You & I
One
ELIZA'S POV
I need a strong drink.
Pushing through the door to a bar in town, I head straight for the counter and set my purse down. I've been at the world's worst conference all day and I'm not sure how I survived. The guy presenting...boring. By boring, I mean I wanted to cut my eyeballs out with a rusty spoon. I know it's a requirement of my job, but the thought of going back there tomorrow is only depressing me even more.
Like, would the boss know if I didn't show up? Does he have someone watching me? It's highly unlikely but I'm not the kind of person who doesn't show at meetings. I'm not the person who throws caution to the wind, doing her own thing. I'm there. I'm on time. I don't take a single sick day. I'm part of the company and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Catching the bartender's attention, he gives me a smile and throws a towel over his shoulder. "Not seen you in here before…"
"Visiting." I smile. "Conference downtown."
"Ah." He nods. "And now you need a large drink?"
"Oh yeah." Laughing, I pull myself up on a stool. "Scotch."
Disappearing, he prepares my drink and I relax back in my seat. This bar is a little crowded but it's only a small town. One I'm not sure anyone has left in the last twenty years. They seem very...set in their ways.
"Scotch." The bartender returns, setting a napkin down, followed by my drink. "Enjoy."
"Thank you." Taking a sip, I swivel in my seat, taking in the crowd around me. Most are casually dressed but a few are more...formal, maybe?
The sound of a track playing, a round of cheers and applause sound out, my brow furrowing. Sitting back and taking in the music, I cross my legs and tap my fingers on my thigh.
"What's going on here tonight?" I ask a guy standing next to me.
"Karaoke night." He shrugs. "You interested?"
"Oh, no." I shake my head, laughing. "I'll leave it to the professionals."
"You won't find any professionals in here, sweetheart." Taking his beer, he leaves the space beside me and disappears through the crowd. A blonde-haired woman climbing onto the small stage across the room, my attention is now fully on her.
It's been a long time since I came around
Been a long time but I'm back in town
And this time I'm not leaving without you
You taste like whiskey when you kiss me oh
I'd give anything again to be your baby doll
This time I'm not leaving without you
Okay, she's interesting. Interesting and hot. Sure, she looks kinda hammered but she's certainly holding my attention. There's no doubt about that. Narrowing my eyes slightly, my eyes trail her body, those black form-fitting jeans doing everything for her ass.
He said, "Sit back down where you belong
In the corner of my bar with your high heels on
Sit back down on the couch where we
Made love the first time and you said to me,"
There's...
Something, something about this place
Something, something, 'bout lonely nights
And my lipstick on your face
Something, something about my cool Nebraska guy
Yeah, there's something about, baby, you and I
Clearing my throat when my body temperature rises, her eyes find mine and my mouth runs dry. Why is she staring? How has she even noticed me? I mean, there's no one sitting behind me so it's me her eyes are on. God, she's hot.
It's been two years since I let you go
I couldn't listen to a joke or a Rock and Roll
Muscle cars drove a truck right through my heart
On my birthday you sang me "Heart of Gold"
With a guitar humming and no clothes
This time I'm not leaving without you
Throwing me a wink, my mouth hangs open as her eyes return to the screen in front of her. Her crisp white shirt partially open, I catch a glimpse of her black bra as she turns side on, my inability to form a thought causing me problems.
He said, "Sit back down where you belong
In the corner of my bar with your high heels on
Sit back down on the couch where we
Made love the first time and you said to me,"
There's...
There's something, something about this place
Something, something, 'bout lonely nights
And my lipstick on your face
Something, something about my cool Nebraska guy
Yeah, there's something about, baby, you and I
The blonde's eyes finding mine again, I take my scotch glass between my lips and watch her over the rim of it. If I don't do something to hide my mouth, I'm likely to drool. That wouldn't be good. Her mouth curling into a smile, I lower my glass and return one of my own. Her eyes holding mine longer than previously, I'm struggling to look anywhere but directly into them. Wow.
You and I
You, you and I
You, you and I
You, you and I, I
You and I
You, you and I
Oh yeah, well, I'd rather die
Without you and I, I
C'mon! Put your drinks up!
We got a whole lot of money, but we still pay rent
'Cause you can't buy a house in Heaven
There's only three men that I'ma serve my whole life
It's my daddy, and Nebraska, and Jesus Christ
There's…
Okay, I don't like this. I don't like how she's just up there being so forward and flirty. I don't flirt in bars, especially not with women I've never spoken two words to. This is wrong but God, she's making me feel good. Aroused, too.
Something, something, something about the chase
Six whole years
I'm a New York woman born to run you down
Still want my lipstick all over your face
Something, something about
Just knowing when it's right
So put your drinks up, for Nebraska
For Nebraska, Nebraska, I love ya
You and I
You, you and I
Baby, I'd rather die
Without you and I, I
You and I
You, you and I
Nebraska, I'd rather die
Without you and I, I
Her ass resting against a speaker on the stage, the mysterious blonde crosses her legs at the ankles, her black heels catching my attention. Staring directly at me, a slight smirk on her mouth, she takes a breath and ends her song.
It's been a long time since I came around
Been a long time, but I'm back in town
And this time I'm not leaving without you
The crowd roaring, I drop my gaze and toy with the glass in my hands. I don't know what the hell her game is, but I need to take a moment to calm my breathing. I need to take a moment to finish my drink and leave. No good can come from flirting with the hot blonde, in a bar, in the middle of nowhere. None.
Knocking back the remainder of my drink, I set the glass down on the bar and slip from my stool. Taking my purse, I fix it on my shoulder and turn to leave.
"Going somewhere?" Her voice a little raspy from singing, the blonde clears her throat and tries again. "I mean, it's only early…"
"Have to be up early tomorrow." I smile. "Great voice."
"Wanna dance?"
"Oh, no thanks." I hold up my hand. "I don't dance."
"How does someone like you not dance?" The unknown blonde raises her eyebrow. "Maybe you should give it a try…"
"Thanks, but it's time for me to head off."
"Arizona…" She says. "Robbins."
"Nice to meet you, Arizona Robbins." I smile, turning on my heel. "Goodnight."
"Hey!" She follows me through the crowd and out onto the street. "I didn't catch your name." She grips my wrist.
"Why do you need to know my name?" I ask, my forehead creasing. "I'll never see you again…"
"Well, that sucks." She leans back against the wall, her arms folded across her chest. "You know, I'm only staying around the corner."
Um…
"Did you want me to walk you to your hotel, or?" I don't know why I've just offered to do that, but I don't know what else she wants me to say. "You seem perfectly capable…"
"Depends." Arizona pushes off the wall, closing the distance. "Are you joining me for a drink back at my room?"
God, I want to. I want to, but I shouldn't.
"I don't think that's a good idea." I give her a knowing look. "And you're drunk."
"Maybe we could be drunk together?"
"Maybe you should head back and sleep." I snort. "I'm really not interesting."
"Funny." She shrugs. "You seemed interested before."
"My bad." I give her a sad smile. "I was just humoring you."
"I could really use some more humoring." Leaning in, Arizona's breath washes over the side of my face. "What have you got to lose?"
My sanity?
"Fine. I'll have a drink with you." I agree. "But in the hotel bar. Not your room."
Settled at a table in the window of the hotel bar, Arizona is sitting opposite me, her eyes fixed firmly on mine. I don't know this woman and I don't believe I ever will, so sitting here feels kinda odd. I mean, what do we even talk about? I'm out of here in a few days so anything we do talk about is kinda pointless.
"You're not from here…" She says, breaking the silence.
"Neither are you." I sip my scotch.
"Good observation." Her smile reaching her ears, I'm not sure another woman has ever looked at me the way she is. "So, where is home?"
"New York." I set my glass down. "You?"
"Oh, I'm here, there and everywhere." She shrugs. "Never fixed to one place."
"What do you do?"
"Marketing consultant." She replies.
"Nice." I nod slowly. "Finance for me."
"Mm, you seem like a finance kinda woman." She smirks.
"Okay, I don't even know what that means." I furrow my brow.
"I didn't mean anything by it. You just seem like a businesswoman. Someone who has her head firmly screwed on."
"You don't?"
"Depends what mood I'm in." Arizona sits forward, her elbows resting on the table between us. "I'm here for a conference so I like to let my hair down…"
"Then I guess we're here for the same reason. Minus the drink." I smile "I'm here for the conference too."
"Good to know." She takes her bottom lip between her teeth. "Guess I'll be seeing you around."
"Oh, I don't know about that." I shake my head. "I like to relax during the evenings."
"You really need to loosen up…" Arizona rolls her eyes. "You know, it's rude to share a drink with someone and not tell them your name."
"Eliza." I sigh. "My name is Eliza."
"Beautiful." Arizona finally relaxed, sinking back in her seat. "Thought you'd never give it up."
"What is your game exactly?"
"My game?" She laughs, knocking back the remainder of her drink. "Why do you assume I have a game?"
"Because you're paying a ridiculous amount of attention to me," I say. "You don't know me, yet here you are...flirting."
"Is it against some law to flirt with a beautiful woman?"
"No." I laugh. "But you've really got this wrong if that's what you believe. I'm not who you want to spend your time with."
"You sound kinda sure about that."
"I am." I nod. "Thank you for the drink but I should really head up to my room." Standing, I take my purse from the chair beside me and back up a little. "Enjoy the rest of your evening."
"Hey, don't leave." She furrows her brow. "Stay. Talk. Be beautiful."
"Goodnight, Arizona." Turning, I head for the elevator and press the call button. Relieved when the doors open, I step inside and hit the fifth-floor button.
"Wait up!" Arizona rushes inside the elevator carriage, standing beside me. "Sorry, I figured I'd leave too."
"Sure, yeah." I clear my throat, her scent overpowering the entire elevator. Shifting closer to me, she leans back against the wall and sighs. "You're at the conference tomorrow, too?" I ask, the silence too much to take.
"Yeah. Headed home Thursday."
"Well…" I step forward, expecting the elevator to stop at my floor any moment now. "It was great meeting you, Arizona."
"Eliza…" The blonde steps forward, invading my personal space, her hand settling on my lower back.
"Yeah?" My heart rate soars.
Her arm wrapping around my waist, the elevator suddenly stops and I find Arizona in front of me, pushing me back against the wall of the carriage. Her hands braced either side of my head, she leans in, her lips pressing hard against mine. "I think you're really beautiful…"
"Oh god." I swallow hard. "Y-You just kissed me."
"I did." Her nose brushes mine as she smiles against my mouth. "And I really need to do it again."
"We shouldn't."
I know I want to, but why put us through this for a night of needy sex? I'm not likely to ever see her again and I know the moment I take this to either of our hotel rooms, I'll become attached. As much as I'd love to spend the night with Arizona, I learned my lesson some time ago.
Pulling back, Arizona gives me a nod, a sadness evident in her eyes. Hitting a button on the elevator, the power returns and it continues to move upward. "I'm sorry." She stands on the opposite side of the carriage. "I shouldn't have done that."
"It's okay." I straighten myself out. "Just…it would be a mistake."
"How?" She whispers, her eyes closing as she rests her head back against the carriage. "How can it be a mistake when it feels right?"
"It does…" The reminder of her lips on my own, it felt so right.
The elevator coming to a stop, I glance up at the floor number and a sadness settles within me. I know this is wrong and I know it shouldn't be happening, but Arizona is right. What have I got to lose?
"Come on…" I take her hand, the doors opening. "I have a bottle of scotch in my room. I think we both need it."
"Yeah?" Arizona's eyes brighten. "I mean, don't feel obliged."
"Just…move your ass." I pull her out into the corridor. "Mine or yours?"
"Well, you have the scotch, so?"
"Figured." I roll my eyes playfully.
I'm totally out of my comfort zone here, but I don't know what else to do. She kissed me and now I need more. Wrong, I know…but it's been so long since I felt another woman's touch. It's been so long since I had attention like this. Would I be stupid to let it go? I believe I would. Honestly, I don't know the next time anyone will look at me how Arizona does. She's something else, that's for sure.
Sliding my keycard down the door, it fails the first time and I sigh.
"You want me to try?" Arizona's arms wrap around my waist, her lips pressing to my neck. "I have good hands…"
"I don't doubt that." I whimper, her body pressing me against the door. "But I've got it."
"And I don't doubt that…" She smirks, her teeth tugging my earlobe. "You know you wanna head inside here." Arizona smiles. "So, you should really hurry this up."
"A-Arizona." My breath catches, her hand slipping beneath my shirt.
"Mm…"
"N-Nothing."
Thanks for reading, guys. Reviews are welcome and appreciated as always.