Page 72 of Reckless

The guy shook his head, barely paying any attention to us. He was preoccupied with his phone. I sat down and five minutes later Tyler came back with the same cocktail I drank at the bachelorette party.

A group of young girls sat at a table right next to us. They shot glances at Kieran, and he pretended he didn’t notice. He finished his drink, stood up and approached one of them. Her back straightened up like an arrow. Both anticipation and fear on her face. He whispered something in her ear, she stood up and followed him out.

“Who is this guy?” I asked, still looking at their back as they were leaving the bar.

“A friend,” Tyler said.

“Isn’t he a little young to be hanging out with you?”

Tyler reached down and slid a hand under my maxi dress, starting at the ankle and moving up to my thigh, until the tips of his fingers touched the fabric of my panties, causing me to suck in a sharp breath. He left his hand there. Touching the sensitive spot between my legs, but not quiet.

It was a good thing we were in the back and had some privacy.

“Forget about the kid,” he said, as if I hadn’t already forgotten about him, and leaned in for a kiss. When he tore his lips from mine, he looked down at his hands for a moment, then back up to my face again. “I usually close up after everyone leaves.”

“Oh.” I stiffened. “I didn’t know.”

We looked at each other in silence for a while, then Tyler stood up and waited for me to do the same. Then he pressed his hand to the small of my back and guided me towards the exit.

I tried to figure out what to say, when I decided I wasn’t the one that had to say anything. I was done playing that game where he opened up for one moment and then left me bang my head against those walls around him. He told me was a bastard a week ago when I snuck into his room, and I agreed. That was all he knew, and I had no right to be mad right now, nor demanding. And yet anger built up inside me. So the moment we were out on the street, I turned around and walked away. Without a word.

“Where are you going?” His voice flew from behind me.

“Home.”

I kept on going. If I let him see my face, he would find out how mad I was. How embarrassed. The sound of his footsteps approaching me, made my heart stutter. He appeared in front of me, staring at my face, walking backwards, because I refused to stop.

“I was hoping you would come to my place.”

“What?” I asked sharply.

“An idea popped in my head a few minutes ago. I would like to discuss it with you.”

“You wanted to get rid of me.”

His brows furrowed. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“You said you usually close up the bar, then led me outside without a word.”

Tyler stopped walking. I tried to round him, but he stood in my way.

“I wasn’t trying to get rid of you. I usually have sex in the bar. In my office.” He took a lock of my hair and swirled in around his finger. “I don't want us having sex in there...Anywhere else, but in there.” His lips brushed the tip of my nose. “Hear me out, okay? I want you. You want me. We are both grownups. We know nothing would come out of it, but we could have some fun.”

“Are you asking me to be your new fuck buddy?”

“Yes.”

“No.” I shook my head, but he ignored my refusal and continued.

“Use me to learn how to let go. How to unwind. Then go and find the most boring guy to marry. You have plenty of time for that.”

“What about Tracy?”

“Say the word and she’s gone.”

“What if I meet someone I actually want to date?”

“Say the word and I’m gone.”

---