Page 7 of Hat Trick
I should go home,but home is too far away.
And way too fucking lonely.
My friends left an hour and a half ago, holding hands with their husbands on their way to celebrate the end of the season more privately.
I watched them go, plastered on a smile when they asked if I wanted to spend the night at their place, and told them I was fine.
Fine, fine, fine.
I love being alone. I always have. I crave freedom and the independence to do what I want, when I want. But sitting at the bar and wondering how much longer I can stay while simultaneously dreading going home to an empty apartment sounds miserable.
And I don’t want to be miserable.
“Another round?” the bartender asks, snapping me out of my sad thoughts.
I eye him. He’s the same one who laughed at my joke earlier. Cute, with an arm covered in tattoos and dark, shaggy hair… he definitely has my attention.
“No.” I smile. “I’m all set.”
“Haven’t seen that blond guy again.” He grins. “He looked like a tool bag, didn’t he?”
“Such a tool bag. The polo? I mean, come on, dude.”
“His name is probably Chad.”
“It’s Bryce, actually, and it’s a horrible fucking name.”
“Hey. My name is Bryce.”
“Oh, shit. Is it really?”
“Nah.” The bartender smirks and uses the dish towel slung over his shoulder to wipe up a ring on the counter. “It’s Seth.”
“Wow. That was smooth. What are you doing after this, Seth?”
“Seeing if I can find your clit better than that guy could.”
I throw my head back and laugh. I like his energy. I bet he likes to have a good time in the bedroom, and I love when a guy is both hot and funny. “How long until you get off?”
“With you, it’ll probably only take me a few minutes.”
I smile at the compliment. “You have a lot of game, Seth.”
“Figured I might as well shoot my shot. Couldn’t stop looking at you all night. My shift is over in thirty minutes.”
“I’ll wait for you to finish.” I cross my legs, glad when his eyes flick to my bare thighs. “If you want.”
“I do want. Sure I can’t get you another drink?” Seth points at the half-full glass I haven’t felt like finishing. “Women aren’t usually so sober when they flirt with me.”
“Uh-oh. Should I be worried about a tiny dick? Is that why you’re trying to ply me with alcohol?”
“Nothing to worry about in that department.” He chuckles. “I showed you mine, are you going to show me yours? What’s your name?”
“Lexi,” I say, not bothering to come up with a fake alter ego to get him off my back. I can tell we’re going to have a good time together. “And I’ll be right here when you’re finished.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Seth goes back to the lingering patrons waiting to close out their tabs. I pull out my cell phone for the first time in a few hours to distract myself, frowning when I see two dozen missed calls from Piper. There’s another from Hudson. Four from Emmy, and panic rises in my chest.
