"Hello," a deep, male voice said behind her. Monica turned slowly on her bar stool to come face-to-chest a man leaning on the bar, next to her stool. She looked up to his face. "I'm Aaron," he said.
"Hello," Monica replied, rather coolly. She wasn't in the mood to be hit on, even if he was good looking. She'd had a helluva a week at work, so far and wasn't in the mood for anymore bullshit.
Aaron gave her a full once over, not even trying to hide the fact he was checking her out. "Can I buy you a drink?" Aaron asked after a few awkward seconds.
Monica held up her half full glass with a forced smile. "I'm good. Thanks."
"You're not here by yourself, are you?" he asked, leaning casually against the bar.
Monica shook her head slightly. "I'm meeting my boyfriend," she lied. "He should be here any minute."
Aaron casually glanced around the bar. "He's not here now though."
Monica couldn't believe the nerve of this guy. She gave him an annoyed smile. "Not interested," she said. She turned partially away from Aaron, not wanting to completely turn her back on him. She could feel him lingering behind her.
A minute later, Monica watched from the corner of her eye as Aaron straightened up and slowly walked to the other end of the bar and sat down with a couple other guys sitting there. She turned back to face the bar again and took a sip of her drink.
"Hey there," a familiar voice behind her said.
She relaxed and smiled. She knew she was being watched from the end of the bar and better put on a show. She turned and slid her arms around Jack's neck, holding onto him. "You're my boyfriend," she whispered in his ear.
"Ok," he whispered back with a smile and returned her hug, then gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
Monica had known Jack since his family had moved next door to her family, twelve years earlier. He was three years older than herself and his sister, Carrie. Jack was like the big brother she had never had. She had befriended his sister, Carrie, while they were in junior high, before she got to know Jack. Monica and Carrie had spent many hours laughing and talking as they grew up and Jack was just the big brother to both of them. Jack was six feet, five inches tall, brown hair with hazel eyes – he tended to stop girls in their tracks with his heart melting smile. He had left a series of heartbroken girls in his path through high school, college and since then. She considered him her best friend.
Jack sat down on the stool next to Monica's, so they sat knee to knee. "Which one is bothering you?" he asked her quietly, after he had ordered a beer and the bartender had set it down in front of him.
"Blue shirt at the end of the bar with the two other guys," Monica said without looking the guy's direction.
Jack looked down the bar over the lip of his glass. "I see him," Jack said a few seconds later, setting his glass on the bar.
Monica smiled. "I think he's pretty harmless."
Jack covered Monica's hand with his. "Rough day? You look tired."
Monica nodded and turned her hand over to hold onto his. She looked up at Jack and smiled weakly. "Yeah, just lots going on at work this week."
He gave her a weak smile. "Hence why you wanted to meet for a drink."
"Yes, I need to unwind a little," Monica answered simply. The bartender set a glass in front of Monica. She looked at Jack. "I didn't want another one."
