6
Ryan
“There she blows! There she blows! A hump like a snow-hill! It is Moby Dick!”
As the ladies settle onto their stools, Tim the Bartender comes over to take their drink orders, which I add to my tab. Introductions are quickly made: the cute redhead is Charlotte and the sexy brunette who, thankfully, took the stool right next to mine, is Samantha.
“She’s ‘Samantha the Randy Flight Attendant,’” the redhead chirps with a cartoon wink, leaning sideways across her gorgeous friend’s ample chest to tap my forearm.
“Is that so?” I ask, laughing.
Samantha looks mortified. “Ignore my drunk friend, please.”
“I’m not drunk,” Charlotte says brightly. “Just highly buzzed. Although, admittedly, I can’t feel my face or toes.”
I raise my glass. “To not being able to feel our faces or toes.”
The three of us clink glasses—and, as we do, I’m able to sneak some solid eye contact with Samantha before she looks down at her hands, her cheeks on fire.
“So how’d you two ladies wind up at The Pine Box?” I ask, directing my question to Samantha’s downturned face. “It’s nowhere near the airport.”
“A friend of mine recommended it,” Charlotte replies breezily. “She told me hot men always seem to hang out here and, by God, she was right.” She blatantly looks me up and down like she’s assessing a side of beef. “As my namesake spider in E.B. White’s classic masterpiece would say, you’re ‘some pig!’, Ryan.”
When I shoot Samantha an amused look, she giggles and explains, “Drunk Charlotte likes to quoteCharlotte’s Web.”
I laugh.
“So have you been here before, Ryan?” Charlotte asks.
I peel my eyes off Samantha. Good God, I feel magnetically pulled to this woman. “Uh, no. This place was picked by my buddy. He was supposed to meet me here, actually, but had to cancel last minute.” My phone pings with an incoming text and I hastily reach into my pocket and turn it off. If Olivia’s texting me right now, I don’t wanna know about it. “So where are you girls from?” I ask.
Charlotte nudges her friend’s arm. “Ryan wants to know where we’re from, Samantha.”
Samantha clears her throat. “L.A.”
“Just here for a one-night layover,” the redhead says. “The glamorous life of a flight attendant.”
Samantha shifts in her seat. “Well, the glamorous life for Charlotte, anyway. She’s the real flight attendant here—I’m just dressed like one.”
I laugh, thrilled to see Samantha’s loosening up enough to start cracking jokes.
“So,Ryan,” the redhead says. “Wanna hear something jaw-dropping?” She leans across her friend’s ample chest and puts her hand on mine, forcing me to peel my eyes off Samantha’s stunning face. “Samantha here hasn’t been so much as kissed in nine freaking months!”
“Charlotte!” Samantha blurts. “No!”
The redhead waves dismissively at her friend. “Honey, we don’t have all night to get this show on the road.” She looks at me. “My friend’s been in a post-break-up slump for a while, so I’m wondering if you’d do me a huge favor and shamelessly flirt with her tonight—you know, maybe help her get her groove back? I’m trying to remind her it’s actually fun to go out and meet new people on occasion.”
Samantha covers her face with her hands. “Charlotte.”
“I’m one step ahead of you, Charlotte,” I say smoothly. “I’ve been shamelessly flirting with Samantha since she walked through the door—and definitelynotas a favor to you or anyone.” I flash Samantha my most seductive smile. “So what do you say, Samantha? How about you let me buy you another drink and do my best to remind you it’s fun to go out and meet new people on occasion?”
Samantha bites her lower lip.
“Oh, for the love of fuck,” Charlotte barks. “Just say yes. The chemistry between you two is through the roof.”
Samantha blushes. “Yes. Thank you. I’d love to have a drink and get to know you a bit, Ryan.”
“Fabulous,” Charlotte says, shooting up from her stool. “My work here is done. I’m gonna hang out with those two nice gentlemen in the corner who’ve been shooting me ‘come hither’ stares since we walked in.” She grabs her martini off the bar. “Holler if you need me, girl, and I’ll come running.”
