Sucker Punch (TKO 4)

She’s actually really walking over here now and she has a friend with her, who gets pulled aside by some other girl, but Paige is still walking. If I’ve ever wanted to disappear, now is the time. I’ve imagined seeing her many times since I was in ICU but what the hell were the chances?

Lance nudges me in the side and I shoot him a glare. I’m not ready for this. I was more than prepared to just admire from afar. The deal for the night was to come have a few drinks, not meet women. I haven’t quite built that confidence back up yet.

“H-hi,” I stutter as she stops in front of me. I remember those baby blue eyes. They were so damn piercing in the hospital when we met. That and those curls that hang down her back. Good God, I’m in over my head.

“Hey,” she says smoothly. Wow, what an epic fucking conversation. I’m definitely going to lay into Lance once this torture is over. She doesn’t seem interested at all to be standing in front of me. She still looks a little tense from whatever that was with the guy by the bar.

“I, uh, just wanted to say hi. Sorry to bother you,” I stammer.

Lance scoffs beside me, his jaw on the floor He can’t hel

p it at all.

“No, you didn’t bother me. I’m sorry, it’s not you. I, uh, had a pretty intense conversation with someone who pissed me off,” she explains vaguely. That makes me feel somewhat better but not really. I was beginning to think it was a mistake to try to talk to her.

“Paige, right?” I ask her. Her eyes widen like she can’t believe I remember her name. Now I feel like a grade A creeper.

“Hi, Paige, I’m Austin’s best friend Lance. I’m the one who called you over.” He extends his hand and finally a smile breaks across her beautiful face.

“It’s nice to meet you. It’s good to see you again, Austin. You look like you’re doing pretty well,” she replies, reverting her attention back to me.

“Yeah, I guess so.” I set my now-empty beer bottle on the bar behind me and stick my hand in my pocket. Why am I so damn nervous right now?

I turn my head to see Lance just staring at me, confused. I raise my eyebrow at him, hoping he’ll get the hint to not look so crazy, but it does no good. “Well, this conversation is going so well. Paige, how about you give my man Austin your phone number?”

“Dude, did you really just say that?” I ask him, not caring Paige is literally in hearing range.

“I did. You can thank me later.” He winks as he turns to the bar to order another drink. I’m going to fucking kill him.

Paige’s cheeks turn a slight pink before she bows her head. She’s embarrassed and I don’t blame her at all.

“I’m sorry about him,” I tell her, chuckling a little.

“No, it’s okay. It’s not a big deal.”

The girl who was with her a while ago grabs hold of her hand and pulls her over to talk to her. It seems like eternity passes before Paige walks back up to me. In the meantime, Lance hands me another beer and nods in their direction. I shrug because hell, I don’t know what’s going on. I just know this is potentially one of the most awkward moments of my life.

Paige finally returns and daringly looks me in the eye. “Do you have your phone?”

“Oh, yeah. I do,” I reply, trying to keep my excitement at bay.

I hand Lance my beer as I reach for it in my back pocket. My heart rate just doubled, I’ve never been one to get a girl’s number. Well, besides Tamilyn’s but that doesn’t count. With shaking hands, I give her my phone. Her hand brushes mine and I feel like a fucking girl, all giddy inside. This is some shit. I watch as she types her number into my phone and hands it back.

“I’m being dragged to another bar. You guys want to come?” she asks with a gleam of hope in her eyes.

I glance over at Lance, who checks his phone. He scrunches his brow and presses his lips together. I’m thinking that’s a no. He does have a new baby to get home to. He shows me his phone and Hilary asks how much longer he’d be. I don’t want to keep him, and besides, this was supposed to be a few drinks and we’ve accomplished that.

“Nah, I don’t want to intrude and I think we’re about to head out.” I instantly regret my words. But I didn’t drive, so I have to leave when Lance does.

“Well, call me sometime Austin.” She leans forward and boldly kisses me on the cheek. My dick just got rock hard in the middle of Joe’s.

“I will,” I tell Paige as I watch her wave and then walk off. That same brown curly hair I remember from the hospital has the same bounce it did then. She’s everything I remember. I turn to face Lance as we both finish our last drinks. “Okay, I admit I wanted to beat the shit out of you at first, but I’ve changed my mind.”

Lance laughs. “See, I know everything. I’m helping you get your life back.”

He may be laughing, but he’s right. He is helping me get my life back. If it weren’t for him, I’d be sitting home doing nothing and feeling sorry for myself. I’m over that.

Chapter 5