The bartender made the drink and I cautiously sipped it. It was a lot better than anything I had tried at college. I gave the bartender a thumbs up as I sipped it and turned towards the main part of the bar. It was fairly empty for the most part with a few people playing pool, a couple of guys drinking, and some couples in the booths near the perimeter of the room. There was a song playing on the jukebox that I didn’t recognize, but it sounded like an older country song. Brendan finished his first beer and got another one before I had really put a dent in my John Daly. After a few sips, I was feeling it though. It wasn’t like the rush I got a few minutes after I did my first shot with Misty. It was more like a warm sensation that started in my stomach and started s
preading out to my limbs.
“So you like that drink?” Brendan looked at me and smiled.
“I do. It isn’t half bad.” I nodded and sipped it again. “I can taste the alcohol, but it’s not overpowering.”
“I don’t like drinking to excess anymore. I had my fill of that after breaking up with my girlfriend, but a few drinks are always nice. They take the edge off.” He reached over and squeezed my hand. “You’ll need it tonight.”
“Probably so.” I looked down at my hand as he turned it over and our fingers interlocked.
“We’ll be okay, though. After tonight, we’re home free until our albums launch.” He nodded aimlessly.
“You don’t have to hold my hand.” I looked up at him. “There are no paparazzi here.”
“Maybe I want to hold your hand.” He raised an eyebrow as our eyes met. “Whether there are cameras on us or not.”
“Why should I let you? You’ve treated me like garbage the majority of the time I’ve known you. The one day when you seemed to be turning over a new leaf, you went and promised the world a duet.” I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life.” He sipped his beer and sighed. “I’ll never be perfect, but I realize that I need to be better than I have been lately.”
This is the man I wrote His Stetson Hat about, not the one I’ve been pretending to date since I got to Nashville… What in the world is going on here?
“Maybe I’ll let you hold my hand for a little bit.” I smiled and gave his hand a light squeeze. “You are buying my drinks today, after all.”
“Am I? I guess I am.” He chuckled and nodded.
When the first drink was done, I was feeling it, but I wanted another one. The alcohol was making me attracted to Brendan in a way that I hadn’t felt before. Holding his hand just felt right, even after the way he had treated me. It was hard for me to admit it to myself, but I did miss him during the two weeks we spent apart after he promised the world a duet. I liked the man that was honest and open when we walked together in the park. He was a stark contrast from the asshole that was barely cordial when we were out on our fake dates. After the second drink was almost done, I felt the warmness spreading beyond my limbs and throughout my whole body. I was aware that my face was flushed as well.
“I should probably stop after this one.” I drained the last few drops from the ice cubes and sat the glass on the bar.
“We’ve still got some time to kill before your party. Do you want to go back to your place and work on the duet while we’ve still got a buzz?” He smiled and finished his beer.
“That might be nice.” I nodded. “I feel extremely creative right now.”
“Let’s grab a six pack of beer from the store next to your apartment and see if we can make some magic.” He turned and dropped some money on the bar before standing up.
“Is it wise to mix liquor and beer?” I raised my eyebrows in concern.
“Beer before liquor, never been sicker. Liquor before beer, you’re in the clear.” He chuckled and led me towards the door. “That’s what people say, at least.”
“I feel like that would be hard to remember after a few more drinks.” I laughed and shook my head.
“Yeah, sometimes it is. We’ll be fine, though.” He held the door open and let me walk out into the street.
The buzz was still there when we got to the store. I convinced Brendan to go with some Hard Lemonade instead of beer because it seemed like it would go better with the John Dalys in my stomach. He gave me some money and let me pay so I could have my age checked again by the clerk behind the counter. We got back to my place and when I took the first sip, I could taste a difference. It was sweeter and had a harder kick, but the alcohol content wasn’t as strong. I picked up my guitar and gave it a few strums as we sat down. I felt extremely creative, but I still didn’t know how to make the song rhyme with the part he had already put together.
“Yeah, this is harder than I thought, even with alcohol.” I laughed and shook my head.
“We’ll get there.” He nodded and sipped his drink.
“I didn’t mean to fall for you.
But you took my hand and changed my view.
You’re not the man I thought you were.
You’ve turned my world into a blur.”