The bartender was still smiling while I unraveled on the inside.
“I…I don’t drink a lot. What tastes good?” I finally managed to ask. He licked his lips suggestively and I cringed internally. I didn’t have anything against gay people at all, but I could only imagine what he was thinking after my asinine query.
“I’ll hook you up, don’t worry,” he said and started pouring different liquors into a blender. After a lot of mixing and adding things he handed me a glass full of paper umbrellas and pieces of fruit. I went for my wallet but he waved it off.
“It’s on me,” he said.
“Oh…I, um, thank you?”
“No problem,” he said before leaning over the bar. “I get off at two and I could be getting you off half an hour later.”
He…he wants to…oh dear God!
My face felt like it was on fire and I almost dropped my drink. He winked, turning to Shawn and Matt, who placed their orders. I stared down at my wildly expensive shoes for a while, trying to get my bearings.
“Dude, this is so unfair!” Matt whined next to me.
“Huh?” I asked.
I heard Shawn snicker and focused on my surroundings again. I was gripping my untouched drink, completely frozen on the spot. I looked at the bar and noticed several drinks lined up that I hadn’t ordered.
“Where did they come from?” I asked.
“You have quite a few admirers,” Shawn said with a grin, motioning around the bar area. I looked up and saw several men raise their glasses to me.
“They…bought all those for me?” I asked disbelievingly.
“Yup. If things don’t work out with Julia, you should seriously think about playing the field. The guys in here are really into you, my friend.”
I didn’t know how to respond. I had no interest in anyone other than Julia—male or female. But I had to admit the attention was sort of flattering. Matt was pouting and sulking next to Shawn.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked, eager to turn the attention away from me and my apparent appeal to gay men.
“I didn’t get any drinks,” he muttered.
“Are you serious?”
“Well, I thought I looked pretty good tonight.”
“You’re not gay!” I reminded him in a hushed tone.
“I know. But I don’t want them to think that I’m not hot,” he defended himself. “I even got my eyebrows waxed, for fuck’s sake! You don’t know the pain I’ve suffered.”
“Maybe you’re just a little jealous that your brother is the one getting all the attention for a change,” Shawn teased.
“Oh, please,” he scoffed, not convincingly at all.
Matt is jealous…of me.
Mixed with all my nervousness, the notion sounded completely hysterical in my mind. The whole thing was so surreal. I started laughing uncontrollably and Shawn joined in. Matt huffed, but this only made me laugh harder. I turned my head to wipe my eyes and my laugh turn into a croak.
She’s here.
Julia was standing on the edge of the dance floor, staring at me. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe and her mouth opened as if she were about to say something. Sophia and Megan were dancing behind her, but stopped when they noticed that she wasn’t moving. Sophia leaned in to say something and I saw Julia answer without taking her eyes off me. Before I had a chance to approach her, she turned abruptly and ran off. I was about to race after her, but Sophia motioned for me to stay put. She and Megan joined us at the bar.
“Did she leave?” I asked the second they were within earshot, noticing how panicked my voice sounded.
“No, she just went to the bathroom,” Sophia assured me.
I relaxed a little but didn’t take my eyes off the spot where Julia had been standing only seconds earlier.
“Wow. Thirsty, Stephen?” she asked with a grin, pointing to the drinks on the bar.
“I didn’t buy those,” I said. “Help yourself.”
“Then who did?” Megan asked.
I was surprised that she was even talking to me, considering how angry she had been when I came to her and Sophia for help just a few days ago.
“Some guys,” I said vaguely. “I can’t drink them. I’m driving.”
The girls grabbed a beverage each as Matt finally noticed my company. He was at my side immediately.
“H-Hi, Megan,” he stuttered. “Wow, you look really pretty tonight, like totally beautiful. Can I get you a drink?”
So much for casual and aloof, huh, Matt?
She held up the drink that I’d offered her, but I did notice the small smile she granted my brother.
“Thank you,” she said. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”