The weather was perfect for the Big Dog's Brewery Beer Festival. It was the middle of April in Las Vegas, with the warm weather of spring in full effect. The tables had been set up in the parking lot, with the beer tents ready to serve us the nectar that we craved.
We showed up early, just before 2 o'clock, as the band was completing their sound checks on stage. I had heard them before, and loved their rich tones and variety. It didn't hurt that the lead singer sounded just like Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries. Her raspy voice and tone always seemed to hit me at my core.
My friend Brad and I stood in the short line for the glasses and tickets, checking out the crowd that was slowly filing in. Brad was just a bit shorter than I around 6'1", muscular with short blonde hair. He had a date that was supposed to be meeting him around 4 o'clock, when she got off of work. She had offered to bring a friend for me. I had politely declined, knowing she was the only fox in her pack of friends.
After getting our beer glasses, we found a high-top table to stake our claim at. It was directly across from the stage. Great for watching people dance, but far enough away to have a conversation. We combed through the list of beers, discussing the different types and choosing what to try first.
Brad loved the hoppy beers, the hoppier the better. I shook my head making a puckered lemon face as he decided on an Imperial Pale Ale. I chose my favorite of the breweries, the Red Hydrant Red Ale. Grabbing our glasses, we took the short walk to the beer taps.
I was pulling some cash from my wallet to tip with, when I heard the laughter. There was something different about it. Something about it made me turn to see where it was coming from. Through the crowd, I couldn't find the source. As I scanned the band started playing, drowning out that sweet sound.
The laughter moved to the back of my mind as Brad and I walked back to our table. As the day progressed the sun seemed to grow fierce, and the beers went down easier than normal. Each of us sampled plenty of each tasty brew. The crowd started to build, as did my buzz. By the time Brad's date Melissa arrived with two friends, I was feeling pretty comfortable.
As suspected, her friends although flirty and willing were nowhere near my taste. I would have to get a whole lot more beer in me before considering one of them. I thought. Melissa was ready to catch up and produced a flask from her light brown coach purse. Luckily it was Vodka, so it was easy for me to turn down. If she would have brought tequila, I'm sure I would have brought both of her friends home.
As they started taking turns from the flask, I took a trip back to the taps. The band had taken a break and a radio station played quietly over the speakers. The lines were long now; having to wait nearly ten minutes each time. As I stepped into the shortest line I could find, I heard the laughter from earlier directly behind me. Almost whipping around, the hair on my neck rose up.
My quick movement caught both of their attention as they stopped laughing and looked at me. Her friend shorter, about 5'2" with brown hair and curves, was obviously annoyed as she looked me up and down. The other, the one I had heard, was taller perhaps about 5'7" She had blonde hair, a fit body and her piercing blue eyes were looking straight into mine.
Feeling no shame I began, "I've been looking for you all night." Immediately, I knew it sounded like a cheesy pick-up line.
Her friend laughed, "You're drunk!" They both giggled, yet the blonde held eye contact with me.
"I'm sorry," I stammered. "What I meant to say is I heard your laughing earlier, and I had to see where that beautiful sound was coming from." Again, I knew it sounded like another stupid pick-up line.
The blonde stopped giggling with a quizzical look on her face. Her friend exploded in laughter, dropping her head into her friend's shoulder. I shrugged and turned around in line. Fuck! She's hot as fuck! I thought.
Working my way slowly up the line, I could feel their eyes on the back of me. The two were no longer laughing, and instead spoke quietly in hushed voices. So I'm the creep. I thought.
Finally at the front of the line, I stepped to the open tap and asked for the Stiegl Radlr that I had settled on for the night. In my periphery I saw the blonde take the next open spot next to me, and her friend another a little farther down. I heard her order a Fat Tire and then felt her eyes on me again. Reluctantly, I looked over to her.
"I'm Carrie," she said. "Are you fucking with me...about my laugh?" she asked raising her eyebrows
Her eyes seemed to bore into me. "I'm Adam." I replied. "I'm sorry, I truly did hear you laugh right before the band started, but couldn't quite locate where you were."
Taking my beer from the bartender, I added smiling. "Like a beautiful song."
As she reached for her beer, I turned and made my way back through the crowd and to my table. It felt like I had been gone for an hour. Brad and Melissa acted like I'd been gone for an hour. Both obviously were buzzed now. Brad was having problems holding himself up, let alone with Melissa all over him. They stopped kissing and groping just long enough to scold me.
"You've got to bring one of her friend's home." Brad slurred. "We're ready to go."
"It's not going to happen." I smiled, patting him on the shoulder. "But you guys go; I'm going to hang out for just a little longer."
Brad leaned in speaking just a little too loudly, "Take them both home Mike, they're down."
"Maybe next time buddy." I quipped, slapping him on his shoulder.
Reluctantly, they said their goodbyes. Brad pleaded with me one last time, before they headed into the brewery to call for a cab. For a moment I felt very alone at the table. The crowd had thickened, with not near enough tables. Most were standing, holding their beers and socializing.
I slowly sipped on my Radlr thinking maybe it was time to go. The band returned, helping me lose myself for a little while. They covered "Linger" by the Cranberries, perfectly. Obviously, they thought she sounded similar as well.
