnotes: I did a study abroad program in London for a year, then met a boy and decided to stay an extra year, and now I’m back in Minnesota and supposed to be starting my sophomore year of college, but instead dropped all my classes after the first week.
My parents don’t know that last part yet, and yes, I know I need to tell them, but they are traditional and sometimes a little overprotective. I wanted to have a steady job lined up before I told them, so it would look like I have some inkling on what I’m doing with my life.
“Sorry you bought me that drink about now, aren’t you?” I cringe at the honesty with which I just dumped my messy life on his lap. It felt good to tell someone besides Jade, even if it’s just a stranger.
“Not at all. College isn’t the right track for everyone, and no one says you have to do it in the four years right after high school. If you decide later you want to get a degree, you still can. I think it’s cool. You’ll be far better equipped for the real world and probably happier, too.”
“Wow. Can I get you to come over and repeat that when I tell my parents that instead of going to classes all day, I’m hanging out on my friend’s couch watching Friends reruns?”
He flashes me another big smile. He has a small dimple on the left side of his cheek. His hat comes down so low, I wish he’d take it off so I could get a better look at his hair. The ends poking out on the side are a light brown.
Jade slumps in front of me, forearms resting on the bar. “One more table, and then we can go.” Her gaze slides to Leo, and a slow smile splits her lips. “Or not.”
“Jade, this is Leo,” I interject before she says something to embarrass me.
“The trivia nerd,” she says.
He tips his head. “Nice to meet you.”
