Page 7 of Fight

Fuck it.

While Xander and Lou bicker like old men, I slip off my stool and saunter toward the end of the bar and take the seat next to her. I look straight ahead in silence, and she does the same.

A few minutes pass.

The air between us grows thicker and thicker with anticipation as we both commit to not making the first move. It’s like a game and is surprisingly entertaining. She doesn’t look at me, and I don’t look at her, yet I would put good money down that we’re thinking about the same thing. I nearly finish my beer without uttering one word. Her drink is running low too.

Eventually, she breaks the silence.

“So, are you going to say anything, or are you just sitting there?”

I swallow the rest of my beer and tap two fingers on the bar, indicating another round.

“Definitely just sitting here.”

“Ah, I see,” she states.

Lou returns and collects the old beer bottle and swaps it with a cold one. “She could use a refill,” I say to him. He turns to grab the bottle of whiskey and pours the amber liquid into the short glass.

“Thank you,” she says to Lou when he slides the glass in front of her. I nod my thanks to him before he steps away.

“I can pay for my own drinks,” she says.

“Good, ’cause I’m not paying for this one. Earlier was a one-time thing ’cause I felt bad for you.”

She takes a sip. “There’s that Sky Ridge hospitality I keep hearing about.”

I suck my teeth. “There it is.”

“What makes you think I deserve pity?” she asks.

“Honestly… I don’t know if anyone’s told you this…” I lean toward her and lower my voice. “But, um, you’rereallyunattractive.”

That makes her laugh, loud enough for Dave to hear, I’m sure, and I chuckle along with her.

“Well, I can’t be that hideous if your friend over there tried to take me home before I could even sit down…”

I wince. “Sorry about that, he’s a rescue.”

“That might be the first honest thing you’ve said since sitting down.”

I shrug and take a pull from my beer bottle. “I’m a habitual liar.”

She takes a sip of her drink. “Oh good, I’m really attracted to liars.”

“Yeah? Maybe I should give you my number, then.”

“Wow,” she says deadpan, and turns to face me. God, she’s even more stunning up close. Her ginger hair matches the subtle freckles that dot the bridge of her nose.

I fucking love freckles… and love fucking the women who wear them.

“Hey, there are plenty of women in this town who would love getting my number.”

“There’re those lies again...” She gestures, fanning herself, and I laugh.

She narrows her eyes at me, and I take a sip of beer, staring back and refusing to break eye contact. I could spend all day gazing into them. Her eyes aren’t the icy blue shade one wouldnormally think of with blue eyes. They’re deep and stormy, reminding me of a turbulent sea.

“Okay.” She pulls out a phone, and I smile. When she hands it over, I furrow my brow. It’s a flip phone. A fuckingflip phone? I’ve never seen this girl in town before, I don’t even know her name, and she pulled out a burner. When I open the Contacts app, and there’re only two:BossandLandlord, it’s like a red flag parade. I pretend to not notice and start typing in my number while alarms blare in my head. I peer back up at her, and damn if she isn’t the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Fuck it, red might be my new favorite color. I finish typing my number in and save my contact as “Cal the Liar” before passing it back.

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