I’m at the bar. You want to come by and say hi?
Amanda: We already left. :(
Are you okay?
I double-check just to make sure she is alright. Maybe Brian pulled her by her hair out the door, but I doubt it.
Amanda: I’m great, I swear. It was just a misunderstanding. You know how I get.
As long as you're okay.
Amanda: Yep. You’re the best roomie ever.
Wow. No thank you?
I stab the power button to turn off the offending screen, pick up my glass of wine, and down it, just like the man beside me did moments ago. I’m pissed. Beyond pissed. She cost me not only thirty dollars for parking but a day's pay. I should have known it wasn’t that urgent. She and her boyfriend are always butting heads, and then an hour later, they’re making up.
I should’ve waited before coming down here.
The bar fills with more cosplayers, and the energy and excitement of the place builds. Music pipes through the speakers and I hear someone mention karaoke. That could be interesting. So screw it, since I already paid for the day I might as well make my time of it.
I wave down the bartender. “Excuse me, can I get a shot of tequila. Lime and salt. Thanks.”
"Everything okay?" God of Thunder eyes me curiously. “Wine to tequila is a big jump.”
"Umm…" I shake my head. "No. My friend bailed after I came all this way to get her thinking she was deserted."
"Some friend," he snorts. “I know what that’s like.”
"Yeah. I left hours of work and an angry boss to come here." I sigh and lose myself momentarily in the haze of his chocolate eyes. "I'm sure you don't want to hear about my woes." I give a gentle smile.
You look like you have a million problems by just looking into your eyes.
“Let’s just say, you’re not alone in your woes.” He smirks. “I mean, I’m just dressed up as a superhero, drinking alone at a bar. Not a single friend around myself.” He shrugs and wraps his fingers around his newly refilled glass.
“Touché. I'm Holly, by the way." I brush my shoulder against his in a poor attempt to flirt.
He tilts his head back over to me, his golden wig slipping slightly revealing his brown locks. "That's a very Jolly name." He gives me a crooked smile as his eyes roam over me.
I roll my eyes. "You should really stick to trying to save Asgard rather than making jokes."
"I have always been told I'm shit at making jokes, but what’s the harm in trying."
“Sorry for the delay,” the bartender says, sliding my shot of tequila over to me. He lays the lime on the napkin beside it.
“Thanks,” I tell the bartender and then edge in closer to the handsome stranger beside me. “Well, are you going to tell me your name? Or are you going to make me guess? I’m pretty sure it’s not Thor.”
"The name’s..." He looks down at his glass of whiskey then back at me. "Liam."
"How come you sound so unsure of that?"
"Because…alcohol." He gives me a crooked smile, and I giggle. "Hey, I'm improving."
"You are."
"Cheers to that then." He lifts his glass of whiskey, and I raise my shot of tequila.
"Cheers." We clink glasses and then toss them back. “Whoo.” I shake my head as the tequila burns down my throat.
Liam picks up the lime and places it to my lips. “Suck,” his husky voice croons. My lips wrap around the lime, and I suck the tart juices, my eyes never leaving his as I do so. “I have a feeling it’s going to be a good night, Holly.” He winks, and his thumb brushes across my bottom lip. I pucker against it, and he smirks. “Oh, yes, a very good night.”
The liquor starts to flow between us, and my somber man loses the wig sometime between the fourth and fifth drink. It turns out Liam is actually funny as the night goes on. He has been keeping me in stitches, and the weight he was carrying when he came in appears to be lifting slightly.
I also haven’t felt this relaxed in months.
Never in a million years would I let myself get this drunk in a bar and on top of it all with a stranger.
I have been so worried about following rules, making plans, sticking to my routine, I never let myself be so reckless.
Tonight, I want to break all the rules I made for myself, live a little. Take a chance, especially with Liam, who has been spending the whole night making me feel like the sexiest woman in the world.
I can't say how many times he's called me beautiful or found a reason to touch me or run his thumb across my lips.
Every brush of his fingers makes my skin ignite, and I’m desperate for more.
“So, what exactly are you doing here alone? I’m sure it didn't start that way for you,” I ask as I roam my finger over his bulging biceps.
“I got left behind too. I thought I was coming here to have fun. I needed it. It’s been a fucking rough…rough couple of months.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” I offer an ear. I can tell he needs it. Every time he looks down into that brown liquor, I swear he just wants to drown in it.
“I wouldn’t want to bore you with my problems. Plus, we are having fun.”
“You won’t bore me.”
“You’re too sweet to get weighed down with my problems.” He brushes my hair off my shoulder and rests his other hand on my hip.
“I don't mind. I'm a great listener.”
“I can think of something much more entertaining to do than having some heart
