Page 46 of To Go
“You saving up, sunshine?”
“Yup! I’ve got big plans.” Her eyes take on a wistful glow for a moment before she assesses the bar, looking for anyone who needs serving.
She’s everyone’s best friend as she tops off some college guys at the other end of the bar. They’re each enraptured and one even blushes as she laughs at something one of them said. I can’t look away, a small smile tugging at my lips.
“Hey man, what’re you smiling like that for?” Nick asks as he follows my line of sight. “Oh shit? Are you macking on the bartender?”
“No one says that. And no.” I turn away before my face can give anything away.
“You totally are!”
“Fuck off, Nick.”
“No, you love me too much. Bro, if you’re not looking to hit that, mind if I take a swing?” He takes an interested step toward her before my arm flies out, blocking his path.
“Don’t even fucking think about it.”
“Yeah, you’re totally not crushing. Whatever, you hanging around tonight?” I shrug noncommittally, but I know I am. Nick knows it too. “You’ve been hanging out more often lately. Wonder why that could be.” His barely contained laugh makes me want to hit him. It’s none of his fucking business why I’m hanging around more. Besides, didn’t they want me to be more social? “Could it be the hot bartender with the killer caboose?”
I growl, downing the rest of my drink.
“Relax, dude. You can keep it between you and your diary for now. We’re just happy to see more of you.” He flashes me a surprisingly genuine smile before he flags down Stella. “His next beer’s on me,” he says as she walks up, and then disappears into a gaggle of women who immediately flock to him.
Asshole.
Stella quirks a brow as she slides me a new beer. I incline my head and start drinking before any more dumb shit can come out of my mouth. What am I even doing? This was a one-time thing.
More like a five time thing.
She’s already told me how uninterested she is in more. If I can’t keep myself away from her, I’m going to have to be okay being her friend.
“Guys, we can’t bail before the shit’s put away!” Jill shouts as she grabs Nick by the hair and forcefully pulls him away from the girl whose mouth his tongue was in. He winces and swats her hand away, pulling his new ‘friend’ in close.
“C’mon, Jill, it can wait the night!” he slurs.
“No, it can’t! We have an agreement.” Jill’s face is scrunched with fury, her fists clenched, and I can tell she’s dreaming of taking a swing at him.
“I can stay back,” I volunteer before the thought even crosses my mind.
“Are you sure?” Jill asks. Her voice sounds concerned but her eyes have taken on a sheen and her face and neck are flushed. I nod. I would have ended up doing most of it myself anyway. Laur wraps their cardigan covered arm around Jill and leads her out, a small group of people who had come for the show trailing after them.
Nick hangs back, a shit-eating grin cracked across his face.
“You sure it’s not a burden? Leaving you here alone with the hot bartender?”
“In teeny tiny pieces, Nick.”
“What?”
“That’s how they’re going to find your body.”
He shouts out a laugh before clapping me on the shoulder. He shakes his head and walks out, shooting me one last look before the door swings shut.
Leaving Stella and me alone.
I start winding cords on stage, thankful that everything was set up before the drinks started coming. It’s more organized than when Nick and Laur start in before we’ve even done sound check.
It’s not an arduous task. I move the more mobile instruments into the back storage room and throw a cover over my kit. If another band was coming, I might move it to make room for them, but I know we’re the next one’s playing anyway. So long as it’s out of the way, Beck doesn’t give a crap.
