Page 24 of Ordinary Secrets

“Ari.” I shake his thick palm. That’s two days in a row now that I’ve shaken hands with a man and didn’t feel violated by it. I’m making wonderful progress.

Dex slides onto the empty barstool next to me and takes a swig of his beer. “Pretty name. Where ya from?”

“Around here,” I say vaguely. While I’m grateful he told those girls off, it wasn’t an open invitation to befriend me. He seems to think it was though.

As Kevin leaves the stage and is replaced by Trey and Liz, Dex asks about my age and what I do for a living. I give himundetailed answers like “A woman never shares her age” and “I work with kids.” Then I move the subject back to him. I’ve learned that most men like talking about themselves more than they like listening to women talk, and Dex is no exception.

My nachos are gone by the time I’ve heard all about Dex’s plan to get rich as a travel agent. I fake laugh and nod whenever appropriate. Listening to him go on and on about himself reminds me of why I don’t enjoy first dates. I have yet to go out with a man who genuinely wants to know more about me than he wants to brag about himself, though I’ve only been on three first dates, so I don’t have the best pool of results.

“And I got this one after I moved to San Fran.” Dex points at his huge upper forearm where a detailed dragon is inked into his skin. He’s been yammering on about his tattoos and love for dragons for about fifteen minutes now. Judging by the way he talks about dragons, their diets, and what their scales feel like, I’d say he thinks they’re real.

Mitch, the rude bartender, interrupts Dex’s tattoo-flaunting session. “Another beer?”

Dex hands Mitch his empty bottle. “Yeah, and how about a cocktail for this pretty lady?”

I shake my head. “No, thanks.”

“You sure?”

I’m positive.“Thank you, though.”

“It’s my treat.”

“No, really. I don’t drink.” That’s not something I usually tell people right away, but I don’t want to seem impolite.

“How ’bout a lemonade, then?”

I shrug a shoulder, giving in. “Sure.”

Mitch departs, then comes back with a glass of icy lemonade and another beer for Dex. I take a sip of my drink. It’s sweet and tangy, exactly the way I like it.

Once the bartender takes off to help the next customer, Dex goes back to mansplaining dragons to me. I thought turning my entire body away from him would indicate that I have no interest in dragons, but nope. He’s too self-absorbed to pick up on any of my social cues.

Thankfully, the entertainment is a good distraction. Trey’s now playing an acoustic guitar and singing a duet with Kevin. For a second, Trey locks eyes with me, and my heart skips a beat. I must have imagined it though. There’s no way he can see me from all the way up there with all those bright stage li?—

Someone taps my arm. “Ari?”

I flinch, jerking my arm back.

Dex puts a hand up, palm forward. “Sorry. Think I lost you there. You didn’t answer my question.”

I take a well-needed sip of my lemonade, holding back a groan. “What was your question?”

“I asked if you’ve ever been to Europe.”

“No.”

“Well, as I was saying...” and he goes on yapping.

The more he talks, the less I pretend to listen. I nod occasionally while keeping my eyes on the amazing entertainment.

After a few more songs, my lemonade is gone and Dex isstilltalking. About what? I have no idea. My grandparents taught me to always be nice to people, but I’m losing my patience with this guy. Also, my head feels hazy. I’m hot, I’m sweaty, and the room is swaying.

“You all right?” Dex asks. At least, I think it’s him. I’ve shut my eyes to block out the flashing lights that are suddenly way too bright.

“I’m getting a headache.” Placing my elbows on the bar, I dump my head into my hands. The music’s way too loud. Every bass drop feels like it’s rattling my brain.

“You wanna go home?”

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