Page 135 of Between the Blue
Ben’s hand curls into a fist on top of the bar, and we’re so close now that it makes his knuckles brush against my hip, sending a zip of adrenaline running through me.
“Yeah?” he repeats, his voice breathy.
“Mhmm…” I tilt my chin up, bringing my face just below his. “With someone that wants me.”
I immediately drop back down to my regular height, making Ben rear back in surprise. “So I guess you wouldn’t be interested.”
I give him a tight lipped smile, taking another sip from my drink as the bartender returns.
“Cherry–”
“Here you go, bud,” Jeff says, dropping the bill on the bar in front of Ben.
“Thank you,” I tell him on Ben’s behalf. And because I am hoping my continued conversation with the bartender will make Ben just walk away, I say, “It’s so much busier here tonight than normal.”
“It is,” he agrees. “But I think this is the culprit.” He points to a large flier taped to a pole behind the bar. I squint at it in the dark, trying to make out the writing.
“A lip sync battle?” I read aloud.
“Yep,” Jeff nods. “It’s about to start. Seems everyone really wants to watch, but no one is willing to participate. So we’ll see how this goes.”
“Nobody signed up?” I ask.
Jeff picks up a clipboard from behind the bar and turns it around, showing me the blank sign-up sheet.
“Oh no,” I frown.
I feel fingers brush against my elbow. “Cherry?”
“What about you?” Jeff says.
“Whataboutme?”
“You want to get up here?” He pats the bar with one hand and holds out the clipboard to me with the other. “Care to get the crowd going?”
“No, she doesn’t,” Ben speaks up, making both me and Jeff look at him.
“Don’t think I was asking you, bud,” Jeff grins.
“Well,bud,” Ben grits, “this is me asking you nicely to back off and go serve your other customers.”
Jeff leans forward on the bar, looking entertained by this all. “Or what?”
“Or you’re gonna find my fist in sync with your fucking–”
“I’d love to.”
Both men shift their attention towards me now as I snatch the clipboard from Jeff’s hand, scribbling my name down on it.
“Great,” Jeff smiles. “You got a song in mind?”
I look right at Ben as I say, “Sure do.” Then I hand the clipboard back to Jeff.
He looks down at it, letting out a whistle. “Good choice.” He sets the clipboard down, picking up a microphone from behind the bar. “You need a few minutes?” he asks.
“Cherry–”
I throw back the rest of one drink in two gulps. “Nope,” I grin, swiping at the corners of my mouth before I set the glass down on the bar. “I’m ready whenever.”
