CHAPTER SIX
We’re at Sparks later that night for Open Minded Mondays. Normally you wouldn’t expect it to be so busy on a Monday but here it always is, as the Open Minded night is when both guys and girls come out to the club, leading to all kinds of sexual confusion. Tonight is even busier than normal. It’s still hot out despite it being near 9 pm. Maybe this is the only place with A/C.
Rachel and Devante have decided to be replay what I did wrong, despite them not being there.
“You should have let me come with you,” Rachel says.
“He still wouldn’t have been there,” I say.
“But a woman’s touch can sometimes get you further with things,” Devante says, looking at Rachel.
“It’s just one more night,” I say, resigned to the truth. “In the meantime, I want a drink,” I say.
They both give me the same concerned look before turning their gazes to each other.
“Not it,” they say simultaneously.
“Your turn to babysit,” Devante says to Rachel.
“I already have a child,” she says. “Which I’ll need to go home to in an hour or so,” she reminds us.
“I just pulled duty last week,” he says.
I’m getting angry. “I don’t need a babysitter,” I tell them.
They both look at me with a look of disbelief and pity.
“The fact that you think you don’t, means you do,” Devante says. “We know drunk you better than you do,” he adds.
“Like I haven’t babysat you two,” I say. I once practically carried Devante from a party on campus all the way back to the dorms. And I can’t even count how many times I’ve held back Rachel’s hair while she let chunks fly. “Whatever,” I say. “Clearly I’m going to have to find new drinking buddies,” I say and begin to walk away.
Rachel grabs me. “Hey,” she says, “we’re not beating up on you. We just want to have fun too, okay?”
“Yeah I know,” I say, not looking at either of them. “I have to go to the bathroom,” I say, and I leave them standing there.
A voice whispers in my ear while I’m peeing in the bathroom. “So that was an interesting night,” it says.
I almost pee on myself from the shock
“You!” I can barely get a word out as I try to shove my penis back in my pants.
“I…I—” the entire situation is too weird and I can’t speak.
“Sorry,” he says. “Multitasking is hard.”
“I’ve been trying to get in contact with you for days,” I say.
“Yeah, I know. My sister told me. She thinks you’re an asshole. But with good taste in tattoos and men.”
“That was your sister?” I’m now replaying our interactions, hoping I didn’t say or do anything beyond repair.
“You have to excuse her. She can be a bit prickly. And overprotective.”
“You should meet my friend Rachel.”
“Wish I would have brought your phone with me. I almost did, on the chance you’d be here repeating the events of the past. But then I thought it may not be a great idea, for the same reason.”
I laugh, though, I’m sure there’s an insult in there somewhere. “Wild nights,” I say, hoping my cheeks aren’t too flush with embarrassment.
“I imagine you don’t remember much about it?”
“Nor the next morning,” I admit without meaning to.
“A shame,” he says. He smiles and for a moment I’m lost.
He has a slightly scruffy beard that’s long enough to turn me on, but not so long that it hides his dimples. I’m unable to contain my own scruffy but dimple-less smile.
We stand there staring at each other for what seems an eternity.
“Hey,” Devante says, coming into the bathroom. “Oh, heyyy,” he says when he sees Patrick. “Just checking on you. But you’re clearly doing fine.”
“This is Patrick,” I say.
“Devante,” he says introducing himself. “Patrick?” It clicks a moment later. “Paaatrick.” He smiles. “I’ll leave you guys to it,” he says.
“Actually, I’m here with friends too,” Patrick says. “Gonna head back myself. My sister says you’re pretty desperate for your phone. You can come by tonight if you want.”
“Don’t leave without me,” I say.
“You either,” he says, staring me down as he walks away.
“Well that was fortuitous,” Rachel says.
“I know!” I say. I have a smile on my face that will not go away.
“You’re lucky,” Devante says.
“There’s no such thing as luck,” Rachel says.
“Oh yes there is,” Devante says. “You’re going to want to see him,” he says to Rachel. “He’s hot.”
I’m as confused by Devante as I am another sight.
“What is it?” Rachel asks.
“Who’s team does Matthews play on?” I ask, surprised to see him here.
“I’m not surprised by anyone’s sexuality,” Devante says.
“He’s not gay,” Rachel says.
“Sure,” says Devante. “Or maybe he plays on both sides. I’d be happy to find out if you want me to.”
“No,” Rachel and I both say. I have no interest in Matthews as a sex object. “Anyway, that’s Patrick.” I point with my finger past Matthews, where I can see Patrick with his sister and a group of friends. “And that’s the sister,” I say. “The one with the blue hair.”
We talk for a few moments about how handsome Patrick is and how fortunate his sister is to be able to pull off blue hair. But the conversation gets quiet as we realize Matthews is getting closer to Patrick and his group of friends. Then the unthinkable happens, he joins their group.
“Ugh,” I say, genuinely disappointed. “Poor taste in friends.”
“Well, nobody’s perfect,” Rachel says.
“Stop looking at them,” Devante says. “I think they just looked over here.”
I glance over and see Patrick pointing in this direction. I instinctively look in the other direction. “Come over here,” I say to Devante and Rachel. I don’t like being pointed out by Patrick to his group of friends. Especially since Matthews is one of them.
Thoughts come to mind of Matthews finding out about all of the excitement of the other night. It’s not that I care what he thinks per se, I just see him as an enemy, and an enemy will use any dirt they have on you to their advantage.
“What do you want to do?” Asked Rachel.
“I don’t know,” I say. I’m certainly not one who’s going to run from anything, but at the same time I don’t feel confrontation is the best course.
“We can always go somewhere else,” Rachel says. “I’ve got a leave soon anyway. Boy Bar is on the way home, I can walk you guys there.
“I’m waiting for Patrick so I can get my phone tonight,” I say.
“That’s not all you want to get tonight,” Devante says.
We laugh, all knowing it’s true. I seriously question that now, as I’ve already been mixing business with pleasure. “I really just want my phone at this point,” I say.
“Wait here,” Devante says. He returns moments later with Patrick.
“So sorry about your cat,” Patrick says.
I fight to keep my eyes from widening with surprise. I’m not exactly sure what to tell him. I don’t want to come off as both an out-of-control drunk and a liar. I give a quick glance to Devante who’s eyes are as wide as mine would like to be. He noticed his head in a way that tells me to keep the story he’s started going.
“Yeah, umm…” I take my time with my words, trying to give my brain a few more moments to figure out the best thing to say.
“I get it,” he said. “You don’t have to talk about it. I had a dog that died last year. I know how it is.” He holds out his arm.
“How cute!” Rachel almost screams.
It takes me a moment to see it, but then I do. It’s a dog that has been incorporated into his own sleeve tattoo. It peaks out of the mane of a lion that’s a part of the overall tattoo.
“Are you a Leo?” Rachel asks.
He smiles. “I am.”
“One of my favorite signs,” she says. “After Sagittarius,” her own sign, “of course.”
“Can a Gemini not get any love?” Devante asks.
Patrick laughs. “Talk to my sister,” he says. “She’s got plenty of love for her twin brethren.”
“I’m about to get out of here,” he says. “Want to cab it back together and pick up your phone?”
I’m pretty sure we all know that answer, but he and I have to wait to make our exit, as Matthews has decided to join the group.
“I thought that was you,” Matthews says. “What are you guys doing here?”
“Um, it’s a bar,” Devante says.
Patrick smiles.
“So apparently there’s a funny story I’m supposed to come here and find out about,” Matthews says.
“Must be a mission from my sister,” Patrick says. “Don’t let her mess around with you like that, she can be a bit of a joker.”
“You sure?” Matthews asks. “It’s supposed to be a funny story about this guy,” he says pointing to me.
“Are you telling me you know my sister better than I do? Because it sounds like that’s what you’re saying, and in that case, I do have a funny story for you. It goes a little something like this:
“My sister sent a jackass over here to ditch him.”
Matthews turns around with reflexive speed.
We can all see that she’s still there.
“Don’t believe everything you hear,” Patrick tells Matthews. “You may want to get back before she actually does ditch you.”
Matthews smiles like an idiot trying to play it cool, then rushes back.
We all laugh.
I think I like this guy.