Strangers in the Night ▸ Javi Rivera

2

Last minute plans to cross over 500 miles of road from Arkansas to Texas proved to be a bit of a challenge. Luna could have taken the direct bus, boarding in Little Rock and going straight to San Antonio, but that one included a wait of three days before she could actually get going. And she was much too impatient for that. The other option was catching a bus to Dallas where she'd have to stay a night before catching another the next morning, and being in San Antonio by the early afternoon.

And that was what she did.

Which was how she ended up here and now, sitting at the bar which was across the boring as fuck motel she was spending the night in, glaring at the stranger leaning against the wood in front of her, very much invading her personal space after multiple nos.

"C'mon, a girl like you shouldn't be spending the night alone in a dangerous neighborhood like this." Luna was no stranger to men hitting on her at a bar. Hell, until yesterday, she'd worked at one. She was more than used to it. And she wasn't opposed to having fun when they put in some actual effort. Unlike this guy whose sleazy appearance was only outmatched by his sleazy lines.

And to make matters worse, the woman's eyes widened as she watched him take off his cowboy hat, arm reaching around her before he tried to put it on her head next. Now that earned him a sharp shove and the heel of her cowboy boots smashing against his foot. "You put that hat one me, and I ain't gonna be ridin' your dick, I'm gonna be cuttin' it off. Got that?" She asked in a sharp tone as he groaned in pain.

"Fuck's sake you're nuts!" The man exclaimed, earning himself a sickly sweet smile from the brunette.

"Yeah, best remember it." She said, her voice turning into a low mutter as he didn't even wait for it to finish before scurrying off with a limp, Luna sending him a mocking wave when he glanced back before shaking her head and returning back to her seat, frowning down at the empty glass in front of her as she debated ordering another drink or just calling it a night.

"Damn," A voice speaking up from her other side had Luna's brown eyes snapping over to the stranger now standing there, not even having noticed his approach. "And here I was coming over to save a damsel in distress." He said with a smile on his face, the words making Luna herself laugh.

"I grew up with two brothers." She revealed. "They made sure real early I'd never be one of those."

"Well, then at least let me buy your next drink to make up for underestimating you." The stranger offered, making her fix him with a questioning look as her eyebrow raised.

"You just watch me brutally turn down one guy and you think... Time to take my shot at her?" She couldn't help the small tinge of disbelief that coated her voice. At least he had the guts, she had to give him props for that. The rest... that was to be determined.

"It was intimidating, I won't lie." He said with a nod of his head, chuckling as a small glint of pride flashed in her eyes. "But beauty sometimes still has the power to outweigh intimidation." The line now had laughter bursting from her lips as she shook her head at the man.

"Okay, okay, I'll give it to ya. That one's new." She said honestly. Usually when she shot one guy down, the line of those trying would dwindle drastically, if not disappear fully. Because she was never gentle about it.

"So what are you having?" The stranger stayed persistent, hand rising into the air and waving down a bartender who gave them both questioning looks as he came over. And for a few moments, Luna left them both hanging, debating the choice before making her decision.

"I'll have a glass of your most expensive bourbon." She announced, never looking to the bartender as she stayed focused on the man next to her as she spoke, her eyes giving him a small look of challenge to which he let out a small laugh.