I couldn't help but stare down at the empty glass that mocked me on the table, the spiraled bamboo skewer that once held three olives abandoned beside it on the coaster. It seemed to just grin at me, taunt me to take more, taste more. I was on drink number two now, but the alcohol was taking effect quickly. Perhaps I should have eaten before I decided to venture out. Perhaps I should have forgone the temptation of my latest, favorite drink: extra dirty martini for the extra dirty girl, with extra olives (please), but tonight was not one of those nights I could have easily dismissed my craving.
I sat there in the open hotel lounge facing the lobby of the grand entryway, watching people stroll past with their luggage, some struggling with their items, others struggling with a child on one hip or a wandering teen. And here I sat, struggling with my inner-self control and the name of the waitress's nameplate. Sharon? Shanon? She looked more like a Sharon, with her dyed red bob and the oversized glasses that perched at the tip of her nose. As much as she posed as the friendly hostess, I could see the disdain in her eyes as she looked over the short fabric that composed my dress β a gray comfortable cotton t-shirt style dress that came just above my knee, with an open v-neck cleavage allowing full view of the black strapless push-up bra beneath.
What's the matter, Sharon?
I thought.
You're still getting my money.
"Another drink?" Sharon asked, her voice a pleasant tone through her strained smile.
I raised my glass to show I still had a good majority left and smiled in return, shaking my head. "Thank you," I responded, "but I believe I'm okay for now." With a nod, Sharon, or maybe it really was Shanon, left me to my peace.
I shifted where I sat, my free hand smoothing the soft fabric of the contemporary couch I had chosen for my evening's perch. The rest of the bar was packed solid with travelers, and colleagues that laughed raucously at lame jokes as they stared down into the depths of their own empty bottles. Thankfully a large wall blocked the majority of the noise and I was able to sit there, concentrating on my own thoughts, and at the woman's ass who sat a few feet away at a table, her white pants teasing my imagination as I debated whether or not she wore panties.
Holding my martini in my right hand, I toyed at the skewer that held three plump green olives with my left, mixing my drink nonchalantly as I continued my people watching. Once I believed my olives were vodka soaked enough for my tastes, I drew one into my mouth, the stick poised between my lips as I savored the flavor co-mingling on my tongue. It was then that I saw him, and for sure he saw me, because his lips curved into a mischievous grin as I felt his eyes locking onto my lips, pursed and paused with the olive between them. I glanced away, drawing slowly the sour fruit into my mouth and biting into it, grinning my own coy grin. I don't know who he was, but you could certainly guarantee I'll be watching him tonight.
Taking a chance, I looked over toward where he was last, and found him as he wandered around a large pillar toward the bar. He was tall, easily six foot, and good looking. He was also one of those types that knew he was good looking, and kept himself meticulously clean and styled; what with his brown hair tousled atop his head and his designer jeans that hung low on his hips. The first thought that came to mind was 'metrosexual' β I mean, we're talking a dead ringer here, but that's okay. Surely everyone has a label. I can almost bet that Sharon had even a few for me.
I found that I could not stop staring. At least, up until he disappeared around the large wall that now served as a barricade to my eye candy. I pouted there on that couch, staring down into my drink as I took a hefty swig and chomped down into an olive. It would figure that the individual that stood out from the rest of the business attire would only tease me with his presence for but a moment. Such is life.
Minutes came and went, and the glass was surely emptying itself. Not in my mouth, oh no, for my head was swimming with the lone olive that drowned in the vodka, with just enough room for its head to surface and catch a breath. My martini was most certainly evaporating before my eyes, and I had to rectify the problem and quickly! The waitress meandered past and I raised my glass, tapping on the side with a smile. Finally I caught her name β it
was
Sharon, and she nodded back with silent understanding. I do appreciate some classic non-verbal communication sometimes.
I finished my drink and ate the last olive, sliding the glass to rest beside the first onto the table. I shifted to tuck my legs beneath me, lounging back on the couch as I watched people conversing at one table. My eyes kept stealing glances at the wall that separated me from Him, whomever He may be, hoping somewhere inside that he would wander back around. Sharon was back not long after my request, and I smiled sloppily up at her, my vision slightly tainted by the alcohol as I studied the older woman's face.
"Thank you so much, Sharon," I managed, noticing I had the faintest slur. Two drinks in and I was a champion, I thought, and laughed as she poured the martini into a fresh glass laden with olives. What a good woman. She gave me a queer look, smiled in return and left as quickly as she came β although I'm sure she's used to the likes of people like me. After all, this was a lonely hotel bar with lonely hotel patrons, drinking lonely hotel drinks and wanting lonely hotel company.
I closed my eyes and inhaled the scent of the alcohol, the glass poised between both hands as I drew in a sip. I was in a daydream now, lost in my own reverie of olive branches and rivers of vodka martinis coaxing me into their world. Perhaps had I only been one drink in, I would have felt the air pressure change and the commotion on the couch as someone sat just across from me, but instead, I took another sip and startled when I heard his voice.
"I don't think she's wearing any panties," the voice stated, just loud enough to break my concentration in my debauchery with Osiris β the god of alcohol. My eyes shot open and fought to focus on his face, but soon I found I was staring at Him, the man from before, and I couldn't help but grin like a fool.
"It's funny you should mention that," I struggled, feeling the weight of my tongue mock me as I worked hard at the words. "I was debating the very same thing just a little while ago. I've concluded," I slurred, "she is most definitely not, and she knows I know she's commando."
He laughed, and it was a rich sound, full of humor and mirth. Held in his hand was a rocks glass, filled with ice and some golden liquid. I smiled at his laugh and looked away, forcing myself to pull my own glass from my face and settle it onto the table. Now was the time to concentrate.
"I'm Chaz," he said, causing me to turn and face him again. I wasn't exactly expecting introductions, let alone him talking to me...but here I was, faced with conversation and my heart was
pounding
.