Southern steel- Mack

11. Eden

3 months later

I walked into the bar happy to get into the warmth. I was not used to this cold weather. This winter was going to be terrible. The snow was coming down harder now than when I had left campus.

The last 3 months had flown by. I loved my classes. Iggy and I had hit it off. A couple 1-2 nights a week I would come help out at the bar. I would bartend and help Silas with some of the office work. Levi had become somewhat of a friend. He wasn't big on talking and that was fine by me. When he had something important to say he'd let you know.

While I was wiping down the bar, I noticed a girl on a date with a guy. I had been watching them off and on. They both looked just slightly older than me, maybe 22 or 23. He had been rude all night. Levi had noticed he was being an asshole and had taken over serving them. I watched as she leaned to get into her bag and took her eyes off her drink. The asshole then slipped something in her glass while she wasn't looking.

I caught Levi's eye as I rounded the bar and headed towards the girl just as she was picking up her drink. Levi furrowed his brow at me as I started yelling at him, "I'll clean the trash up from this table over here." I crashed into the girl spilling her drink over her and myself.

"What the fuck?!" I heard the guy holler.

"Oh my God I am so clumsy. I am so sorry. Let's get you to the restroom and clean ourselves up."

Levi met us by the restrooms down the hall. "What happened?"

"He slipped something in her drink when she wasn't watching. I got her. Can you handle him?" I seen the girl's eyes go wide.

"On it!" He said as he took off towards the scumbag.

I got the girl back to the office and got her one of the bar t-shirts we sell. "How well do you know the guy you're with?"

"It was a first date. We met at the coffee shop last week and he asked me out. He seemed nice. Tonight he has been kind of rude."

"Did you drive here?"

"No I took a taxi."

"Ok we're going to get you an Uber to take you home. Are you ok?"

"Yes, thanks to you! I can't believe it. I only took my eyes off my drink long enough to get my phone out of my purse."

"Unfortunately that's all it takes for assholes like him to strike. Let's get you home."

I let her change her shirt. I get her in the Uber and head back out to the main floor. "Where's the douchebag?" I ask Levi as I come up to the bar.

"Silas handled him. I don't think we have to worry about him coming back anytime soon."

"Good. There's a special place in hell for men like him. I'd hate to think what would've happened to that girl if he had been able to follow through with his plan. Something's never go away."

"Sometimes they just become a part of you." He says as he stares at me like he knows there is more to my story. "Hey, I teach self defense at a gym nearby once a week. If you're interested you should come by."

"I think I'd like that. Prez and Pops both showed me a few ways to protect myself when needed but nothing official. I'd love to take some classes. Plus it would be entertaining to just watch the ladies just swoon the entire time you're up there half naked and sweaty. Do the panties just drop, or do you all have them just leave them in the locker room to make things easier?"

He rolls his eyes at me. "I am not half naked when I teach."

"Bummer! I'm not as motivated to attend now."

"Get back to work, brat."

Titan and Wilder came to visit me for Christmas, then Cora and Pops surprised me by coming up for New years. I missed all of them, but I was loving the freedom I had here and the little community I had created. Iggy started taking the self defense classes with me, and we had gotten really close.

"I hate Valentine's Day!" I say as I help Levi clean up after class.

"No hot date tonight?" He says with a smirk.

"No hot date ever! Guys don't ask me out. I'm not really the type of girl guys want to date."

"Bull-fucking-shit!" He stops and stares at me. "Yea guys just hate smoke shows with brains and a great personality." He says sarcastically.

I stand there blushing. "I got baggage upon baggage. No one wants to deal with this."

"Only person who can deal with your baggage and unpack it is you. We all got some baggage we can't get rid of so we just have to find someone strong enough to help carry it with us."

"Yea, well I haven't met anyone who wants to try to carry it yet."

"Don't take this the wrong way but you kind of give off a don't fuck with me vibe. You're kind of intimidating until you get to know you."

"I guess when I keep getting hurt and let down by people my initial instinct is to protect myself."

"That's not you though. I've seen you. You worry about others and have a kind soul. Don't let other people's choices change you."

"I wouldn't even know how to date. I've never been on a date. I've had sex with one person, and he regretted it immediately."

"Well then he is a fucking dumbass."

We finish up and Levi walks me to my car. He goes to open my door and stops to stare at me. "When is your next night without a late class?"

"Thursday. Why?"

"I'm taking you out." He says with a grin. Yep should have left my panties in the locker room.

"Levi, we're friends and coworkers. I don't want to ruin that."

"It's not like that. I'm going to take you out and show you how you deserve to be treated. No expectations of a relationship or anything more. You've never had a guy treat you right, and I'm going to show you what it's like to be wooed."

I burst out laughing. "Ok woo away."

He leans in close to my ear, and I can feel his hot breath on my skin. "Oh prepare to be wooed." What. The. Fuck! I swear my ovaries just collapsed. They sighed then straight up collapsed. "Get in and lock your car Eden." I do as he says and get in as he walks to his car. He waits for me to pull out then he heads out of the parking lot.

Walking into my dorm room I see Iggy sitting with her legs crossed on the bed reading a book. "Iggy!" I scream.

She drops the book. " Jesus Christmas! What is wrong with you?"

"I need your help. Levi asked me out on a date. Well not an actual date but a friendly date."

"You've really lost me."

I spend the next little bit explaining to her what happened.

"We have to go shopping tomorrow after class." She says.

"Is that really necessary?"

"Of course it is. It's your first date, and you are going to look hot. I mean he called you a smoke show so we're going to give him a smoke show."

"Iggy, real talk, I'm kinda really nervous. I've never been on a date. I don't know how to act. What if he regrets asking me? What if he thinks I'm immature, and the date goes horribly?"

"Get out of your head. Any guy would be lucky to go out with you. You both already know each other, and it's going to be amazing." She hugs me tightly.

"Ok it's going to be amazing. Thank you Iggy."

"No problem. You'd do the same for me. Let's get to bed. We have a busy shopping day tomorrow."

"Night Iggy."

"Night smoke show" she says with a giggle.