Chapter 2

Later that evening they were both getting ready to go out. Lindsay was in the bathroom applying make-up and Casey was rifling through her and Lindsay's clothes to find something to wear.

"I can't believe you picked 'Coyote Ugly'," Lindsay yelled from the bathroom.

"Why not? You know me I like to dance. And besides I've never been there and I've always wanted to go. I can't believe you asked Danny to come. You do know there's gonna be a bunch of girls half-dressed, don't you?" Casey replied as she pulled on a halter top.

"I know, but maybe it will be a good test," they both laughed.

"Let's hope he passes." Casey walked over to the bathroom doorway. "How do I look?"

Lindsay looked at Casey's halter top and short jean skirt she had picked. "Like you're gonna go strip."

"Thanks," Casey lightly slapped Lindsay's arm. "And you look like you're going to work. Let me help you."

Casey compromised and put on a pair of cropped jeans and a sleeveless shirt, and a pair of wedge sandals. Lindsay compromised and put on a knee-length jean skirt and a short-sleeve flannel shirt, and a pair of cowboy boots.

They stood side-by-side and looked into the full-length mirror on the closet door. "Ok, now we look good," Casey stated and they both giggled.

They hailed a cab in front of Lindsay's building and rode to the "Coyote Ugly Saloon" on First Avenue.

When they pulled in front of the building they saw Danny standing in line to get in. The girls joined him. Then about a minute later, Don came walking toward them. They all exchanged "hellos." Danny and Don started talking to each other. Casey and Lindsay were standing behind them.

Casey elbowed Lindsay. "I didn't know he was coming. Who invited him?"

"I guess Danny did. Just calm down it'll be fine."

When they got inside, the place was packed with people. And the music was loud. There were three girls dancing on the bar.

"I wanna see you get up there and do that." Danny yelled to Lindsay over the music.

Lindsay just shook her head. Casey leaned over to Danny. "Just pump some alcohol into her and she'll do it."

Casey asked all of them what they wanted to drink and she pushed her way up to the bar. When she got her turn to order, she disregarded what her companions had requested and she order four shots of tequila. As she made her way back to the tall table, she held the drinks above her head.

"Uh, I asked for a beer," Danny said as she set the shots down.

"Me, too," Don and Lindsay said almost in unison.

"I know, but this will get the job done a little faster. Don't be scared." She winked at Lindsay knowing what kind of reaction she had to tequila, and downed her drink.

Danny and Don followed suit and they all looked at Lindsay. "You're crazy," she yelled to Casey, and she threw back the shot and slammed down her glass. The other three applauded.

"Now, you can have a beer," Casey said.

"I know what you're trying to do, missy."

Casey's eyes widened. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Two beers later, Casey reached her hand across the table and put it on Lindsay's arm. "Come on, babe, me and you have a date with the bar." She got off of her stool and went around the table to Lindsay. Casey grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the bar. Danny and Don just laughed.

Casey yelled up to the girls on the bar and asked if they could come up. Lindsay was still protesting. She was sober enough to know she really didn't want to get up there.

Casey stepped up onto the bar and Lindsay followed. "Buttons" by the Pussy Cat Dolls came on and all the girls on the bar started dancing. After a few seconds, Lindsay forgot she was standing on a bar, in front of a crowd of people and her boyfriend, and she started to enjoy herself. This was what she loved most about Casey that she brought out the fun, crazy side of her.

Danny was laughing at first when Lindsay started dancing because she looked mortified. Now he was watching her with much lust and passion.

Don turned to him. "Who knew Lindsay had this side to her." They both laughed. "It must be a side she only shows with Casey around."

"Yeah. And how about that Casey? She's kind of hot, huh?"

"Yeah," Don smirked, "not bad."

After a couple more songs, the girls made their way back to the table. They each had a glass of water.

"Well, Montana, where'd you learn how to shake it like that?" Danny asked and both of the girls laughed.

Lindsay looked at Casey. "Casey taught me everything I know."

"I take no credit. It's the alcohol…wait no it is me." She laughed.

Twenty minutes later they were all walking out of the saloon. It had been almost three hours of loud music and dancing. They all had had a great time.

Don recommended that they walk, at least for a couple blocks to get some air. Danny and Lindsay were walking behind Don and Casey.

"So, you and Lindsay have known each other for a while. I can tell she's comfortable with you. She never acts like that around us, even when we go out."

"We're both just really comfortable with each other. She's my best friend, and I love her to pieces. You and Danny are pretty close too I hear."

"Yeah, he's alright. I've been slightly phased out since he and Lindsay have started dating."

"Hey, it's not all bad. He could live all the way across the country."

"Very true. Is that hard?"

"Yeah, especially when something really great happens. Before she left I would just drive straight to her place and tell her all about it, now she's the first person I call." Casey laughed. "Or I just call her for nothing."

"You're gonna laugh at me, but I call my mom when something great happens, or when something bad happens."

"I won't laugh at you. I do the same thing. To be honest, it's good to know there are still guys who actually like their moms." She smiled at him. "What about your dad?"

"Ugh, my dad is kind of hard to talk to. He's a retired detective. So, when I started at the NYPD I had to live in his shadow for a while. He's a good guy, just not a great dad. You got brothers or sisters?"

"Yeah, I've got a younger brother, he's eighteen. And an older sister, she's 30. My brother was kind of an after-thought. What about you?"

"I got two older sisters."

"That explains it."

"Explains what?"

"Why you get along well with your mom. If you had brothers you'd probably get a long better with your dad. I mean that's just my interpretation. Personally, I'm Daddy's little girl and my brother is a Mama's boy."

"What about your sister?"

"She's somewhere in between, I guess."

"So, what does Daddy's little girl do for work?"

"I'm an editor for a small magazine. I like it. It pays the bills." She turned and looked at Danny and Lindsay, they were holding hands and Lindsay had her head on his shoulder.

"Would you much rather be doing something else?"

"Yeah, I wanna write. I do it for fun, for myself now, but to get my stories out there for others to critique I don't know if I could do that."

"I guess you would just have to be confident in your work enough to get it out there." He turned toward her and smiled. The lights caught his blue eyes.

Danny yelled to them and they both stopped. "Hey guys I think we need to get Lindsay home. I thought the fresh air would help, but it's not." He said when he and Lindsay caught up to them.

"Ok, I'll take her home," Casey said and Don got them a cab. Danny put Lindsay in the backseat as Casey and Don said goodbye. "I had a lot of fun. I hope we get to hang out again before I go home."

"Oh, I'm sure we will." Don replied and Casey got in the cab.