1
Wine
JASMINE
"Oh, I'm so sorry," I heard as my lap got wet. I looked at the wine spreading quickly on my brand new white silk dress. I looked up. There was a girl who was drunk off her butt holding a mostly empty wine glass. It seemed that she'd had a little too much tonight.
"It's fine," I said, my shoulders tense. "I was going home anyway."
"I'm so sorry," she said again before the guy she was with pulled her away, his hand resting on the curve of her butt. I shook my head. I hoped that those Spring Breakers had a good time and that she wasn't too drunk for it to be a problem.
I stared at my wine-stained lap and sighed. So much for a night out. I'd only been in this bar for 10 minutes, not even long enough to get the attention of a bartender. I guessed that it was a sign from above that I wasn't meant to be a party person.
I jumped off of the stool and landed funny on my too-high heels, teetering and resigned about spraining an ankle. I felt a hand under my elbow and looked into the most startlingly blue eyes I'd ever seen.
"You okay there?" he asked.
"Uh," I said, blinking up at him. "I..."
"I saw her stumble and spill her wine on you," he said. "I'm Mike. I'm parked right outside. Can I get you somewhere?"
Considering that I was about to take the Breeze home, I shrugged. He didn't seem like a psychotic ax murderer, so it was probably okay. If I had not felt cold wine seeping into my underwear, I probably would have said no. In my purse, I had pepper spray and a cell phone, so I was feeling pretty well prepared. Without them, I would’ve jumped on the free public transportation.
I jumped into the passenger seat of his car. It smelled like sandalwood. "Do you use Glade or something?"
"What?"
"Your car smells really good."
"It's my cologne."
I didn't know what possessed me to do it, but I leaned forward and smelled his neck. "You smell really good to me." I hadn't even touched any alcohol, beyond the wine that had been spilled on me. "Whatever it is, it's good."
He smiled at me and asked, "Where to?"
I rattled off my motel's address. I really could've walked, but that would've been miserable. I hoped that I wasn't getting any of my wine on his seat or floor.
"Here we are."
"Thank you," I said. I dug around in my purse. "Thanks for being a knight." I offered him a $20.
He stared at the money and shook his head. "No need."
"But you were so sweet," I said. "And I pay my debts."
"Don't pay me for helping you out. But if you want to repay me, come to dinner with me tomorrow."
I looked at him closely. "You really mean that? You want to go on a date with me?"
"And I'll even bring a surprise. Whaddaya say?"
I thought about it. He'd bailed me out tonight. Tomorrow, I'd bring my car to the venue so I could make a quick escape if he turned out to be a creep. "Yeah, okay."
"Meet me at the Columbia tomorrow at 8."
The Columbia was a pretty fancy place with high prices. I hoped he was paying since he'd invited me. But I'd bring my credit card in case I needed it. "Sounds good. I'll see you tomorrow."