Michelle Monkou - Here and Now

“Glad to see you’ve discovered our favorite watering hole.” Chase caught up to her near the doorway.

“Kasey invited me,” Laura explained. She touched her hair, hoping that there were no stray strands poking up in the air.

They entered the darkened interior. Laura waited a few seconds for her eyes to adjust. She didn’t need to bother.

“Laura! Chase! Over here.” Kasey stood on a chair, holding a bottle of beer. She waved at them as if they were a hundred feet away.

“Hey, guys,” Chase responded. His voice had changed into a low boom that made her jump. “Look who I found wandering outside.”

Laura glared at Chase, not appreciating being the object of his joke.

“Introductions, please.” A young man hit his empty glass repeatedly on the counter. “I’m liking what I’m seeing.”

“Hold your horses, Brandon,” Chase responded. “Everybody, this is Laura Masterson.”

The responding greetings came back to her like an echo. Then they went around the table sharing their names. Some she recognized, but some didn’t work with at the university. The young man who’d smiled like a kid in a candy shop perked up like a spaniel when it was his turn.

“Brandon Littlejohn, computer whiz extraordinaire. I work with the brokerage firm about ten minutes away.” His voice carried a thick layer of boastfulness.

At first, he seemed cute and harmless. But with one drink thrown back and another one quickly ordered, Laura wondered if she was going to be stuck with his unwanted attention.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got your back,” Chase whispered in her ear. His breath tickled her ear. “And what a lovely back it is.”

At twenty-six years old, she blushed. So he would still take it there. Whatever it was. She couldn’t define what he did to her, how his words could make her emotions swirl like the beginning of a wind storm. On the other hand, his words could also cause a freeze. That, she didn’t care for.

“Whoa, sweetie, I didn’t mean to anger you.”

Laura pulled her hair back around her ear. She accepted her drink from the waitress, taking a deep sip of cola as if it had the properties to dull her senses. She wanted more than dulling of the senses, she wanted total numbness.

“Keep it up and I’ll switch chairs,” Laura threatened. The only seat available happened to be next to Brandon. On one side was the geek who thought he was Casanova. On the other side, a remarkable physical specimen who once had been her Casanova.

“I won’t tease you anymore.” He smiled and touched his hand to his heart.

“Apology accepted.”

“How’s work?”

She nodded, glad for the switch in subjects.

“Getting the hang of things?” he asked.

“Going pretty good. Can’t complain.”

“How’s the kid with the stress fracture?”

“Hey, you two, no shop talk,” Kasey shouted from across the table. Her edict was followed by several kernels of popped corn being tossed at Laura and Chase.

They ducked trying to miss Kasey’s accurate aim. They only succeeded in bumping heads.

“Ouch. Good gosh, you’ve got a hard noggin.” Laura rubbed her forehead wincing at the sore spot.

“Let me have a look.” He promptly grabbed her face in his hands. “Whoa. Are you going to look a sight tomorrow,” he whistled.

Laura jerked her head away from Chase’s hand. Her body responded, recognizing the trigger that caused a physical reaction that had nothing to do with extreme temperatures. A warm flush blossomed from her cheeks, where his hands only a few seconds ago pressed against her face, and now ran through her body.

“You know, you don’t have to be afraid of me.” Chase looked perplexed.

“I know. I’m not.”

“Could have fooled me.” Chase drained his glass and set it down with a firm tap.

“Look, Chase, I don’t understand why we’re suddenly in each other’s space. You’ve moved on and so have I.” At least she was trying to move on and not think about him. Now that she worked in the same building and for him, her emotional separation threatened to evaporate.

“Hey, you two,” Kasey shouted across the table. “Looking awfully serious.” She and few others shared a laugh at their expense.

“Laura is an old friend from my hometown in Maryland,” Chase explained.

Laura saw the sudden gleam in Kasey’s eyes as she glanced at him and then at her. To her horror, Kasey picked up her drink and practically ran over to them.

“Laura, some friend you are.” Kasey playfully punched Laura in the arm. “How could you keep this from me? To the famous Chase Westfield and Laura Masterson.” She grinned, her face looked as if she would burst before she had the first opportunity to tell the news.

“It was a long time ago.” Laura didn’t bother to look at Chase, not caring what his version would be.

“Looks like there may be some spark left.” Kasey signaled the waiter over and ordered another round. “Get this one a chardonnay, instead of a cola.”

Laura shook her head. “Cola, please.” She had a feeling that she’d be driving Kasey home. Now that her friend was getting comfortable, they probably weren’t going to the club. This change in plans suited her. As a matter of fact, she’d rather leave now to head home.

None of them spoke. Music blared. People poured in. The bar had gotten lively. And then the karaoke singing began. Laura seized the noisy distraction to grab her soda and head for an empty seat near the stage.

Soon she was laughing as a young man attempted to sing an Earth, Wind and Fire song. His attempt at the falsetto had her doubled over with tears rolling down her cheeks. Only after he’d left did she notice Kasey sitting next to her. She didn’t want to look for Chase, but did wonder where he’d disappeared to.

“I can see why you jumped on that.” Kasey slurped her drink. Laura knew it had to be at least the fourth or even fifth drink.

“Jumped on what?” Laura shot back, as if she didn’t know.

“I’d heard he wasn’t bad to look at, but up close, he’s good gosh almighty—darned beautiful.” Kasey laughed at her own comments.

Laura shrugged, knowing that her friend would be like a dog with a juicy bone.

Another wannabe-singer walked on to the stage and decided on a Mariah Carey song. During her butchering of a perfectly fine song, the crowd who had gotten into the swing showed no mercy. By the time the poor woman had ended, the crowd had split between full laughter and boos. Laura could never boo anyone, so she opted for the side-splitting laughter. She’d feel guilty later.

“Speak of the devil.” Kasey nudged her.

“What?” Laura looked over at Kasey, then followed her gaze. Chase stood on the stage.

What the heck was he doing up there? Chase may have been a spokesman for various products and used to cameras and fans, but voluntarily having the spotlight was so not him.

“Didn’t know he could sing. My, but this is a night filled with discoveries.” Kasey slurped her drink.

“For me, too,” Laura muttered under her breath. She settled back in the chair. There would be no laughing and certainly no booing. Chase had a voice that could’ve landed him a record contract if that was his passion. She glanced around for the waiter, deciding that she might need something stronger, after all.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Chase began. “I’d like throw a little old-school out at you.”

A roar went up from the crowd. Great. He won them over with no problem. When did he become such a ham? Back in the day, he only sang in church and once at his mother’s birthday.

“But first, I need my partner in crime with me. We never actually sang this, but we did roller skate to it when we were kids.”