Her Daddy’s Special Girl by Mary Potter

CHAPTER SIX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Will

I made my way over to Rebecca and Bonnie, trying to ignore the twisted feeling of relief that Noah was nowhere to be seen.

“Hey Bonnie,” I said, “how have you been?”

“Oh, same old, same old, Will.” Bonnie let out a carefree laugh. “How about you?”

“About the same.”

Rebecca was looking at me differently, eyes slightly wider but eyebrows pulled together, like in confused wonder. I hoped I wasn’t being too obvious with my feelings about the guy she was talking to. Regardless of what I was feeling, it was important to me that she had a good night.

I shook myself out of it and turned back to Bonnie. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Well, I’m not taking anyone home tonight, so I’ll have a double vodka and Red Bull.”

“Coming right up,” I said. And to Rebecca, “Another soda?” She smiled and nodded.

I worked on making their drinks a few feet away, so I was out of earshot, but could still see them and observed the way they talked. Bonnie was animated and vibrant, using her hands a lot. Rebecca was quieter, but still energetic.

Rebecca made direct eye-contact with whomever she was speaking with. She smiled a lot and nodded encouragingly. She blushed more than anyone I’d ever met, and it was such a beautiful shade on her skin. There was a quiet playfulness to her that I wished I knew more about.

I finished making the drinks and walked back over to them, setting them down as Bonnie said, “I’m here now, and I’m a perfect wing-woman.”

“I’m being replaced?” I asked Rebecca, holding a hand over my heart as if I was feeling wounded.

Rebecca giggled and looked down. “No,” she said. “Bonnie’s just pushy.”

“Pushy people get results,” Bonnie said, unbothered. She held her drink up and made a small toast with Rebecca’s glass. Then she turned to me. “But wait, were you wing-manning for Becs, before I got here? Did you find a winner?”

Rebecca said, “I don’t think so,” just as I said, “Might be.”

Bonnie looked between us, amused. “Well, I bet I could find you a winner.” She took a sip of her drink and started to look around. “I know what you’re looking for, but any other requirements?”

“Um,” Rebecca said, looking down at her drink. “Not really.”

Bonnie shrugged. “Easier for me!” She turned to me and smiled brightly. “So, Will, where are all of your gorgeous friends tonight?”

Rebecca blanched a little at that, looking taken aback and caught out, although I wasn’t sure why.

“Most of them are at a poker game. I was supposed to be with them actually, but Kelly called in sick. One of the glorious things about being the boss,” I said with a shrug. “I have to be the one to work even if I have plans.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Bonnie said. She looked around again. “It’s actually kind of tame for a Friday night. Wouldn’t be surprised if you were able to cut out a little early.”

My eyes slid over to Rebecca, who was sipping on her soda through the straw and looking between Bonnie and me. Her lips were full and pink, and I couldn’t help imagining leaning over and putting my thumb between them. Or maybe something else between them.

I cleared my throat. “Unlikely, but perhaps.”

Bonnie turned back to Rebecca, and looked like she was about to say something, when Noah came back over. His smile was friendly, but I felt oddly irked by the way he put a hand on Rebecca’s upper arm. She didn’t flinch or look uncomfortable, though, so I didn’t say anything.

“Hey there you are,” Noah said. “You’ve been missing some great songs.”

“Yeah, sorry,” Rebecca said, pointing to Bonnie. “I ran into a friend and we got to talking.”

“Oh!” Noah said, holding out a hand for Bonnie to shake. “Nice to meet you, I’m Noah.”

“Bonnie,” she said. Then she turned to me and lowered her voice as she asked, “Is this your ‘might be’ winner?”

“Yes,” I said, hardly able to take my eyes off of the way Noah leaned in closer to whisper in Rebecca’s ear.

“Oh,” Bonnie said. She shook her head at me. Then, she turned and shook her head at Noah. He looked over at her, still smiling. Bonnie put one hand on Noah’s shoulder and gave him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, honey, but no.”

Noah looked confused. “What?”

“This—” she pointed between Rebecca and Noah with her drink-filled hand “—isn’t going to happen.” Before he could respond, she continued, “You seem like a sweet guy, but you’re not what she’s looking for.”

“Um…” He looked at Rebecca briefly, but then turned to Bonnie again. “How do you know?”

Without pause, Bonnie said, “Because you seem like the kind of guy who wants to be really gentle and make a girl come three times before you do, and probably hold hands the entire time. Which is not a bad thing.” She shook her head. “Not at all. It’s just not what my friend wants, so this—” she pointed between them again “—is a waste of time.”

Noah’s jaw dropped, and I felt similarly surprised, trying to process all of that information. Rebecca was beet-red with her head in her hands, her elbows on top of the bar.

“I do think that the petite brunette at the end of the bar,” Bonnie gestured behind Noah and his eyes followed where she was pointing. “The one sitting with her two friends doing shots, I think she’d love all of that. She was checking you out while we were talking. Why don’t you go buy her a drink?”

Noah nodded slowly, eyebrows furrowed as if he didn’t know what to make of that conversation. Then he turned around, and slowly walked in the brunette’s direction.

Bonnie drank the rest of her cocktail and smiled. “Will, can I have another, please?”