There is no worse time to be alone than New Year's Eve so when I was offered the opportunity to work a private party, I jumped at the chance.
The group of about 60 young people had rented the upstairs of a bar where I worked part-time, so it was an hour to set up and a four hour open bar, with catered food. Being in my late thirties and separated, staying busy while making extra cash was a major perk, while serving drinks to a group of kids in their early twenties (and more than a few in their teens.)
With everyone dressed in their sharpest duds, I was busy and enjoying the eye candy as they paraded by. Although there were many couples, a few singles mingled, looking each other over while the music blared and the bodies gyrated on the dance floor.
A black couple came up for a drink, with the girl staring intently at me while I mixed them Bloody Marys. The guy saw her gaze and my reaction, which was to smile and give her the once-over.
She made sure our hands touched when I handed her the drink and nodded. Something about her was very inviting. They moved away and whenever I had a chance to look up, she was watching me, not smiling, just staring.
At one point, they were dancing to a slow tune, and even then, her creamy dreamy eyes were locked on mine. For my part, I'd smile and go about my business.
He was drinking more heavily than she, and each time they came up for refills, the zipper on her green jump suit seemed to be sliding lower, showing deep-brown flesh that seemed so smooth and soft.
As midnight approached, the DJ stopped and the television was turned up to follow the countdown from Times Square. I poured a case of cheap champagne and passed them out as noise makers blew and all eyes were on the screen. The scream of Happy New Year went up and the DJ played Auld Land Syne as I took the opportunity to run to the men's room. As I exited, there was the black girl in the green jump suit, seemingly waiting for me.
"Happy New Year," she yelled in a husky voice over the crowd as she came to me and wrapped her arms around my neck, kissing me firmly. Although surprised by her actions, being a red-blooded American, I held her by the waist and kissed back. Her light brown eyes never closed, staring at me, until she broke away and walked back to the party as if nothing had happened.
I felt my chub rising and had to shake my head to clear it.
Back behind the bar, I kept thinking about her and when I stole glances, she didn't look at me again, except to accompany her friend when he ordered more drinks.
The party was supposed to end at 1 AM, but it was closer to 1:30 before the crowd thinned. I didn't have to worry about cleaning up because they had a porter coming in to take care of that, so I poured myself a drink as the stragglers found their coats and moved out into the cold night.
"Is there time for one more?" Her velvet thick voice startled me, she was so close.
"For you? Sure," I replied with a smile.
"And one for my friend?"
I looked over at him and he had definitely overdone it tonight, looking disheveled as he sat at a table.
"Do you really think he needs it? I hope he's not driving."