We're sitting at our bar and you're moping, as usual. I thought that taking you out tonight might cheer you up, but you're sad again. Face buried in your beer, you're a bear of a man. A teddybear of a man, maybe.
"Something something... no girl will want to go home with me... redacted..." I think I hear you say. It's okay, it's Friday night, and maybe we can still lift your spirits.
"Robert." I announce, grandly spinning my bar stool and waving my Old Fashioned wildly. I'm not drunk, mind you, this is just me. And you know that. Which is why you groan.
"What do you want, Puck." You groan. Whatever I'm about to say or do is going to be... extra. It's going to be A Fucking Lot.
"Robert, Robert, Robert... My dear sweet darling, lovely pal Robert..." You grunt and look up.
Slender and long legged, short auburn hair, piercing green eyes, a rakish single hoop in my earlobe-- I am Peter Pan in a crop top and bootyshorts. Queer candy and don't I know it. We're an unlikely duo-- the cuddly giant and the silly fairy. I've pointed it out before-- you're straight, you don't get it. Figures.
"We're Bert and Ernie, baby. Obviously... you're Bert." That was my assessment of the situation when you allowed me to move in-- me and all my plants. Your apartment had a nerdy bachelor's pad feel to it before. And now it feels like someone could actually get laid in it.
"Robert. Can I call you Robert?" You're displeased.
"What. Is. It." What's the damn game. What's my fucking point. Where am I going with this bullshit. Where am I going with this bullshit?
"Robert, there are a lot of beautiful women here tonight. And I, for one, am fucking bored with your whining. No girl will go home with you with that attitude. Not with that fucking energy. It's not fucking energy. You're exhausting. I wouldn't sleep with you and I'll sleep with everyone." You know. I have guests almost every night. You'd be annoyed by the noise, but honestly you're impressed... and turned on... by my stamina.
"She's pretty." I nod towards a woman at a table in the corner. She has pouty lips and box braids put up in a bun on her head. The piercing in her eyebrow makes her look like a punk princess, and the green of her eyeshadow contrasts beautifully against her dark skin. Exactly my type... Oops?
"Or her?" I tip an imaginary hat to the brunette across the bar. She giggles and blushes. You grumble. I'm not helping. God, I'm a shit wingperson. Sorry, Robert.
"Her." I set my sights on the girl who is exactly your type. Exactly your speed. She's engaged in conversation with another woman, so she doesn't even notice us ogling. She's shorter, probably about 5'3; her grey sweater shows off generous curves, and fuck, does her ass look good in those jeans. Her wavy blonde hair hits around shoulder length, and she keeps tucking it behind her ear-- adorable.
"Psst. Robert." I elbow you, trying to get your attention. "Her. C'mon, buddy. She's gorgeous."
You look up and see her. You know I'm right. I'm usually right.
"Gonna talk to her?" I interrupt your reverie.
"Maybe in another drink." You turn back to the bartender and ask for another. More liquid courage, cutie? Sounds more like whiskey dick to me, but you do you, boo. I sigh, and turn back around. I'm here to be your friend, and if we're gonna mope, we're gonna mope. I take another swig of my drink. No performance issues here, friend-- my dicks are detachable and live in a drawer.
"She's really cute, Puck." You mumble under your breath. Not looking at me.
"She is."
"I don't know if she'd talk to me."
"She might."
"What if I say something stupid?" That's something stupid.
"Do you want me to talk to her for you?" I ask, kinda hoping you say yes. She is really cute.
"Would you? Just... introduce me?"
"Of course." I pat your shoulder comfortingly and hop off my stool. I adjust my 'make love not war' crop top and saunter over to her.
"Hi. Excuse me?" I say politely but purposefully interrupting her conversation. "I know this is super random, but I love your sweater." My casual 'just one of the girls' voice is out in full swing.
Her eyes widen. "Thank you!!" She gushes. Damn, she really is adorable.
"... and also, my friend over there..." I point at you. You blush and wave shyly. Dork. "... he thinks you're pretty cute. And I think you're pretty cute too."
Fuck, I don't know why I added that! I blush, realizing that I'm doing it again. The girl you want is going to think I'm hitting on her. "ANYWAY, he was wondering if you might join him for a drink?"
I run my fingers through the back of my short hair and then realize I completely interrupted them. "So, like, we'll be over there if you want to join-- otherwise, have a great night!" I wink and head back your way, raising my hands in a shrug.
"Well, I invited her over here, so we'll see what happens." I down my whiskey and ask for another. I am not paying attention when you poke me.
"Puck. Puuuuuck." You hiss.
"What."
"She's coming over here."
"Okay, cool."
"What do I do."
"Be a person? I don't know-- oh hi!" She sits down next to you. You look at me panicked and I smile over at her. "Thanks for joining us!"
She laughs. It's lower than I expected, a deep vibrant alto. "You guys are weird." You kick me under the bar.
"You don't know the half of it." I grin, "So who are you?"
The husky laugh again. She tells us. Maybe you remember? I forget almost immediately. You make conversation with her and I smile and leave you to it, turning back to my drink and flirting heavily with the bartender.
***
You tap me on the shoulder. "So we're gonna get an Uber... do you want a ride home with us?" You did it! Ugh, I'm so proud of you! Go you!
"Fuck yeah, let's do it." And on the way maybe I'll remember this girl's name... J... Jasmine? Jess?
It's Lila. Oops?
We wait for the Uber outside and I'm impressed that your hand is actually on her ass. My man has moves. Go, Robert. When we get in the car, Lila is forced to sit pressed between us.
I really didn't want to have to sit in the back with you. I wanted y'all to get your space to make out or whatever you wanted to get busy with while I made conversation and pretended nothing was happening with the driver up front. Unfortunately this shared Uber had to take us all the way uptown and there are a number of people in and out of the car.
Lila's thigh is pressed right up against mine. Her hips make a perfect heart shape on the seat between us. I'm literally trying to shove myself into the door to make space for you guys to do... anything, I don't know. As soon as I get home I'm going to make myself scarce, promise. I'm making chitchat with the Uber driver, like always-- trying to let you have time and space. Feel her up, something. That's when I feel her hand on my thigh.
At first I think I'm imagining it... why the fuck would her hand be on my thigh? But when I look down, it is. I slide a look over to you, and you're fucking LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW.