I couldn't believe it when I found myself agreeing to marry my best friend that night.
**a ForthBeam short story**
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author...
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Rover stood out as the most tolerable nightclub in town. The crowd was noticeably more respectable and less prone to sneaking in with fake IDs, plus the servers weren't flaunting cleavage in their revealing outfits. It was my chance to choose the venue for our date, and even though we had been to a bar the previous night, this outing felt unique. I was aware of Beam's passion for dancing, and although Rancho's had music, it seemed like no one ever hit the dance floor.
I wasn't really into clubs, but I wanted Beam to enjoy himself, so I decided to tag along. Plus, I heard they had great scotch at the bar. Beam could dance to his heart's content while I sipped on some good whiskey.
The club had a chic and modern vibe, with a stylish black-and-white chevron tile bar and exposed brick walls. The lighting was cozy, with bulbs hanging at different heights from a beam above the bar. On the other side, there were comfy burgundy leather booths. Upstairs, there was a fancy bar area with music that was loud enough to set the mood but not overpowering.
A lengthy wrought iron railing extended beyond the bar, providing a view of the dance floor below. The lower level was illuminated by stylish aqua lights, creating a trendy and otherworldly ambiance. Despite the early hour, the venue was already bustling with a crowd.
We hadn't reached the dance floor yet, choosing instead to indulge in plenty of alcohol before joining the crowd. We began with a few beers, but soon switched to stronger drinks. As I continued to drink, I felt myself becoming more at ease, my muscles loosening under jack Daniel's gentle influence.
I discreetly tilted my head and whispered, "Hey, that guy has been staring at you ever since we arrived." I gestured towards the strange person lingering near the bar.
Beam's eyes followed my gaze and settled on the person who was openly intrigued by him. With a chuckle, Beam revealed, "Oh, that's Pluem."
"Who the hell is Pluem? Your secret admirer?" The ambiance in the bar was dimly lit, but from what I could make out, he appeared to be one of those dubious used-car dealers or a questionable private detective.
"Nah, he's just a guy I went on a few dates with a couple of months back."
"Jesus Christ, Beam. Please do not tell me you let that guy fuck you."
Beam shrugged. "Okay. I won't."
"Goddamn, really? That guy?"
"What? He knows what he's doing."
"He looks like a fucking creep. I wouldn't let that guy near my truck, much less my dick."
Beam glanced at Pluem, then turned to me. "Really? He's tall, dark, and handsome, and you wouldn't believe what's under those clothes. Don't judge a book by its cover."
I highly doubted that.
The man noticed us staring and casually waved at us.
"I'm just going to go say hello." I observed as Beam placed his drink on the bar and walked across the room towards the man who was staring at him with a predatory look. He smiled when Beam approached him, his grin slick. Finishing my drink, I placed my glass on the bar and patiently waited for the bartender to come back and pour me another. While waiting, I examined Pluem, concentrating on his features in the faint light, attempting to understand what Beam found appealing about him.
