Pack Lands

Chapter 6 Rebound

The bar was emptier than usual that morning. Even quieter that afternoon. The weather had turned suddenly on her return to town and Alexis hugged her arms around her cold body to try and warm up. She stayed behind the bar all day, checking stock, cleaning counters, and feeling utterly useless. She felt drained - not herself. She tried to talk herself up, tried to find a way to make her heart ache a little less. She was pining over a man who evidently had lost interest in her after a noticeably short time, but she could not stop herself. Maybe missing out on all those blind dates that had never happened were better than this? She never took any of it personally because they had never met her. But this rebuff was particularly hurtful to her.

Around dinner time the bar started to fill up slowly. A few of her regulars filed in and greeted her before getting settled into their usual spots. They were back to their usual distant selves and it did nothing to help her already dampened mood. Staff went across to take their orders and she was left to man the bar alone for a few minutes. She had learned that on days that she was exceptionally emotional, that she was happy for the distraction of mundane tasks. Pour a drink, take the cash, make change. Her brain settled into the steady work and she slowly relaxed. The room buzzed with chatter and it gave her the energy to carry on.

She felt a shift of energy in the bar, noticed her regulars looking toward the bar, felt a heightened tension in the air. But it was gone as quickly as it had arrived. She played it off as her heightened emotional state and decided to focus back on her work. Her next customer beckoned her and ordered his drink. He sat at the edge of the bar, leaning toward her, speaking softly enough that she had to lean in to hear him. She had not even noticed him there until he called to her to order. She got a whiff of his cologne and it reminded her of Deacon. Strong. Masculine. Attractive. She looked up to appraise the man who left her longing for someone else’s company and was surprised to note that he was worth the second glance. He was not conventionally good looking, all hard angles and lean sinew, but his eyes were so green they almost glowed. He caught her giving him the once over and laughed, pointing his finger mockingly at her.

“Look at a man that way,” he said, “and you’re inviting him to do more than just look back”.

Alexis smirked. What was it about cocky men? This was the last thing she needed tonight. She was in a reckless mood and he was throwing fuel onto her fire. She handed over his drink and moved to serve the next customer, but before she could, he had lightly grabbed her hand.

“Don’t go. Don’t leave me all alone, Beautiful” he practically purred.

He lifted her hand to his lips and placed a chaste kiss on her upturned palm. Then he smiled. He was conceited, arrogant and more than a little dangerous considering her current mood. Something about the look he gave her would usually make her back away – she was not the risk taker of her group by any means. But usually, she did not feel this way. She watched as two of her regulars approached the bar – 2 of the same guys who had spent time at Pack Lands while she was there and had proceeded to suddenly revert to sombre silence on their return to the bar that day.

“Is he bothering you Alexis?”

“Would you like him to leave?”

They both turned to her for a reply, using the opportunity to pry her hand out of his and push themselves between her and the stranger, making it clear they did not feel she could handle the situation herself. Alexis instantly prickled. Not only could she look after herself, but she would not be dictated to by a bunch of men who had until now not shown any more interest in her than to try and walk her to her car and more than likely look down on her and ridicule her advances behind her back. She could do what she wanted when she wanted and with whomever she wanted to. And if it took some stranger to make her feel wanted, then let it be so. Let the cards fall where they may. She was feeling defiant.