Ethan
I’m not entirely sure how I got myself into this situation. One second, I’m determined to stay away from women forever, the next I’m watching Meyers chopping it up with some guy who makes Timothée Chalamet look butch and finding myself agreeing to meet up with some girl from my seminar the following evening, which might not sound like a date, but I could tell by the way she kept touching my arm it definitely is. I don’t think I’m ready for this, but it’s like my old coach used to say, sometimes you’ve got to throw yourself into the game, whether you’re ready for it or not. I can’t spend the whole year locked in my room, and if staying away from women means I’m so frustrated I start rubbing one out to a roommate who hates me, it’s past time I changed my strategy.
Walking into a bar without flashing my fake ID still feels like I’m getting away with something but I’ve made a promise to myself tonight. No booze. Everything about Sunday night was a mistake and not one I’m looking to repeat any time soon. I’m almost twenty-one years old for fuck’s sake, I can hang out with a girl one time without getting wasted and sleeping with her. Or trying to.
I’m here first, no sign of Lauren, but I prefer it this way. Lets me figure out the lay of the land and order a shot to take the edge off. Only I’m not drinking, I remind myself, ready to take a sharp turn away from the bar when I see Meyers standing on the otherside, staring at me like she’s the one who’s been caught doing something she shouldn’t.
‘What can I get you?’ she asks robotically when I don’t move.
‘You’re working here?’ I crane my neck to look past her, searching for the actual bartender, but there’s no one else.
‘It would be a real strange question for me to ask if I wasn’t.’
‘That’s …’ I puff out my cheeks, searching for the right word while Meyers continues to glare. ‘Cool?’
‘Beer?’
Before I can decline, she turns around and bends over, jeans tight around that surprisingly great ass, and pulls a Stella Artois out from a low fridge.
‘Thanks.’
I tap my credit card against her terminal and wait for the thing to connect.
‘So, bartender, huh?’ I say, watching the little ball spin around and around and around on the screen. ‘That’s got to be fun.’
‘Not really.’
She looks blankly over my shoulder, a thousand yard stare, while the ball keeps turning. Longest ten seconds of my life.
‘I’m meeting someone from my social psychology class,’ I tell her, no idea why I’m still talking. ‘Her name’s Lauren, she suggested we meet up, said she’d give me the inside track on some of the lecturers. The social psych guy is kind of a hard-ass.’
There’s a ping from the terminal in her hand that confirms payment and a tiny snort from Mia that confirms she heard me.
‘You liking your classes?’ I ask.
‘Sure.’
‘I guess it’s only been a couple of days.’
‘Yep.’
‘How much can you learn in two days, right? It’s been crazy though, with classes and practice, my schedule is way more intense than it was at Marshall. How about you?’
‘Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude but I’m waiting on whoever the hell was supposed to take over from me fifteen minutes ago,’ Mia says, pulling her long, luscious hair back into a messy ponytail. ‘I’m the only one here so I don’t have time to chat.’
It sounds plausible and I might believe her if it weren’t for the fact Members is half empty and there isn’t another soul standing at this bar right now.
‘Don’t sweat it, I know when I’m not wanted.’ I raise the beer I didn’t want in her direction. ‘Have a fun night.’
‘Ethan?’
Perfect timing.
Right as I turn around, Lauren appears and holy shit, I did not realize this girl was so hot. Long honey-blonde hair that gets lighter at the ends, blue eyes the size of saucers and the kind of body that could start a war. Not that I can really see anything – she’s wearing a pair of low-slung baggy jeans and high-necked black bodysuit that looks like it’s been sprayed on, but I can imagine. Boy, can I imagine.
‘I didn’t see you come in, I’m over here, in the back.’
Her hand curls around my bicep as she leads me away from the bar and I turn to show my roommate my shit-eating grin but she’s already turned away.
