Oh.

Once inside, the smell of beer and cheap perfume overwhelm me. I stay close to Colt’s side. He walks toward the back of the bar, ignoring the stares being directed our way. He acts like he’s been here a thousand times before and settles at a semi-secluded high top table in the corner.

Once we’re seated, I have the chance to really look around. The place is pretty small, one long bar running the length of the room, with a few scattered tables and a mess of stools. The crowd here is young, well, not our age young, but appropriate bar-age young. A cluster of guys mill around a pool table near us, a few girls sway to the too-loud music on the dance floor on the far side of the room. And people everywhere stand around talking, sipping drinks, and laughing out loud.

Colt’s eyes are roaming, just like mine, but for a different reason. Once he spots the waitress, he waves her over. She saunters up to our table, her eyes full of lust for Colt. “What can I getcha?”

Colt turns to me. Reluctantly, the waitress’ eyes follow. Now they are both looking at me. My mind goes completely blank. I’ve never been to a bar and ordered for myself before. Beer? Wine? Liquor? But what kind? I was about to ask for a water when Colt comes to my rescue.

“We’ll both take a vodka tonic. Belvedere if you have it.”

She nods once and turns on her heel.

“Thanks,” I mumble once she’s gone.

Colt nods, his eyes scanning the crowd. I watch him scope out the girls, wondering which is his type. The waitress returns with our drinks, and I test a sip. It’s bitter and stiff. I choke down it down, wondering how people actually enjoy this. Colt removes the straw from his glass, and takes a gulp, draining half its contents.

I force down another swig, then slide the drink away from me. “So anyone catching your eye?”

Colt looks up, like I’ve interrupted some private thought. “Are we seriously doing this?” his voice hints at boredom.

“What about her?” I nod toward the bleach blonde swaying her hips alone on the center of the dance floor. She’s in skin tight jeans torn at the knees and a hot pink halter top. Just trashy enough for a one night stand with being overtly skanky. A perfect choice for him.

He pulls his eyebrows together and shakes his head.

“What’s wrong with her?”

He glares at me. It’s strange how expressive he is without speaking a single word. He takes another drink, draining the rest of his glass. “We are not picking out my next victim together.” He offers a sly smile. Oh, this boy is trouble. With a capital T.

I stir the ice cubes in mine with the straw. “So who’s your choice?”

His eyes fix on mine and stay there for what feels like too long.

I roll my eyes. “Colt, I’m serious, this is why we’re here. We need to get you out of your shitty mood, and I’ve been around you long enough to know this is how it’s done.”

He finally drops his eyes from mine, and looks around. “Fine.” He takes a deep breath and releases it slowly. I watch him scan the room. “Her.” He nods toward the bar.

I turn around to glance in that direction, trying not to be too obvious. The girl he’s looking at is a brunette with pretty, yet plain looks, jeans, sandals and a long sleeved T-shirt. She certainly doesn’t stand out amongst the overly made-up girls trying hard to get noticed. This girl is actively trying not to be noticed if you ask me. Very little make up, hair back in a low ponytail, nothing spectacular about her. She actually reminds me a lot of, well…me.

I reach for my drink and take another sip, fumbling with the straw. I don’t know what Colt sees in her, most guys probably wouldn’t give her a second glance, not with the busty blondes putting on a show on the dance floor.

“Her?” I double check, thinking I must have the wrong girl.

His eyes are back on me. He nods.

“Why her?” I take another sip. It’s not as bad once you get used to the taste. He takes the drink from my hand, his fingers brushing past mine.

“Not too much, little one.” He sets the drink down across the table from me.

I squint my eyes, glaring at him.

“She’s the only one in here, besides you, who looks like a nice, normal girl. No drama. No strange ulterior motives.”

I half expect him to add disease-free. I don’t know what to make of his comment, but suddenly I’m wishing I had my drink back to distract me. After a few moments, I recover. “So go talk to her.”

Colt looks bored. “You’re serious about this whole thing, aren’t you?”

“Uh, yeah. Obviously. Now go.” I shoo him from the table.

Colt shakes his head, but he’s grinning. He gets off his stool, looking in her direction.

I reach out for his arm, and feign a voice of concern. “You have protection, right son?”

He rolls his eyes and walks away. Of course he does. He’s probably wearing a condom at all times, just in case. “Have fun!” I call to him, playfully and watch his backside for a few moments. Unfortunately he turns and looks back and catches me looking. He chuckles and I can’t help but blush, knowing I was just caught checking out his behind.

It takes everything in me not to turn and watch him try to pick her up. I wonder what it would be like to have Colt’s attention like that.

After a few minutes, I sneak a glance but Colt and the mystery brunette are gone. WTF? Damn, he works fast. I scan the bar, looking around for them. Surely he wouldn’t just leave me here. Would he? I guess I really hadn’t thought this through.

A second later, a guy with shaggy blonde hair and crystal blue eyes is standing in front of me. “Hi.”

“Hi?” I say, more than a little confused.

“I’m Ted.”

“Taylor.” I raise up on my stool and glance around him, still searching for Colt. But the mess of bodies crowding the bar makes it impossible.

“It looks like your friend left with my friend, so I thought I’d keep you company,” Ted says, bringing my attention back to him.

So Colt did leave with her. Huh. I try not to be annoyed and remind myself that this was my idea. I wonder if she’s in our car right now, sitting where I just sat, on her way to the hotel room I’m sharing with him. The vodka churns in my stomach. Ted sits down in the stool across from me. Colt’s stool. It feels like even more of an invasion.

“I’ve never seen you here before,” he says, flipping his longish hair off his forehead.

“Never been here before.” I down the rest of the drink. Probably not wise, but I’ll do anything to defy Colt right now. Ted’s cute actually, but I’m so on edge about Colt’s fling with the plain brunette who I swear could pass as my sister, I can’t focus on anything around me.

We pass about fifteen minutes with Ted trying to engage me in a conversation (he goes to school at the nearby university) but my mind twirls with thoughts of Colt and what he might be doing at this very moment, not to mention worrying about how I’m going to get back to the hotel.

A few minutes later, Colt appears with the brunette smiling by his side. Another satisfied customer. They stroll up to the table together. He introduces her as Sarah. Awesome. Colt drops a few bills on the table to pay our tab and we say goodbye to Sarah and Ted. She and Colt don’t even exchange phone numbers, not even a thank you. Huh. I guess that’s how it’s done. Though it certainly isn’t something I’m used to.

Outside I storm ahead of Colt, heading straight for the car.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he calls from behind me.

I hold up my hand, waving him off and keep walking. If I tell him what’s wrong, it won’t be pretty. I have no clue why I’m so emotional, why this whole thing is conjuring up memories of Wes I can’t deal with.

“Why are you pissed at me? This was your idea.”

I swing around to face him. “Yeah, well I didn’t think you’d leave me alone in a bar while you fucked some random girl in the parking lot.”