This is an excerpt that occurs about two-thirds of the way through the first book of the Field Series. You're being introduced to Desiree, Jay, Al, and Aubrey who will have their own leads in books two and three. I began writing Logan and Simone's story back in November of 2015 and they are very much close to my heart. I hope you enjoy it.
The City Bar. It's a bit difficult for me to not want to avoid the place like the plague... The last time I was here I was alone-- so lonely, in a new place and in a completely different state of mind. Tonight? Well, I'm just hoping for a better night.
Desiree texted saying that she and Bree would be late but they were already at the bar when I arrived. I would have been perfectly on time had I not decided to straighten my hair at the last minute. I could pretend that I don’t know what’s gotten into me but there is a one pretty simple, six-foot-five, explanation for that.
After only five minutes of waiting at the entrance-- and the several rounds of Rock-Paper-Scissors that Des had coerced me into playing, did I look up to see Logan, Jay, and Al turn the corner of the bar trailing a herd of guys also, obviously, from the team. When Logan catches sight of me, I still find it hard to believe that his smile is for me and not the blonde coed shimmying her way in a mini-skirt to the entrance of the bar.
“Hey Beautiful,” Logan says slipping a hand around my back and over my hip. He kisses that perfect place on my temple before proceeding to whisper in my ear.
“I love this hair… I can wait to put my hands through it tonight.” And as if he’s spoken directly to my scalp the hairs on the back of my neck raise and I feel a deep-rooted tingle at the promise the night holds. Having rendered me momentarily out of verbal commission, Logan begins to make introductions.
“Jay, Al, this is Desiree an-nd… Aubrey?” Logan speaks looking to me for confirmation. I simply nod my head while smiling and coming to notice that this feels a lot like a setup, though no one among us seems to mind. I’d gotten to know Jay and Al briefly over lunch. Jay is the sweet and more outspoken, self-proclaimed, country boy, while Al is the more reserved and polished third of the bunch.
“Just, Bree.” Reaching out, Bree shakes Logan’s hand followed by an enthusiastic Jay and a visibly distracted Al. I haven’t known either man for more than the hour that we spent over lunch but both seem to be out of character. Jay has gone quiet and seems, almost sadly, overly interested in Bree who, as usual, has her nose in her phone.
“Nice to meet you, Desiree,” Al says with a big grin while reaching out to grasp Desiree’s hand-- and up until three seconds ago, I didn’t even know he had dimples...
“You too...” Desiree barely manages a hesitant smile-- her already large eyes going, impossibly, wider.
“Let's see if we can get some seats,” Logan says leading me closer to the entrance of the bar.
Unfortunately, the moment we step through the door I'm ready to turn on my heels and head directly back out to my car. It's one thing to be the center of attention in the middle of a busy dining center among a rowdy group of football players but it is an entirely different realm to walk into a crowded bar with an apparently very popular entourage of guys and for some reason, I feel like I’m at center stage...
Dozens-- upon dozens of eyes and heads turn to watch our progress toward what must be the designated area for football players. Carrie Underwood’s Dirty Laundry is vibrating through the overhead sound system and even though I’m not really one for hard liquor, there has never seemed like a more appropriate time for gin. Jay takes our orders over to the bar while Logan and Al collect a few extra chairs.
“Gin and tonic, aye?” Sitting close beside me, Logan leans in with a curious smile while resting his arm over the back of my chair. His thumb dancing up and down the knitting on the sleeve of my sweater. Gin and tonic, rum and Coke-- really doesn’t matter, not tonight-- not at this bar. I simply begin to nod my head watching as three chicks mentally undress and screw Logan from a few tables over.
“Uh-- I didn’t want to pay seven dollars for a table wine that I probably wouldn’t like,” I say, in a small lie, doing my best to focus my attention back to our table. As expected Jay and Des have sparked up a conversation that’s already gotten the group going. When the waitress finally shows up with our drinks I could almost kiss her for the liquid distraction. I vaguely hear a discussion about music-- something regarding Honky Tonk and Motown, although I’m too busy using the skinny straw in my drink to suck it down as fast as humanly possible. I’ll be better company on my second round...
--
So, this little get-together on Homecoming weekend was not a great idea. Maybe the worst idea. I’ve spotted at least two girls that I’ve sle-- no, that I’ve had sex with and I’m pretty certain that they’ve spotted me. That’s not normally so problematic or even something that I’d concern myself with but the fact that there are three unfamiliar females sitting with us, makes that a problem. A threat, so it would seem... As is now indicated by the tap on my shoulder. The moment I removed my arm from the back of Simone’s chair-- no longer than the duration of two swigs of beer, there is instant loitering.
“Heeey, Logan… That sure was a good game this afternoon.” Carri--? Connie?-- She, was my early and only indiscretion this semester. A transfer student from a county over who lives at home, which is all fine and dandy however, this was information that I’d received but hadn’t actually asked for… Midway through our little bathroom exchange, she began sharing-- and I’m talking mid-thrust, which was when I knew I had made a mistake. The only thing worse? She’s currently introducing herself to Simone...
“Nice to meet you, Courtney. I’m Simone.” Simone says, graciously introducing herself and looking at me with a smile that tells me absolutely nothing. I take another long pull from my beer and decide, immediately, to switch to water.
“They did do a great job, didn’t they? I wish we could have gotten tickets.” Simone continues, now crunching on a small cube of ice.
“It was great! I never miss a game...” Courtney says, running a slithery hand over my shoulder and down the sleeve of my shirt while both Simone’s and my eyes follow. I come extremely close to seeing my dinner again and Simone simply looks away, probably with the very same taste of bile in her mouth that I have in mine.
“I still haven’t really gotten a hang of football...” Simone says speaking up again, but this time directly to me. “I don’t know if I’ll ever see a game through to the end.” The look of sadness in Simone’s eyes is short-lived but in the half second it takes for me to catch it, I’m reminded that we have unwanted company.
“Oh, you just have to follow the ball. That’s pretty easy to do if you just watch for number 34.” The other woman smiles wistfully in my direction while Simone manages a smile that seems genuine but doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I can imagine… Well, it was really nice meeting you, Courtney..” Simone says and without another word or a glance in either of our directions she stands, with her glass in hand, and moves toward the back of the bar… Sh-h-hit. I also stand in an effort to follow her, but Desiree steps in.
“We’ll be right back,” Desiree says in calm reassurance but I really don’t know if there’s any way to recover from this...
~~~
There's a line for the stalls five girls deep and, apparently, the odds of getting to Logan Jacobs are about the same…
“Don't tell me that you really have to go, because I'm not buyin’ it!” I look up to see Desiree standing beside me wearing one of her sensible sweater sets and I feel, even if only slightly, more at ease knowing that at least one of the women in this bar is not out to take my man.
“I finished my drink,” I say, giving my glass with two final ice cubes an exaggerated shake. I’d hoped to quickly escape into the privacy of a stall but so much for that...
“Don't give me that. I saw that little show you put on back there. It's one thing to be polite but you were ready to invite the girl over for yoga!” Desiree speaks in as close to a whisper as she can manage and I can’t really negate anything she’s said. I knew what that was-- I knew that I had just been face-to-face with one of Logan’s extracurriculars but I couldn’t exactly be upset with him since there was, and still may be, a possibility of us bumping into my one-night-stand from this very bar.
“Did you want me to throw a drink in her face?” Catfights are really not in my repertoire-- even if I had imagined bending a few of her fingers back when she felt the need to touch his arm...
“Of course not, but you could have made it a tad clearer that you’re the one he’s with.”
“What about him?!” I say, without thinking and loud enough that the woman ahead of me in line turns to look.
“Honey, you weren’t paying attention... He clearly adores you and he was nothing but embarrassed from the moment Lil’ Miss Thang walked up...” Well, no. I hadn’t actually noticed that but he could have introduced me as his girlfriend.
“Cut the boy some slack! You see any of the other players out there with their girlfriends in tow.” No. Not a single one…
~~
Returning to the full action of the main hall I first stop by the bar to grab another gin and tonic. Logan paid for my first but I really shouldn’t get too comfortable seeing as I can never tell what tomorrow will bring-- or who might pop up next.
Making our way back to the set of tables I take the wedge of lime from the side of my glass biting down on it just as I spot the back of Logan's head. He’s laughing at something Jay’s just said and fortunately, Bree, who is also actually smiling, doesn’t seem to have missed Des and I all that much. As we get closer Bree looks up to see us coming and removes her leg from its resting place across Desiree’s chair, obviously saving a seat for her, while my chair has clearly gone missing.
“Whereth my sh-air?” I speak with the lime still clenched between my teeth, practically fuming. Did he really let someone steal my chair!? My only thought is that Little Miss Thing must have taken it with her when she left since she and it are now gone… Logan turns to look at me with a grin so big I almost forget what my question was.
“Right here.” Pulling me toward him, Logan positions me between his legs before gently tugging and perching me to rest on his thigh.
“What are you doing?” With his fingers curling around my waist Logan softly nuzzles his nose behind my ear before speaking.
“You always wear these.” What? Wear?
“Wear what?” His hand begins to roam down over my thigh and then back up but this time beneath the edge of my sweater until his fingertips touch bare skin. I almost reach my melting point when Logan decides to speak again.
“Your earrings. You never change them.” Half-inch, gold hoops. No, I don't change them-- not unless I’m going someplace special or fancy, neither of which is the City Bar, which reminds me…”
“Why am I sitting on your lap?” Waiting for him to respond I take a sip of my drink watching as he positions his other hand on my knee.
“I want everyone to know that I’m with you and just in case any other jerks decide to check out your ass like they did on your way to the bathroom, they’ll have a pretty hard time doing that when it’s on my knee.” Oh. Well… This either makes all the sense in the world or the gin is finally kicking in. I’m guessing it’s the latter since I can’t seem to find a reason to protest the fact that I’m sitting in a bar-- on a man’s lap.
“What if I hadn’t wanted to sit on your lap?” Yep. Gin.
“Then I’d have given you my chair but seeing as we’re so comfy now…” Logan nuzzles again at my neck drawing short lines up and down the side of it with the tip of his nose and in an instant I’m no longer aware that my chair has gone missing.