Escaping the Past

“Bet I can guess who she’ll be going home with tonight,” Lou replied. “How did you do it?”

“Best way to get a man’s attention is to give yours to someone else. That little green-eyed monster will get ‘em every time.” Brody laughed.

“Have you seen John?” Lou asked.

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; “Last time I saw him, he was, indeed, getting sympathy credits from a lady at the bar. He was sitting that stool pretty well.”

The song ended and he led her back to the table. “I’ll be right back,” he said to her as she sat down and he handed her another beer. “Got to find the little cowboy’s room.” She nodded, raising her beer to her lips.

As soon as Brody was out of her sight, she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up. She jumped as she realized it was Wes.

He said quietly, “Don’t say a word.” He held up a hand to stop her. “I just need to talk to you. Things are not what they appear to be. Call me when you can talk.” He pressed a folded note into her hand, his eyebrows raised in question.

He blended back into the crowd. She unfolded the note and the only thing written on it was a phone number. She slid it into her back pocket and took another sip of her beer. She pasted on a big smile for when Brody came out of the bathroom, although her heart was still pounding.

He placed another beer in front of her and sat down on the high stool, his knee touching hers intimately before his hand reached out and lazily grazed across the sensitive skin of her thigh. She lifted the beer to her lips and regarded him from below lowered lashes.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?” she breathed, her hand covering his under the small table.

“It’s a lot better that you asked me what I’m doing and not what I’m thinking,” he chuckled. Heat crept up her cheeks.

Liz and Dave made a huge commotion as they slid into the seats across from them, laughing. Liz immediately stood back up and grabbed Lou’s arm, giggling like a schoolgirl as she said dramatically, “Come on. I need to go to the lady’s room.”

Lou shrugged at Brody and set her beer on the table. “Be right back,” she mumbled as Liz led her away. Lou saw two doors, one labeled “Pointers” and the other “Setters.” They walked into the ladies’ room and Liz turned to her with a huge smile on her face.

“He wants to come home with me tonight,” she announced, her arms waving in excitement.

“What are you going to do?” Lou asked, just as breathlessly.

“Lord, girl! We’ve been dancing cheek to cheek. He smells so good.” She inhaled deeply. “I want to take him on home with me.”

Lou thought for a moment. “Are you sure you want to make it that easy?”

“What do you mean by easy?” Liz stopped breathing and listened intently.

“I mean the man doesn’t value you for more than one night at a time. Do you want more than that?” Lou asked thoughtfully.

“Of course, I do!” Liz shrieked.

“Then make him work for it, Liz. Make him want you and then make him go on home alone. I bet he’ll be knocking on your door tomorrow wanting to spend some time with you.”

“You think so?” Liz asked cautiously.

“I do think so,” Lou replied.

Liz’s eyes drew together. “What about you and Brody? Is that what you’re going to do?”

“My situation with Brody is different. I’ve known all along it’s only temporary.” Lou turned to the mirror and applied fresh lipstick, casually. “That’s okay with me.” She pasted a fake grin on her face. “But you have a daughter with Dave and want him in your life forever. He obviously is drawn to you. Now you just need to get him to the point where he can’t do without you. Let him be into you for a while instead of you being into him.”

Liz groaned. “But it will be so hard telling him goodnight at my door.”

“Oh, no!” Lou laughed. “Don’t even let him take you home. You say goodnight here and then we’ll take you home. We’ll take away the temptation that way.” Lou held out her hand for a handshake. “Deal?”

Liz gripped Lou’s hand firmly in her own. “Deal.”

“Good. Now let’s go out there and drive him crazy just a little longer. Then you leave him panting as you drive away.” It was a nice having Liz for a friend.