Page 22 of The Fool
“Sounds awfully tempting,” I sigh, feeling something close to flirting with this man who obviously has a lot of confidence with the opposite sex. Someone who will humor me if nothing else. He holds my eye contact a little longer than is considered normal barman etiquette, then begins to make the delicious-sounding cocktail. I watch as his muscular body moves around under his beautiful, flawless skin, all the while he shakes, pours, and throws. I bite my lip, considering what he could do to a girl in the bedroom, or maybe just right here on the bar.
“One Disaronno cocktail for the beautiful lady,” he says seductively.
“Th-thanks,” I reply awkwardly before taking a small sip. “Holy fuck! That’s amazing.”
“That’s on me, beautiful,” the bartender says with a saucy wink, “but maybe a dance later?”
I shyly nod and giggle at the same time, looking extremely uncool in front of the mythical god-like creature. James is grinning from ear to ear by the time I let him lead me back to the table, looking extremely proud of himself.
“Oh, this one works fast, ladies,” James tells the group, “she got a freebie and a promise of a dance with the hottie bartender.”
“Ah, the force is strong with this one!” Callie makes her bad joke, but we all giggle anyway. I glance back at the bartender who is still looking at me; he eventually winks, smiles, then continues to serve other people at the bar. That was so the confidence boost I needed.
_____
Bea
An hour or two passes by and I am having the best time with my new friends. I haven’t laughed this much in ages, which admittedly, is partly down to the four glasses of my new favorite cocktail, along with a few shots in between. Lily is having a brilliant time having to do naughty dares, but now we’re onto a new game. An old classic -Never Have I.
“So, we all know the rules ladies, and James,” Callie announces. “We take turns to say something we have never done and if you have done whatever it is, you drink either a shot or two fingers of your drink. We all know I will be the loser, but the question is, who will be the next loser?”
“Ok, me first,” Lily says, now slurring her words a little, “never have I had more than one sexual partner.”
Apart from Lily, we all slurp our drinks. It’s a fact I’d rather not have to acknowledge, but what’s the point in lying to them?
“Wow, so Cameron was your first and only?” I ask, to which she nods shyly but with a silly grin on her face.
“And at the old age of twenty-four,” she admits.
“Wow, that’s kind of cool. Though, I’m guessing you weren’thisfirst and only?”
Of course, I already know the answer to this after having been on reception for a few years before Cameron started seeing Lily. The table erupts into fits of laughter, including Lily, so I’m guessing they’re all aware of how much action he used to get before gifting his heart to her.
“No, the Carter men are well known for their sexual appetite,” she giggles, “but I’m definitely his only woman now. If not, I will be cutting it off!”
“Never have I had a one-night stand,” Ellie announces. Just Callie and I drink this time, which sets all eyes on me.
“Really?” James asks and I nod with feelings of deep-rooted shame. “Go bartender!”
“It was horrible though,” I admit, “I was drunk, very drunk, and felt so dirty afterward.”
“That’s not my experience,” Callie grins before taking another swig of her drink.
“Well, I don’t like to think about it,” I sigh, admitting to things I really shouldn’t. “I promised myself I would never do that again.”
“Oh, baby,” James says soothingly as he rubs my arm in sympathy.
“Erm…” Helena begins, trying to bring us out of our funk, even though she sounds painfully uncomfortable over having to speak out over us. “Well, I can safely say I have never had impure thoughts about my boss.”
“Yeah, that would be a little incestuous of you,” Lily giggles at the same time as wrapping an arm around her.
Callie drinks yet again but I keep my glass firmly on the table.
“Nothing at all, Bea?” Callie asks with a wiggle of her eyebrows. “Nate is totally gorgeous, just like all you Carter folk,” she says, gesturing to a blushing Helena.
“God, no!” I blurt out, screwing up my face in abhorrence over the idea. They all look at me with surprised but amused faces, including his sister and cousin. “Oh, Jeez, sorry,” I fluster, “I didn’t mean to offend anyone. He is extremely pretty to look at, but, well, your brother isn’t afraid to let me know how little he thinks of me.”
“Really?” Helena gasps. “But Nate’s the easy-going one, the fun-loving one. It’s always been Cameron who is more serious. Well, until he met Lily, of course.”