Page 9 (1/2)

Chapter 1: A One-Week Stand

In the cool darkness of the semi-crowded bar, I could allow the last year to dissolve into a hazy fog, a far-off memory Each low thump of bass that disappeared into the dull roar of voices beat it further down With a littlethat never occurred in real life So that could be brushed aside like a phantom, not a true form Not a reality that burned shame, low and deep in my stomach

Bars had beco with flirtatious passes fro alone in this hotel club, hundreds of miles from home, I felt wonderfully liberated I could be anyone Any anony a drink before bed I could pretend to be free

My eyes traveled to the dance-floor where younger women in shiny slip dresses and chunky stilettos twisted and swayed, their s their s they liked came on, and the lines around their eyes disappeared as soon as their cheeks relaxed They could dance all night and still

A bitter laugh slid from my throat as I stared back into the aht made me tired

The bartender didn’t notice et his attention to order this drink, and it was gross “Seven and seven” was all I could remember from the days when I used to order drinks for myself It was a popular co citrus dragged down by a heavy undertone of bitter syrup I took a long pull from the tiny red straw and winced

I should’ve gone back to the room with Elaine My best friend since childhood said what I needed was a trip to the desert She’d booked us a week at the Cactus Flower Spa in Scottsdale, where we could get es, sit in steam rooms, soak in mud, and let our tensions melt aith hot-wax pedicures She said it would break me out of my “funk,” as she called it

I didn’t have anything else to do this week

It ith those sunny thoughts in ht it was an accident,across the square-shaped bar at the saly blue because of the way they stood out beneath his dark brow, coupled with collar-length, thick dark hair He had a beard I didn’t like beards—not even close-trie I could see his ht, black shirt he wore, and his biceps stretched the sleeves I preferred s and lean model-types

But he didn’t look away And like a deer caught in headlights, I couldn’t either My breath stilled as my eyes stayed on his, as I waited for him to release me He would release me I kneould I simply had to wait

Men in bars were after those baby-faced innocents on the dance floor, not ht bodies, high-pitched breasts, and even tighter vaginas Those were the girls ht and tell the for a king Still, in the next an his slow glide in my direction, all I could think was maybe

I watched as he passed the patrons facing each other, talking and laughing So their ar their drinks in peril They all shone in the yellow lights hidden above, in the recesses of the wooden shelves that held dozens of upside-down glasses in all shapes and sizes Liquor bottles were arranged on the top shelf For sohts didn’t seem to reach him Or me We were in our own secret, shadowy place

When he rounded the final corner and I could see hiht My eyes traveled quickly frorey pants ending in sleek, black loafers Just as fast, they were back to his face, and he was in front of me I’d never been confronted with so much male presence focused on me in my life He had to be six-two and twice my size

“Can I buy you a drink?” The low vibration of his voice shot a pleasing charge right between s, and my cheeks warmed

Blinking back to lass, I poked the half-empty contents with the straw “I have this,” I said, her in contrast to his