SHOOT: A Novel by Megan West, Kristen Flowers Page B

rowdier than
the busy tapas restaurant we had just come from.

 
    Once he found a
corner table on the back patio, he set his glass down and pulled out my chair. He
waved his arms and presented the chair to me in an exaggeratedly manner. I
giggled and took a seat, toying with the red straw in my drink. It was the sort
of drink I imagined a young woman would enjoy on the beach with the sun beating
down on her skin and the sound of the ocean waves crashing in the distance. I closed
my eyes and breathed in. My mind started to wander as I thought maybe one day,
just maybe, I’d be able to afford such a lovely vacation.

 
      “So what do you think?”

 
    My eyes snapped
open and I saw Brad staring at me. Not knowing if he was asking about my drink
or the bar, I hastily took my first sip and nodded. “It’s good,” I smiled in
approval.

 
      It was tasty and refreshing save for the
slight after taste of whatever liquor was in it. Regardless, it was definitely
something I would like to drink again so I made a mental note to ask him what it
was. I also wondered how much my roommates would freak out if they found out I
had anything other than a vodka soda, especially after such an indulgent
dinner.  

 
    “Oh,” he said,
looking slightly disappointed, but he quickly covered it up by looking around
and taking a drink from his own cocktail. I tilted my head and looked at him
questioningly. I was confused because my response to the drink had been
positive. Then it dawned on me that maybe he had been looking for a different
type of answer.

 
    I took a long sip
and looked around. Despite the loud crowd it was quite an energetic atmosphere I
enjoyed. It was completely different than the vibe at “Roses” and, truthfully, I
liked this place better. I turned back to look at Brad and smiled around my
straw.

 
    I felt good—really
good, actually. There was something about the way he was treating me that made my
heart race every time he glanced my way. It seemed he knew just the thing to
say and do; whether he was behind the camera or not. That natural charm worked
for him in more than one area of life and it made me wonder just how much he
worked at it. He didn’t strike me as the type to play that up, though. Despite
his good lucks, charm, and success, there was something about him that told me
he wasn’t exactly a womanizer. There was a gentleness to his eyes.

 
    “Brad,” I finally
broke the silence with hesitation. “What’s going on?” Even the way he’d
responded to me calling his name gave me more reason to ask the question. There
was a very visible change in his attitude but I couldn’t for the life of me
figure out why. He took a large drink of his cocktail and set the glass down
heavily before leaning forward.

 
    “What do you think
of me ?” he finally asked me in a
straightforward manner.

 
    I bit my lower lip
and avoided his gaze by looking at the ice swirling in my glass as I moved it
with the red straw. I didn’t know how to respond to his question. Could I
really tell him everything I thought of him? Could I really be so open with
him? It would be awkward and I was too shy for it, no matter how well we got
along.

 
    “I think,” I finally
said before the silence went on too long and created an uncomfortable
situation, “you sure know how to make a great evening out.”

 
    Brad gave a half
smile, “I’ll take it.”

 
      He finished his cocktail and asked if I would
like a refill on mine or preferred to try something else. It was a night of
trying new things, so I decided to order a different sweet drink. I took the
minutes he was gone to finish up my cocktail while going over our conversations
in my head. A wide smile took over my face by the time he returned.

 
    “What are you so
happy about?” Brad pretended to look around suspiciously, “Did someone come and
sweep you off your feet while I was gone?” He placed the glasses down.

 
      “I’ve been