“So, if I got it right,” I decided to confirm my understanding. “You organized a group outing in this club, yet everyone, except this Daryl guy, were onto your plan, and found random excuses to leave you two alone?”

“Yes,” answered Claire.

“You two met here on time,” I continued my inquiry, “And the third one, the girl who works here, led you inside, only to also bail out under false pretense?”

“Yes,” she confirmed again.

“Ten minutes later. Ten minutes of being alone with a very attractive girl in the packed nightclub. This Daren dude got a phone call from, allegedly, his boss and left to, allegedly, man an emergency shift instead.” I felt my left eye twitch. “Leaving said very, and I emphasize this again, very attractive girl alone in the nightclub?”

“Um, yes?” She sounded less confused than I felt.

“Claire, did he at least offer to send you home?” Twitching became a bit stronger.

“No? He said that there is a chance he would return a bit later, so I decided to wait for him.” I swear…

For everything that is holy. I couldn’t believe my ears. Well, I actually could, but only under two assumptions. Either that Daichi guy had an IQ of a mildly stale piece of bread. Or he was into cuckoldry. Or both.

“I give up. His logic is beyond mere mortals like myself.” Screw it.

“Eh, why are you so agitated? What is the worst thing that could've happened?” Maybe I underestimated how tipsy she was.

“How about you drinking yourself into a blackout and then waking up in a random hotel room after being thoroughly taken advantage of? That’s if you were lucky. You don’t want to even think about alternatives,” I spat the answer.

With a bit of schadenfreude mixed in, I watched how the silly girl across the table blanched at the implications. A few seconds later, she made a gesture toward the waitress, calling for another cocktail. Or, at least, that was my best guess.

“Claire,” I called out. “I think you had more than enough already.”

“I am a big girl, I know my limits,” she patted her impressive bosom. The sheer audacity of this wench…

“Had you already forgotten what happened the last time you said those words to me?” I felt my eye twitch once more.

“Even more so! You are already here, so nothing bad will happen to me anyway.” How in the seven hells did she come to this conclusion?

I snorted. Was there a ‘good guy’ written somewhere on my face? This damned Counter Girl…

“You know what, Claire?” I called out, an animal grin back on my face. “Now I am really tempted to screw you, just out of spite for labeling me as a good guy.”

“Please, don’t?” After losing some color from her face, the girl across the table half-pleaded, half-asked.

“Ha, sure. I am not desperate enough to do something like that.” I would prefer to do that when she was in full control of her faculties. Her reactions would be, at the very least, half the fun. “But, since I can’t just let you slander me like that, if you end up drunk again tonight, to make the lesson stick a bit better, I will take off your dress. Don’t worry, I will leave your underwear on.”

“Um, thanks?” Her lost expression was seriously cute. At this very moment, the waitress put a cocktail before Claire. “So, now that we discussed the conditions, can I continue?”

“Nope.” I grabbed the cocktail and downed the whole thing in a few large gulps, without even bothering to actually taste it. “Let’s wait for you to sober up a bit, and then we can join the dancing crowd. The night just started, it would be such a shame if you drank yourself under the table before having at least some fun.”

I met her gaze with my own, daring her to say something. After all, she had an option to leave right now. I would make sure she reached her home safely, of course.

“Now that I think,” my tentative date for the night started a few moments later. “Why are you even here? Alone, I mean.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Oh. Fuck.

“Well, since you told me your story, I guess it’s my turn?” I shook my head, trying to brush off the negative thoughts. “Do you remember my story about how complicated my love life is?”

A nod was my answer.

“Well, after today, it will either become even more so,” I chuckled at my optimism. “Or will naturally untangle itself.”

And I started telling the young woman I barely knew about my problems. Once more.

***

My story was significantly shorter. And I avoided the random tangents as well. My storytelling talent was severely lacking, though, judging by the blank expression on Claire's face.

“Um, now I kind of understand your earlier words about alien logic…” she finally gave me her reaction. “It’s like, I certainly hear what you are saying, but it doesn’t make any sense…”

After contemplating her words for a little while, the best answer I came with was a simple shrug. I understood where she came from, but, since my logic made perfect sense to me, her point was moot.

“Hey, I have a question,” Claire continued. “If I decided to leave right now, what would you do?”

“Praise you for having at least some common sense, and making sure that you would reach your home safely?” I shrugged again.

“And now you are making even less sense to me!” she groaned. “If it’s all some sort of evil scheme to get into my pants, can’t you at least act like it is?”

I definitely underestimated how tipsy Claire was. Or maybe she was a notch less naive than I thought?

“Eh, I already told you – so far, I’m fine with playing within the boundaries you set,” I shrugged for the third time in the span of this short conversation. “Though, as long as you won’t say to me straight, without using some flimsy excuses, that you want me to stop, I will push for every advantage you would let me get away…”

I wasn’t able to finish my speech since, following what, as of late, became sort of a tradition, the chaos of my life threw me another curveball. Whoever said that history loves repeating itself, was a helluva smart person. I couldn't find it in myself to even feel surprised, to be honest. Maybe it's time to re-evaluate my expectations?

“I knew better than to expect something different, considering that we let you leave alone,” the familiar voice rang. “But still, this has to be some kind of record. What, it was an hour or so? You really work fast, honey.”

The familiar voice was followed by the familiar feeling of warmth as Olivia slid into the seat by my side, demonstratively leaning most of her weight onto my side. I turned my head to take a look at her. Olivia had the fakest fucking smile I’ve ever seen.

“So how about you introduce us?” continued my girlfriend.

“You need to ask Bella for some lessons on both the power plays and fake smiles.” I told her, while having an incredibly strong feeling of déjà vu. “Jokes aside, you already know each other. That’s Claire.”

Said girl, who until this moment was watching the proceedings with curiosity, gave a stiff wave.

“Huh?” Olivia sounded equal parts surprised and incredulous. “Woah, you really know how to choose them, honey.”

“I agree,” I nodded sagely.

“So, um, how about you tell me what exactly happened here?” asked my mistress. “And while you are at it, how about getting some food? After all this stress, I’m starving.”

That made me chuckle. Goddamn, this night was slowly morphing into a storytelling event.

***

“Only you, honey. Only you.” This wench had the gall to laugh at my expense. “On the other hand, what’s wrong with that dick weasel? I mean, leaving a pretty girl alone like that, without even offering to send her home… What a dick move.”

“Um, he isn’t that bad… Usually.” Of course, the counter girl still defended that Dara guy. Truly, love is blind. “And nothing happened anyway…”

I shook my head in resignation and put my hand on Olivia’s knee, giving her a light squeeze to indicate my understanding and support. There was a lot I would love to say to the bitch boy. Should I double my efforts in seducing Claire just to spite him? But then again, maybe he was into that. Oof.

“You do you, girl,” sighed Olivia. “Well, since we are in the club already, there is nothing better than a night of dancing to cheer you up.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea…” drawled Claire. “I, um, don’t want to be a nuisance and get in the way of your date.”

“Who said you are a nuisance?” Another question from Olivia. “Why would you even think like that?”

After a few moments of watching how Claire was struggling to find an answer, I decided to give her a helping hand. And, maybe, pour some oil into the proverbial fire.

“Considering that, just before you appeared, we were talking about me having a nefarious plan to get into her pants, my best guess would be that she is feeling self-conscious right now,” I dropped the bomb.

After hearing my words, Claire winced. Bullseye. On second thought, was that really a good idea? Eh, even if it wasn’t, it’s already too late.

“And do you really have something like that, honey?” Olivia raised her brow at my guess.

“Take a good look at her and ask yourself” I chuckled.

“Yeah, stupid question,” said Olivia after giving Claire a once over. “Of course you do.”

“And you are fine with that?!” Seems like our little exchange made the counter girl finally snap.

“Can’t exactly say I am happy, but it’s not the end of the world either,” replied Olivia with a shrug.