Downing the rest of our beers we stand and make our way to the bar just as the cover band in the corner starts to play a familiar tune. It has been a little over 48 hours since my encounter with my past, and luckily, I have not heard from or seen the California duo since day before yesterday. Eva is no doubt on a plane back towards the West Coast and I am absolutely positive that is better for both of us. Yet, every time I think about it, I can’t ignore the pain in my gut. A pain that feels a lot like regret. Like knowing I gave up the race when something deep inside tells me maybe I could have stood a chance to win.
Coming up to the bar, we slide on stools next to Rex who is busy chatting up Charlotte, a girl I have known since Kindergarten who has been more than happy to wait on him. Reaching across the bar to touch her hand, her giggle is almost repulsive because of how easy she is making it for him to come onto her. Batting her eyelashes and blushing at something he said, she looks up at me and Cash for the first time since we sat down a few moments earlier.
“You boys ready for another?” Charlotte asks as she tilts her head in a shy way and busies herself with wiping down the bar top.
Raising my glass, I motion that I will have one of the same. She grabs a clean pint glass under the bar and starts to pour me a West Sixth IPA. After handing it to me, she pours another for Cash before leaning in close to Rex and whispering a secret. Sliding a piece of paper across the bar towards him, I feel slightly sorry for her because I know she doesn’t stand a chance at what she is hoping for.
“It’s so easy it almost makes me not interested,” Rex says as he picks up the piece of paper and puts it in his shirt pocket after she has walked away.
“Is that so?” I laugh. “Don’t think I believe for one second you’re not about to try and hit her up later.”
He shrugs and rotates in his seat to watch the band playing in the corner. Doing the same, the three of us fall into a comfortable silence as the band accepts some applause from the audience before starting up another song.
“Maybe,” Rex finally answers. “Maybe not. Lately, I’ve been seeing red.
“You’re always seeing red,” I laugh. “She just doesn’t want to see you back.”
Rex shrugs. “A brassy brunette just isn’t what I am into. Even one as exotic looking as her.”
“Blondes have always been more my thing,” Cash says. “Like the one that just walked in.” He whistles and I turn to look in the direction of the door. “Damn. Five bucks says I get her number before the night is through.”
My eyes land on who Cash is talking about right as the bartender comes around to check on us once again. Not so much as needing to know if we need anything, but more so to check on Rex.
“A blonde, a brunette, and a redhead walk into a bar,” Cash grins. “Looks like we all have a chance at this one tonight”
“That’s his sister you dumb ass,” Rex says as my eyes lock with a woman I swore was already long gone.
Every muscle in my body goes stiff as I see her standing near the front door with Gwen and my up-to-no-good-pain-in-the-ass sister. Looking fucking perfect, her sundress shows off all her curves and I have to remind myself that she is no longer mine. She gives me half a shy smile before looking away.
“You boys doing okay?” Charlotte says, no doubt trying to catch Rex’s attention. We both swing our chairs around to meet her stare. “Can I get you anything else, baby,” she asks Rex, leaning in suggestively.
“You know what?” I slap Rex on the back. “I think we need a couple of shots.”
Rex turns to look at me. A mischievous smile I’ve seen one too many times in our college days plays across his face. Slapping his hand on my back, he mirrors my stance and slams his beer down on the counter. “Shots it is! You in on this one, Cash?”
“Nah, I don’t touch that hard stuff buddy,” he stutters. “One too many nights I don’t remember all that well.”
“How many baby?” Charlotte asks as she starts lining the shot glasses up in front of me.
I shrug as I smile at Rex. I’m not sure if I have gone a little mad, or if this is a brilliant idea to try and kill the pain. Either way, to hell with reality. I’m taking as many as I can handle, and Rex is coming along with me for the ride. He always was a damn good wingman. Right now is one time I am happy to have him flying by my side.
“Six,” Rex says before I can respond. “Bourbon, best you got.”
The bar top becomes soaked as she pours over the top of six shot glasses. I don’t even wait for her to stop pouring, I grab the first and slam it back quickly. Rex is quick to follow. He takes his card out of his wallet and slides it across the bar, signaling to start a tab. I grab the second, and then the third as I start to see the three women begin their walk toward us.
“Woah, easy there lover boy,” Rex says as I wince with the burning sensation running down my throat. “Haven’t you ever heard it’s bad to throw alcohol on a flame?”
“Old flame.” I correct him, right as my sister comes to stand in front of us. Gwen in tow and Eva quickly behind her. Eva stops right in front of Cash who eyes her up and down like he’s imagining all the ways he plans to take her later if she’ll allow it. My feet shoot to standing. Rex is quick to push me back down.
“Well lookie who we have here,” Jolene starts in. “Isn’t there a fire somewhere that needs to be put out? Or did they give you three time off for good behavior?”
I smile sarcastically at her. “Isn’t there a table somewhere that you need to wait on?”
She laughs. “Oh brother, you really are an ass. After you ran off the other night, someone had to take care of your guests who traveled all this way just to say hi. Didn’t our mother raise you better than that?” Her hands go to her hips, and she laughs when I have no response. “Don’t worry, we have no intention of interrupting guy’s night out. We just came for a few drinks, we’ll stay out of your way. You won’t even know we are here.”
Jolene winks at me before she walks toward the back of the building and Gwen and Eva begin to follow. Eva stops briefly in front of me, but doesn’t look up - and I don’t know if it is the bourbon or the fact that I need her touch, but I almost lose control and pull her into me like I used to. She saves me from following through as she hurries along behind Gwen and takes her seat at a high-top table near the back of the room.
“Well damn it if I missed something there,” Cash says. “You don’t get girls as good looking as that around here. Had to be out-of-towners. That blonde is like the perfect combination of sugar and spice huh? I wouldn’t mind if…”
