Smooth, Serena. Way to fucking go.
“Ha, really?” Colt started to chew on his bottom lip, eyes locked on my lips. It was written all over his face. I was slowly starting to turn into a piece of meat and grossness covered my entire body as Colt’s hand started to slowly creep up my thigh.
“I should go.” I shoved up from my seat, feeling way too exposed. I pulled my purse over my shoulder and started to make my way to the front door as fast as my feet could move on the slippery tile in my kitten heels.
“Wait, what happened?” Colt was trotting after me. “I thought we were having a great time.”
I spun around, trying to fight the tears that were welling up. I hated how sensitive I got about feeling cheap and used, but being a fucking porn actress will do that to a girl. “We were. I just can’t do this.”
“Do what? Have a good time? Be attracted to someone that is attracted to you? Have a beer with someone that doesn’t repulse you?”
The way he was putting it made me feel even more crazy. “I’m just not used to someone only wanting to have a beer with me. Usually there are strings.”
“Well, I am not most people, and I definitely don’t have strings in mind. Can we just finish our beers and then you let me drive you home?”
I nodded. “Yeah, ok. I’d like that.”
Once we sat back down and I took a couple deep breaths, everything seemed to flow smoothly. We kept the conversation light. He commented on how much he liked my mermaid pin up on my forearm and I picked his brain about what the next stage of The Hysterics’ musical progression would be.
“Hey, Pops.”
Marty hollered down from the other end of the bar. “What do ya need, Colt?”
“Two burgers all the way.” Colt glanced over at me. “If that sounds good to you. Marty makes a killer burger.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Coming right up!” Marty made his way into the kitchen.
“Is he really going to stop what he was doing just to cook for us?”
Colt shifted in his seat so he was completely facing me. “Marty opened this place because he loves to cook. He just gets stuck working the front because he feels like he is more needed here. So whenever we come in, he likes to cook for us because it’s his real passion.”
“That’s sweet.”
After wolfing down one of the most delicious burgers in the entire world and drinking one too many beers, I was finally completely relaxed again.
“So, it’s getting late.” Colt looked over at the only other bar patrons paying their bill a few seats down. “I think Marty is going to close up here in a bit.
“Maybe I should call a taxi for you two?” Marty was grabbing our plates after putting a couple of waters in Styrofoam cups in front of us.
Colt shook his head. “I promise I am good to drive, Pops.”
With an eyebrow raised, Marty nodded. “You sure?”
Colt offered his hand to Marty. “I swear on Leilani.”
I was completely confused, but the guys seemed to have a strong moment of understanding as their eyes locked and they shook hands.
“It was so nice to meet you, Serena. Keep my boy out of trouble. He can be a little wild one.” Marty winked at me before grabbing my hand and kissing the back of it.
“I am so glad to have met you, Papa Steele.” I giggled a little. “It’s totally unreal!”
Colt hopped off his barstool, offering his hand to me. “Shall we?”
I grabbed it and started to follow him to the back of the restaurant.
“You don’t have a car here do you?” He glanced back at me right before shoving the kitchen doors open.
I shook my head. “No, I Ubered to work today. I was going to be late if I had to find parking and shit. Are we allowed to be back here?”
We started to weave through the cooks that were trying to clean up from the dinner rush. “Yeah, we all always park back here. It’s way easier than trying to parallel park on the street.”
