Close to you

Chapter 8

It’s Thursday. My first day of work at The Brig. My shift starts at 6:00pm, which is barely over an hour away. I check myself in the mirror before leaving the hotel room. I decided on wearing my skinny jeans, black bodysuit and tan wedges. I left my hair down and added a few curls to the ends. Phone check. Keys check. Purse check. I walk out the door ready to get this night started.

The bar is crowded with people as I walk inside. Jordan spots me right away but he seems rather busy. 

“Hey Callie!” He shouts. “I’ll meet you over by the bar in just a few minutes to get you settled in.” 

“Ok, Sounds great. I’ll go put my stuff down.” I say, loud enough he can hear me over all the noise. 

The bar is crowded with people. Within 20 minutes of Jordan showing me the ropes the place is so chaotic he ends up staying behind the bar to help send out orders and drinks. Between the two of us we could barely keep up with all the traffic of the evening. I watch as Cody walks into the bar with a group of people. A deep black haired woman hangs all over him as they walk through the bar. Cody sees Jordan at the bar and heads straight to him. I turn to keep my eyes focused away from them and continue making drinks. When I turn around to hand a couple their order, Cody locks eyes with me.

He slides down the bar towards me. “Hey. I didn’t see you standing there.” He says, coolly.

“Hey.” I returned with a small smile. 

He smiles back with a mischievous grin. “Jordan! Callie needs to take a 5 minute break. She will be right back.” 

I look down at Jordan, who winks and waves us on. Cody pulls me around the corner of the bar into the darkened hallway. 

“Hey.” He says with the same cool tone. “What time do you get off tonight?”

“I won’t be off until after midnight.” I quietly say.

“Hmm..” He moans and places his hand on my lower back. He pulls me against his body. My insides spark as I feel his heated body against mine. “Kiss me already,” I think as I become impatient waiting for his lips to touch mine. He slowly slides his hand on the nape of my neck. I wrap my arm around his neck and place my hand on his chest before crashing my lips onto his. He teases me with his mouth, barely letting our lips touch. He swipes his tongue gently over my lips, building the desire before claiming control over me.  My head falls back allowing his lips to move down my neck towards the top of my breast. My skin tingles with every touch. 

“Damn.” Cody exhales.

I nod, unable to catch my breath. The way my body reacts to his touch is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Cody grabs my hand and walks us back to the bar where we find Jordan and Rose talking.

I freeze, remembering her reaction to seeing us together at the hotel the other night. She stares at us both with an unreadable expression on her face. 

“Jordan, let’s play a game of pool.” Cody says, releasing my hand.

“Ok. I’ll be back here in a little while.”Jordan tells both Rose and Myself.

“Hey, Callie.” Rose says, twirling her straw in her drink.

“Hey.” I hesitantly respond. I should be able to talk to my best friend about this but I’m not sure why she seems so put off about the idea of me and Cody.

“What were you and Cody doing?” Rose blatantly asks.

“Hmm..” I hesitantly respond. 

“Didn’t you and Cody just come from the back room? Just the two of you?” She questions. Why does this conversation feel like an interrogation?

“Yeah, it was just the two of us. We were just talking.” I lied.

“Really?Just talking?” She clearly doesn’t believe me. “You just need to be careful around him. He isn’t the type to settle down. If you know what I mean.” She states. 

“Yeah. I understand.” I nod.

“I’m just not sure you can handle the situation. I know when I was hanging out with him, he would only call or come around during booty call hours. I mean don’t get me wrong he is a great guy. Just not the type of guy you want to fall in love with.” Rose nonchalantly says.

“I didn’t realize you two were a thing? I would have never even let the thought cross my mind if I would have known there was history there. It all just started happening.” I say, completely taken back.

“Oh no, please feel free. He is old news. We never dated, just hung out a few things. Now, of course we are just friends.” She turns to look back at the guys. “Anyways, I’m going to tell Jordan bye then head to my house. See you tomorrow?” She asks.

“Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I’m completely caught off guard.

I watch Rose walk over to Jordan to hug and kiss him goodbye. Cody comes back to the bar to give them space and refill his and Jordan’s drinks.

“Callie.” Cody says getting my attention. “Can I walk you to your car when your shift is over?” 

“Yeah.” I tell Cody. “Actually, I have a question real fast.” Cody nods, waiting for me to continue. “Did you and Rose ever date or hang out?”

Cody looks shocked. “I never dated or hooked up with Rose. I think we might have made out once in a drunken coma but it was never anything more than that.”

“Ok, well I wasn’t sure. She just mentioned something about the two of you and I just wanted to ask.” I explained.

“It was nothing and a long time ago.” Cody says. “I promise.” For some reason I completely trust every word he says.

“Callie.” Jordan yells from the pool table. “Shifts over. Head on out lady. I’ll see you soon.” 

“Thanks Jordan. See you later.” I responded back. 

“Let me walk you to your car, please.” He grabs ahold of my hand as I gather my stuff.

We walk up the hill to my grab, holding hands the entire way. When we finally reach my car he opens the door for me. “Can I see you again soon?” He nearly begs.

“Yes.” I desperately say as I reach down into my car grabbing a pen. I look directly into his eyes and flip over his hand to write my number across his palm. As soon as the pen stops, he leans over the car door and kisses me goodnight.