Tempting Him by Isabel Lucero
2
Daytwo of spring break begins with me having to let my job know that I’m quitting. There’s no way I’ll be able to continue college, an internship, and a job at the restaurant. The internship is paid, so at least I won’t be missing out on any money.
A group of us from the frat house go to Nicola’s Pizza for lunch, then me and Luke split off and head to the mall to do some shopping before we head back home and I have to start getting ready for this bachelor party Ivy invited me to.
I’ve never been to one before, so I’m hoping I’ll have a good time, regardless of the fact that it’s being held at Three Sheets. Not sure if there’s much else to these types of parties besides getting trashed.
It’s nearly eight-fifteen when I arrive at the bar, dressed in a pair of dark denim jeans, a maroon polo shirt with shoes to match. Normally, this place stays pretty empty. The sign near the road actually boasts about its quiet atmosphere, but when I walk in, it’s packed. They must’ve rented the entire place out.
This sort of situation isn’t for everyone. I know plenty of people who would rather stay in bed than go to a bar where a large group of people you’ve never met are hanging out, and you have to introduce yourself to them. Luckily for me, this is right up my alley.
I’ve always been an extrovert. I love socializing and talking to people. I can meet someone and hold a conversation for an hour like we’ve known each other our whole lives. I thrive in this type of environment, so when I stroll through the crowd of people, I smile and offer friendly greetings until I spot Ivy.
“Hey! You made it!”
“Did you think I wouldn’t show? Come on now.”
She laughs. “I guess you’re right. You’re not one to turn down a good time.”
“No, ma’am. Now who’s the bride and groom? I should introduce myself.”
She grabs me by the arm and tugs me behind her until we reach a long table decorated with penis cutouts, balloons shaped like diamond rings, and a jar full of lollipops that look like tits. The bride-to-be sits next to the groom-to-be, wearing a headband with cocks bouncing around with each shake of her head, while the guy has a sash on that says, Same Vag Forever.
I laugh, and Ivy gets their attention.
“Tiff, this is my friend, Jay. Jay, this is the beautiful bride, Tiffany, and this is her soon-to-be husband, Curtis.”
“Hey, nice to meet you guys. Thanks for letting me crash the party. Congrats,” I say, shaking each of their hands. “I like the decorations.”
Tiffany laughs. “Thank you. There’s more littered around the other tables.”
“She chose the decorations,” Curtis offers. “I had nothing to do with all the dicks and tits.”
“Oh shush,” Tiffany says with a giggle, playfully hitting him in the arm. “Jay, don’t mind him. He’s mad we couldn’t get strippers in here.”
Ivy hands me a cup with a penis shaped straw. “Here.”
After inspecting the cup, I realize it says, cheers to beer and bad decisions. I lift it in their direction, “Well, seems like a good plan to me.”
“You don’t have to suck out of the dick straw, man,” Curtis says.
“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time there’s been a dick in my mouth, but I appreciate it,” I say with a laugh. “I don’t normally drink beer with straws anyway.”
“We have to use the straws,” Ivy complains. “I bought them.”
I humor her by taking a huge sip out of the straw while staring into her eyes. “There. Used.”
She smacks my shoulder before spinning around and rushing off to talk to someone else, so I maneuver through the tables and say hi to people, stopping to talk to a guy in a South River University football tee. Turns out he played for my team five years ago. The engaged couple look to be in their thirties, but the guests range from early twenties to maybe early fifties.
After I finish my beer, I travel to the bar to harass Ash, the bartender I’ve gotten to know since coming here to visit Dom from time to time.
“Hey, Ash. Penis straw?” I ask, holding it in his direction.
He laughs. “No thanks. Want something else? They have a keg, but I know you like your shots.”
“Sure. Surprise me. Dom back there?”
“Yeah. I’ll grab him in a minute.”
Ash pours me a shot of dark liquid before disappearing in the back. I swallow it down, making a face as Dominic struts through the black curtain that blocks the kitchen area from the rest of the place.
“Drinking alone?”
“For now,” I say with a shrug, holding out my fist to knock with his. “I’ll find someone to drink with soon.”
“You with this wedding party?” he questions.
“I’m friends with a girl who’s friends with the bride.”
He snorts. “Of course you are.”
“Don’t hate on the fact that everybody likes me.”
He rolls his eyes. “So, you planning on partying every day of spring break, or what?”
“It’s likely. I might as well take advantage. I redownloaded this dating app not that long ago. I may log back in and see if I get lucky.”
Dominic chuckles. “Dating app or one-night stand app? And since when do you need an app?”
“Actually, it is called One Night Finder,” I say with a laugh. “And I don’t need an app, but when you’re just looking for a no strings situation, it works. If I find someone here, for example, they may be under the impression it could turn into something serious.”
“And you’re not about that?”
I shrug. “Not yet. I don’t know. I’m still young.”
“You just haven’t allowed yourself the time to find someone who may be worth more than one night.”
“You fall in love for the first time in your life and now you’re giving me advice?” I say with a laugh. “I know Trev made you feel differently about relationships, but yeah, I’m not there yet. I’m twenty-two. I have at least ten years before I have to worry about settling down. Y’all just started early.”
Dom shakes his head. “You do you, man. I’m not gonna lecture.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I turn my head to the right and spot a guy sitting alone at a table in the corner. “Tell Ash to pour me a couple shots, yeah? I’ll be over there.” I jerk my head in the direction of the attractive man at the table.
Dominic follows my gaze and then looks back at me with raised brows. “Older than you usually go for.”
“I’m checking this off my list.”
“What’s left on your list?” he jokes.
“Not much,” I answer with a laugh. “He’s hot though. You gotta admit.”
Dom studies the man again. He’s wearing a suit, but the jacket is hanging from the back of his chair as he holds a highball glass in one hand and types into his phone with the other.
“Yeah, I’ll give you that. Doesn’t seem like much fun, though. He probably only fucks in the missionary position.”
I bark out a laugh. “I’ll teach him more positions then. See ya later.”
“Good luck.”
Starting toward the table, I wonder if he’s one of the guests who’s just too introverted to mingle. I slide into the chair across from him and give him a smile.
“Hey, I’m Jay. Are you with the wedding party?”
His head snaps up and his piercing blue-green eyes find mine, his brows knitted in the center, confusion and surprise written on his face.
“Sorry?”
I point toward the large group of people. “It’s a bachelor/bachelorette party. I thought you might be a guest.”
“Oh. No. Just the unfortunate luck of choosing what I thought would be a quiet place when they decided to party here.”
“Ah. Yeah, that is unfortunate.” I pause, drinking him in. “Or, maybe a blessing in disguise. Maybe what you need is to loosen up and have a little fun.”
He peels his eyes from his phone and stares at me. “You think I need to loosen up? Do you know me well enough to make that assessment?”
“I’d like to get to know you a little more,” I flirt.
He puts his phone down and rubs his thumb across his bottom lip as he studies me. He’s definitely more attractive up close. His skin is flawless and bronze—the color people attempt to get via tanning beds, but his is natural. I can tell. His hair is an inky black, and his thick eyebrows and dark lashes make the blue of his eyes stand out even more. The color is mesmerizing. I’m not sure if they’re actually blue or green. They seem to be a good mix of both.
Before he can say anything, Ash appears at the table and drops off two shot glasses before he returns to the bar.
The man in front of me raises a questioning brow.
“Care for a shot?” I ask, handing him one.
He’s slow to take it from me, but he does.
“To what?” he asks.
“New friends?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t have friends.”
“Then you have room for one.”
“I don’t have room for anything,” he counters.
“To tonight?” I question.
He nods once. “Okay.”
We clink our glasses together before drinking down the liquor.
“Can I get your name?”
“Aleksander.”
I smile. “Aleksander. That’ll sound good later.” I give him a wink, and for the first time since I sat down, his stern face twitches in what is almost a grin.
