The Barista

Yours

"Oh my God!" Abby cheers with drunken happiness. "I can't believe it's been this long since I've gotten drunk! I can feel my body floating in the clouds. Forget everything! And let's just do this forever! Woo!"

"We can't do this forever." My partially drunk brain argues with her. "We have a barista to fill up at some point."

She roars in laughter. "Are you just as drunk as me? You sound like...what is filling a barista up? You're a barista, Elle! And I'm pretty damn sure Liam would love to fill you up."

My eyes widen and I fight to catch the drink spitting out of my mouth. "Abby!" I snap playfully. "Stop! I'm not...he's not...this is not happening!"

"Oh, but it could!" She points behind me.
I spin around, bumping into the chest of no one other than...Liam. "Hi, there." He's quick to say.

"Hi!" I say while curling my lips into a wide smile. "I didn't expect to see you here."

His piercing eyes gaze deeply into mine. "I didn't think I'd see you either. And I'm surprised to see you. What are you doing here besides getting drunk?"

"Getting groped!" Abby interjects. "And it's me groping her."

He waves his eyebrows. "Yeah? I mean, I'm not going to argue with that."

I lower my eyebrows, narrowing my eyes with curiosity building inside of me. "Argue with what? Are you wanting to see Abby kiss me or some shit?"

He shrugs with an evil smirk. "I wouldn't be against it."

"Oh, you're sick." I joke. "You would want to see us kiss. But, sorry. It's not something that will ever happen."

"He's trying pretty hard," Abby adds leaning closer to me. "With how drunk I am, I'd almost do it...almost."

"Alight!" I interject, pushing my hands against her shoulder to keep her away. "Let's keep this PG Thirteen please."

Liam looks away with a smirk that almost tells me he's enjoying this. "Well, ladies. It's been fun. If you'd like to join me and Holten we are right over there in that booth."

He points toward the back of the bar, my eyes follow, and I see Holten drinking what looks like a glass of whiskey and another guy with him.

"Who's the guy?" I ask, moving a little closer to Liam to get a better view. "And the girl."

"Oh!" Abby interrupts with excitement. "Speaking of girl! Where the hell is your sister, Liam? I texted her an hour ago. I was hoping she'd hang out with us. We are about to do shots!"

"Shots?" Liam questions and I swear there is worry waving in his tone. "Don't you two think you've drunk enough?"

"I'm not drunk," I argue.

"No." He argues back. "But you're not sober either. And by the look of it...Abby doesn't need anything else to drink."

Abby drunkenly scoffs, sits back down, and slightly sways on the barstool. "Okay, Dad! Do you want to pay for my car note too? How about my flat rent? How about me shamble amble's!"

I quickly turn toward her drunken ass. "Abby! You're just giving him what he wants. And that's proof that we aren't capable of taking care of ourselves because we drink stupidly."

"Let's not forget, Elle." He brings my attention back to him. "You're the smartest person I know. Probably the smartest person alive. I'm sure you're smart enough to know not to ruin it in one night."

"You're not my boyfriend," I argue back, feeling something sizzle inside of me when I say that word...boyfriend...and it's a questionable sizzle.

"I never said I was." His deep and soft tone sends a shiver through me. "But if I was your boyfriend, I can guarantee you'd be here having fun but with limits."

I can't hold it back! "Ha! No one puts limits on me. I'm a grown-ass woman and this is my life. I only get to do this life once and I can guarantee no one ever will put limits on what I do."

Abby laughs. "Elle is the one person on this planet that will drop you, physically and mentally. Why do you think she is currently single? Does she need sex? Yeah! But it doesn't mean she needs a boyfriend for that. And you said it yourself. She's the smartest person on this planet. She can 'math' her way out of a friendship or relationship if she wants to!"

"Holy hell, brother!" Holten walks up, wrapping his arm around Liam's shoulders. "I've heard half of this conversation, and it makes me feel like I should run away. These two beautiful women are firing shots at you left and right. Don't mess with the genius and her friend. Especially when they've been drinking."

Liam inhales a deep breath, his eyes narrowing but calmness seems to cover his face. "All I said was..."

"I heard what you said, brother." Holten interrupts. "You and I both know you can never control a woman. They have too much power over us."

"Yes," I add. "We do."

What is the look Liam is giving me? His eyes are narrowed, and his nose is scrunched almost like he's mad. But he's also calm and looks like he's trying to read me or understand me. This man is confusing.

Liam's smile is warm and inviting. "This has been fun. But I think we need to get back to our table. I hope you...dominant women...have fun."

"Submissive much?" I ask softly and take another drink of my fruity concoction.

"No, Elle."

Okay, he sounded a little mad.

He exhales a defeated breath. "I am not submissive. I am very much so dominant. But I'm guessing you women are also dominant. That's why I said what I said. And in my relationships, I am dominant. I like to have control. But with control does not mean a bad thing. For me, it's a good thing for the women."

"How is it good?" I argue, sliding my glass toward the edge of the bar, alerting Robby I need another. "What good can come from a man being dominant?"

His nose flares as he exhales. "A lot. Everyone thinks when a man says he's dominant he's going to be mean and controlling. But that's not me."

I flash my eyebrows with amusement. "Coming from the guy that just said he'd have limits on how much I could drink. That sounds demanding."

He shakes his head, his jawline showing more than it was. "It's not how I meant it."

"You sure?" I question, knowing I'm getting under his skin. "Because it's exactly how you said it. And when a man says something like that, they usually mean it. I'm not dumb."

"We know that" Holten interjects. "And my sister just got here. Liam let's go back to the table and let these two ladies enjoy their night with our sister."

Liam is refusing to take his eyes off mine. But I am also refusing to take mine off his. There is a connection between us and that is obvious. But I'm trying to steer clear of the connection if he's controlling in any type of way and also the fact that I do not need a relationship right now.

"Ladies!" Rynna's bright and wide eyes remind me of why we met Liam and Holten in the first place. "It feels like forever!"

I nod while taking a drink and quickly set my glass back down.

"It does feel like forever!" I gleam with excitement. "I'm so glad to see you instead of your stubborn ass bother."

She flashes her eyebrows. "You mean the one that wishes he could have you? Let me get a drink and then we can talk. I have so much to tell you."

I raise an eyebrow, curiosityinstantly driving me wild. "I am all ears, Rynna."