Page 21 of See Her

I sigh and look at her with hopeless eyes, once again using our nonverbal form of communication that only she and I can understand.“I know, babe, but seriously, just get out of your head.And if it’s bothering you that much, just ask him where he thinks things are going.” I open my mouth to protest my reservations about that, but she cuts me off. “If the conversation makes him wig out then you have your answer, and we can determine that he’s a tool that doesn’t know what he wants, and therefore, he’s not worth your time,” she concludes with conviction. “Just go say ‘hi’. I’ll meet you over there. I gotta go to the ladies’.” She walks off to the back-left corner of the room to the hallway that leads to the restrooms as I draw in a breath and make my way over to the bar.

Jack

I seeMayzie walk in immediately, probably because I was watching the door like a hopeless idiot for the last ten minutes. It’s amazing how the background noise seems to fade in my own head when I see her.She’s with a blonde who I’m guessing is her friend, Annie, who seems to excuse herself and heads in the direction of the restrooms.I try to keep my excitement in check as she makes her way through the tables and over to the bar.

“Hey, you. How was your day?” I come over to stand in front of her as she takes a seat on a stool.

“It was good,” she says cheerfully. “Got some work done, Annie and I did a short dance class, grabbed lunch, and did some shopping.How was yours?”

I notice she’s in black yoga pants and a grey hoodie over a royal blue tank top, and my mind immediately tries to conjure images of her moving her gorgeous body in a dance studio.

“Eh, boring. Slept late, then I only had a few hours before I had to be here so I just messed around with my guitar a bit and picked up the house.”And thought about you.

She looks a little nervous, or like something’s on her mind as she gets comfortable on the stool.

“Everything alright?” I ask her as I draw a beer for a patron a few seats down.

Her eyebrows go up and her grey eyes brighten, as if trying to correct her expression.

“Oh yeah, I’m good,” she assures me with that kryptonite smile, before closing her eyes pulling in a breath. “Actually, I kind of wanted to talk to you about something.”

Oh shit, tell me she’s not checking out.

“Of course,” I tell her tenderly, trying not to give away my trepidation. “Can I get you a drink first?”

She proves once again that she’s my kind of girl by ordering a beer, and I deliver the pint glass in my hand to the waiting customer before drawing one for her.

As I hold the glass under the spout of our best micro lager, I notice Tyler striding by me in Mayzie’s direction.

Oh hell no…

In the couple years we’ve been working together he’s become a good friend, but he’s a total ladies’ man. I’m not too far away that I can’t hear what he’s saying, and sure enough, he goes with his classic opener.

“About time a pretty customer came in.”

Dammit!

I’m trying to get another guy’s beer in front of him and take his payment as fast as I can.

“Can I get you a drink?” Tyler continues.

“Oh, no thanks, I’ve got one coming,” Mayzie answers, being polite. I hand the guy his change and grab her beer.

“Good, glad to hear it,” Tyler says, leaning one arm on the bar as I come up behind and around him. “I’m Tyler,” he says as he holds out his other hand, “and you are?”

“Spoken for,” I say firmly, as I place Mayzie’s beer in front of her and lay my hand on her wrist, all while giving Tyler the look from hell.He has the good sense to show a hint of embarrassment.

“Oops,” he says, rolling his eyes.

Mayzie smiles coyly and looks from me to him, giving him a wave. “I’m Mayzie. Hi.”

“Nice to meet you. I’ll be over there,” he points to the other end of the bar. “Let me know if this guy gives you a hard time,” he says, walking away.

I shake my head and turn to Mayzie, talking low so Tyler doesn’t overhear. “He’s a good friend, but he can be a total hound sometimes.”

She softly laughs into her drink as she brings it to her lips.

“So, what did you want to talk about?” I ask, leaning in and folding my arms on the bar, showing her I’m ready to settle in for a quality visit while bracing myself for what I don’t want to hear.

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