Page 36 of Right Place, Right Time (Second Chances)
Chapter Sixteen
Jay
I can’t believe I’m going to a club. A dance club at that. I could hardly believe it when Kate asked me to meet her and her friends there. I’m still not sure I believe it. The guys at work razzed me when I told them where I was going after I’d declined their offer to hit the pool hall tonight. The pool hall was much more my speed, but Kate…yeah, need I say more?
I’ve only seen her once in the past week and, like tonight, we weren’t alone. A few nights ago, the guys and I were at the pool hall, which is only a ten minute drive from Five. I knew Kate was working, and I missed her, so as we were leaving, I’d told the guys I was going to Five.I should have just told them I was going home. I hadn’t thought they’d want to join me. When we arrived, I’d spotted Kate working behind the bar and sat them as far away from her as I could. I knew they’d roughhouse, and I didn’t want her to be subjected to it. Johnny and Tom are cool guys, but Steven can get a little out of control.
When I walked up to the bar, her chocolate brown eyes lit up, and her smile was wide. I could tell I’d made her night just by being there. I’m not sure I’ve ever had that effect on anyone. It made me feel superhuman. I’d felt bad for not introducing her to the guys, and they’d teased me about “the babe at the bar” and how they’d keep coming back to a stuck up place like this if the service always looked that good. That had just cemented for me why I hadn’t introduced them to Kate. I’m not ashamed of my new friends, or Kate, I just knew they wouldn’t behave.
So here I sit—sipping on the eight dollar beer I can’t really afford, but need to alleviate my nerves—looking through the crowd, trying to spot her. On my right is Johnny, and on my left is Tom. Neither one of them would miss the opportunity to see me at a dance club. I have to say, though, they clean up nice and, fortunately for me, Steven couldn’t make it. The three of us are dressed up in nice jeans and long-sleeved, button-down shirts. I’d even scrubbed the grease out from under my nails.
Finally, I see her blonde hair across the room and rise from my stool to go to her, leaving the expensive ass beer on the bar without saying a word to the guys. Hell, they’re not stupid. They know what’s up whether I care to admit it or not.
I wade through the crowd and finally make it to Kate. God, she’s so beautiful. She must have cut her hair recently, and now the blonde locks frame her face perfectly. As I approach the table, I see a guy set down some drinks. Kate nods off to the side, and the guy walks off in that direction.
“Hey,” she says with a big smile when she sees me.
“You cut your hair,” I say, toying with a lock as I step in to kiss her cheek.
“You like?” she asks shyly, touching her hair with her hand.
“I love,” I tell her, thinking more about the blush rising on her cheeks than her hair at the moment.
“I had it up at the restaurant, otherwise you would have seen it the other night.”
“You look beautiful,” I tell her as I look at her outfit. She’s wearing dark, snug jeans with a sparkly purple top.
“Thanks.”
“Have you been here long?” I ask when I see that there are three drinks on the table in front of her.
“An hour maybe?” I frown, I’ve been here nearly as long. How did I not spot her until now? “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head. “Nothing, I’ve just been hanging out at the bar. I didn’t realize you were already here.”
“I texted you,” she says. I pull my phone out and see that she texted me about forty-five minutes ago. With all the vibrations from the music, I must not have felt it buzz.
“Sorry,” I say, tucking the phone back in my pocket.
“It’s okay; you’re here now,” she says smiling, putting her hand over mine.
“Hey,” I lean in so she can hear me over the music. “My friends are at the bar with my drink. I’m going to go get it, and I’ll be right back.” She nods, and I head back to the bar.
“Your lady friend arrive?” Johnny asks.
“She did,” I nod, grabbing my beer off the bar top and turning to go back to Kate.
“So that’s how it’s gonna be?” Tom says.
I stop walking and sigh. I should have known these two weren’t going to make it easy for me. “What do you want?”
“We want to meet your friend,” Johnny says.
I look at the two goofballs in front of me. They may be a little rough around the edges, but theyaremy friends. They’re good guys. If I want to make a go at something with Kate, I should introduce her to my friends, right? I’m here tonight to meetherfriends. I guess it’s only fair she meet mine.
I give an almost imperceptible nod before turning around, but Johnny and Tom see it, and they hurry after me. When we reach Kate’s table, that guy is back, and with him is a girl. The guy looks athletic. He’s tall with reddish brown hair and introduces himself as Decker. The girl, a short brunette, introduces herself as Casey. I recognize her as the girl I’d seen leave Kate’s apartment the day we’d met for lunch. I shake both their hands and smile politely, introducing Tom and Johnny.
There, that wasn’t so bad. We’ve met the friends. One milestone under our belts…only a million more to go.
