Page 4 of Cookies and Cream
Not that it matters, but if this woman is in my circle of friends, then our one night just got a little more complicated.
“Yeah. Well, my best friend knows Dontae. I was a plus one at the bachelorette, so wait… you know Dontae and Zane?” Cookie’s eyes go wide, and she shakes her head.
“Zane is my best friend.” I run my hands through my long hair and blow out a breath.
“Okay, this isn’t a big deal. We’re two grown people who had a good night, and that’s it. We don’t even have to bring it up again. We can forget that it ever happened.” She nods her head with a shaky smile on her face.
I frown at her words. The last thing I want to do is forget about what happened in Vegas. That night was incredible. That woman rocked my world like she played in the Rolling Stones. I have no idea where she got the sexual agility from. We flipped and twirled all over that damned hotel room. I have never put a woman in that many positions in my thirty-eight years of life. It was like we were reenacting the Kama Sutra.
“What if I don’t want to forget, Cookie.” I take a step closer, getting in her personal space.
“I left Cookie back in Vegas, and so should you.”
The woman I’ve been having fantasies about turns and hurries away without looking back. Her hips sway in the tight pants she has on, and I have to adjust my instant hard-on.
How the hell can she just walk away from me like that? Again!
***
I’ve been trying my hardest to let go of the woman who obviously wants our one-night stand to stay that way, but fuck, I can’t! I don’t know what it is about her that has me feeling unhinged. After she left me at the bar, I couldn’t concentrate on shit. The women were trying to get my attention, but I couldn’t even give them the flirtatious banter that I’m known for.
Taters and beer isn’t just a bar; we cater to women. If the women are here, then the men will follow. It was a brilliant idea that keeps my bar in the black and me in the panties of any woman I want, exceptfor Cookie.
“What’s up with you, dude? You’ve been moping around here for a week. Not that I’m complaining because all the panties are being thrown my way,” Freddie says while wiping down the bar.
“Just a lot of shit on my mind. No worries, I’ll get back to normal, taking all the panties for myself.” I grin at my most trusted bartender and friend.
Freddie chuckles as he continues to set up for happy hour. I know I have to get my shit together by tonight because Thursdays are one of our busiest days. We call it ladies’ night because this is the place for book club meetups, after yoga sessions, and good ole’ I need a drink before I go home to my crazy family. Because of that, I started doing drink specials on Thursday, and BAM! More customers.
“Damn! I knew I should’ve kept my mouth shut. I should’ve left your ass brooding in the corner for one more night. I could’ve gone home with more tips and ass.” Freddie shakes his head in mock anger then his face splits into a wide grin.
“I’m sure you will go home with plenty of both, no matter what mood I’m in.” I chuckle and walk toward the back office.
All of my staff are hustling to get ready for the rush that tonight will bring, and I smile to myself. My dad would be proud of the business he left me. We put a lot of work in this place as a family, and I’m glad that it’s doing so well. The first couple of years after I took over were a struggle, but I finally got my head on straight and my shit together.
Sammy, the cook, is shouting out directions to the kitchen staff, and they are quickly buzzing around like worker bees. I throw my hand up, and Sammy gives me a nod without stopping his hollering. My hostess Sal is wiping off the menus, and we nod at each other as I pass.
My bar may not be a five-star Michelin restaurant, and we might only serve bar food, but our food is some of the best the great state of Texas has to offer. If I do say so myself.
After about thirty minutes of finishing payroll, I get a text from my best friend, Zane.
Zane: My baby and her girls are stopping by Taters tonight. Reserve them a booth for me. I’ll owe you one.
Me: It’s my busiest night so you’ll owe me more than one asshole.
I can’t help but wonder if Cookie will be with Dontae tonight. Even though she said, she was a friend of a friend. I still want to see her.
FOUR
MUST BE FATE
LAYLA
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” I grumble as I unlatch my seatbelt of Tasha’s passenger seat.
“Whatever, you can mumble and huff all you want to. But you made me promise to stay on your ass about dating. So, here I am doing my best friend duties,” Tasha sasses.
I roll my eyes, but she’s right. I know I get so caught up in romanticizing everything that I become too afraid to actually go on a date. I want to be in love again. Even though I got my heart shattered into a million tiny pieces, but I’m still optimistic about finding love. The problem is I know my expectations are high, and I keep getting disappointed. It’s an endless loop that I can’t seem to get out of.