Page 3 of Kisses

Chapter 2

Lyla

We walk into the packed Irish pub, called O’Shea’s. It is a nice setup. The floors are dark wood with your typical dark-wood-style tables and stools. It does have Ireland memorabilia scattered around on the walls. It adds an authentic touch to the pub. Not to mention, they have the best liquor collection behind the bar and the best beer on tap. The downside, though, is that there is a dingy smell to it.

I follow Kandace as she looks for Mack. Mack is a different character. He is a nice guy and all, but he thinks he is a thug or something. Yeah, one of those guys. I think he is aspiring to become a deejay or something. Hence, why he has all these supposed connections. Not my man, not my worry.

“Is that my baby girl?” Now, he’s Shemar Moore.

Kandace smiles, “Hey, hun.”

I laugh to myself. Kandace is so fake with this guy.

Mack looks at me and asks, “Sup?”

I snark, “You mean, what’s up?”

He razzes, “Grammar patrol is out.”

“Not really. Just, I’m not one of your homies,” I chide.

Kandace glares at me.

My attitude does suck tonight. I have no clue why. Mack drives me crazy, but here I am, hanging out with him. I just wish he would talk like a normal person. He is my best friend's boyfriend, and I shouldn’t act so cranky. I mouth to Kandace, ‘I’m sorry.’

She smiles at me. She gets me.

I say, “Hey, I’m going to get a drink. Do you want anything?”

Mack interrupts, “I got my girl.”

Deep breath, Lyla. Deep breath.

I head to the bar. Pretty sure, I am going to have to wait a hot minute for a beer. I slide through a few individuals and make it up to the bar. I sigh in relief that I made it. Now, I patiently wait.

The bartender comes up to me. He is tall, olive skinned, broad shoulders and is a 100% manly man. He asks me what I want.

I answer, “Can I get two Irish Red Ales?” Yep, I decided to double fist it. He winks at me in agreement. I watch as he pours my drinks from the tap, enjoying every minute of looking at his gorgeousness. This, I feel… attractiveness. He would just be a conquest, nothing more than that. Gosh, I sound so fucking horrible. What is wrong with me?

Hot bartender hands me my drinks. He winks again. Maybe I’ll get a chance to speak with him later. I smile in return.

Holding both of my beers, I start to weave between people again. My drinks start to slosh around, some spilling on my hand. I love how the bartenders fill it up to the top, but it’s a challenge moving around with it. Maybe I should’ve slurped the top before moving.

I continue to maneuver around the patrons, trying my best to pay attention to where I am walking while I search for Kandace. Once I spot her, I sigh. She is on the far end of the bar.

You can do this, Lyla. You can do this!!

The TouchTunes starts blaring music. Some of the patrons start to sway to the music. This is getting harder. I just need to keep my beer close, and nothing will happen.

Before I can take my next step, someone slams into me, causing the beer to fly up into the air and all over my white tank top. Fuck! Fuck!

I scream, “What the fuck?”

This special someone turns around and looks me straight in the eyes, and my mouth drops to the floor. Is this bar the hot-guy bar? First, the bartender; now, I have these hazel green eyes staring at me.

My eyes glance this stranger up and down. Average height, dress shirt that hugs his pectorals, broad shoulders that are bursting at the seams, brown hair with a hint of auburn and a well-shaved scruff. This is attractiveness overload.

His apologetic eyes glance over me. He apologizes, “Oh, shit. I’m sorry.”