Page 45 of One More Weekend

At least she wanted to avoid the awkward air between us as much as I did. But I knew if I had any chance of avoiding hooking up with her again, I needed to stay sober and avoid any sappy songs.

29

SY

There wasn’ta line outside of Metro yet, still too early for most people to have gotten themselves together after work.

I pulled my ID from my wallet and passed it to the bouncer after Jenna did the same. The train ride had done us some good, forcing us to chat like normal people and not two horny bastards trying to avoid taking each other to one of the two beds available just feet away.

Once my ID was scanned, Jen pushed open the bar door and a flood of music poured out onto the street. Inside, the bar was filling up with mingling queer people. A sea of mullets and buzzed heads moved toward the platform stage at the back.

Like clockwork, Jenan moved toward the list behind the stage and next to the DJ’s stand while I headed to the bar.

As I rested my elbows on the wooden counter, I knew I shouldn’t drink. That any liquor would encourage me to act on the feelings I was still struggling to push down.

Even if I knew this could end terribly, a part of me thought Jenna just might be it for me.

“What can I get you?” The bartender shouted over the off-key duo on stage.

“Two tequila shots and an IPA, please.” The thoughts running through my mind needed to be quieted, even if that meant they were replaced with something dirtier.

Just as the bartender was setting the drinks on the counter, Jenna pulled up next to me and stretched across the bar to give her my card. “A tap, please!”

Nodding, the guy walked off as Jenna grabbed the shot next to me. I could see in her eyes that she hadn’t planned to drink either.

So it is hard for her too.At least I wasn’t alone.

Lifting my glass, I swallowed hard. “To…”

Every option I could think of made my heart ache.

To New York?

To Jenna leaving?

To the end of our lease?

To someone who might be the love of my life but I might never find out because I’m too scared of losing you?

None of them had a particularly appealing ring to them.

“To karaoke.” Jenna offered, raising her glass to mine.

Thank god for her.

I took a swig from the shot glass, letting the alcohol burn my throat.

Jenna lifted hers to her lips, wincing at the bitter taste.

We left the empty glasses on the bar before grabbing our beers and heading to our usual spot, just to the right of the stage. The music was loud, but not too loud to talk over it, which is why we chose the spot to begin with.

As we got settled in, a group of college students walked up to the stage to perform their number. There weren't enough mics for all of them but they were going to give it their all anyway.

I looked over at Jenna, who watched with an encouraging smile. My face flushed under the dim lights. Somehow she was prettier now than she was the last time I looked at her.

And I knew it wasn’t just the lighting. We'd come to Metro a lot just after college. Jenna had hardly aged since then – only a slight wrinkle near her eyes betraying her youth.

It wasn't long before the college kids hopped off stage and returned to the back corner of the bar where they broke out into uproarious laughter.

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