"Hey, would you mind staying till closing? I need to check on my son to ensure he hasn't done something stupid," Tanya sighed as she sorted out the tips.

"That bad?" I glanced over my left shoulder as I pushed a beer toward the man before me.

"He's at that stage where he doesn't care to listen," she exhaled with frustration, "I can't be there to make sure he handles his school, let alone even stay in school once I drop him off in the morning."

"You remember being fourteen. It's not going to be easy," I responded before turning my attention back to the man before me, "That'll be $5." He fumbled in his wallet before placing seven dollars on the bar top and walking away. Tanya snagged it while blowing me a kiss.

"If his father would help and show him how to be a man instead of an angry teenage boy, then maybe I could understand-" she hesitated and shook her head, "You know what, no. I can't understand even if I tried."

I looked into her eyes. The dark brown, almost black iris nearly blended in with her pupil, and the dark circles beneath showed their presence. Her curly blonde hair fell to her shoulders, accentuating her big breasts crammed into a tight-fitted brown vest. You wouldn't guess she was a mother, let alone old enough to have a teenage son. Her flat stomach showed no signs of tiger stripes from pregnancy.

Glancing down, unable to find an excuse, I exaggerated a groan, "Fine; I'll do it."

Her eyes darted towards me as they narrowed before she let out a smile, "Thanks, girl," she pecked me on the cheek, and we hugged before she departed from the bar.

Two hours passed quickly, and the remaining customers started to leave. Gathering the remaining dirty glasses and throwing away the empty bottles took only a few more minutes, and I was free.

"Is there enough time for another?" a man said.

I looked over at him while tossing the bottles into the garbage. He was handsome, with deep, sharp, thunder-grey eyes and dark brown tousled hair falling around his face. He knew he was attractive, and his tight-fitted black shirt, accompanied by a black leather jacket, was so predictable.

I walked over to him while glancing at the imaginary watch on my wrist, "Sorry, last call was 28 minutes ago. Plus, we close in two minutes."

He smirked, giving a slight nod before downing the last of the beer. I could hear his swallow before he looked at me with heavy-lidded eyes, "How about you then?"

I gave him one more look and contemplated. His voice was rough like sandpaper oozing with charisma. I could tell he was tall from how he leaned over the bar while still sitting, but I felt nothing. Any woman would gladly take him up on his offer. Tanya would receive this proposition, but why didn't I feel anything? Not even an urge to see if it would be good kiss to me? Let him touch me? Let him have me? My head tilted to the side as he rose to his feet, gaining height. His eyes are beaming down onto mine, hungry with desire, and still, I feel nothing. As he leaned down over the bar towards me, I couldn't help but wonder if I would like it and feel something.

Closer and closer, he leaned down to me, shortening the gap between us at an even pace. His mouth was inches from mine and then centimeters before pausing as if waiting for me to respond. He pressed his lips onto mine as I felt a large hand slide around my neck, pulling me towards him. His warm lips grazed me as he slid his tongue into my mouth. Nothing. There was no rush of heat, intensity, or weakness in my knees, just nothing.

I leaned back from his embrace, and his hand released me, "Sorry," that's all I could say before shaking my head from side to side. He threw up his hands and took a few steps back in defeat.

He turned away from me and made his way to the front door. Before exiting, he turned back towards me, "Was it the kiss?"

"No, it's me," I responded.

He left the bar, and I was utterly alone. Why didn't I want to take him home?

Semua Bab Ivy: Bab -9