The Dal
While I had left myself an excessive 3 hours to get ready, I ended up needing that whole time. After sweating a little under Evony’s scrutiny, I had showered again, lingering in the steam until the water cooled. I used my favorite shampoo, breathing in a mix of the lavender and eucalyptus scent. Again, my thoughts got lost in curves and leather. I would never get anything done this way. I really needed to get my head in the game.
I ended up spending the next half hour staring at the row of shirts, slacks, and dresses at my disposal intermittently shifting some shirts one way or the other to look at them more closely. Occasionally, I would pull one down and try it on, before huffily putting it back on its hanger. Eventually, time ticked away and I settled on some tight black jeans and a maroon tank with a draped neckline. I blow dried my hair before curling soft waves into my long locks, adding some dark eye shadow and a shiny lip gloss to my usual minimal make-up. Thinking I’d achieved an acceptable bar-ready look for my da-…ugh meeting, I finally pulled on my black leather jacket and headed out the door.
My short walk in the brisk, clear night was enough to clear my head. I ran through my game plan again. Spend time with not just Bo, but also try to make some inroads with Jayla—if that’s even possible—and Trick if he’s there. I had to pull out some seeds of strategy from them if I ever planned on growing ferns of betrayal.
As I pulled open the heavy carved wooden door of the bar, I was welcomed with the pulse of excited voices and warm, amber light. The bar echoed the same comfortable aura of Bo herself. There was a grand stone fireplace on the wall across from a large oak bar. I followed the light off the flickering flames to meet Bo’s sultry gaze which seemed to have found me as soon as I stepped through the threshold. They were sitting in a cozy corner booth, the rounded half-circle kind with a deep burgundy velvet cushion and dark sturdy oak trimming.
Jayla rolled her eyes as I threw them both a genuine smile. I couldn’t help how my heart raced seeing Bo, revved up even more by the bright dimpled smile she threw back. I didn’t notice him at first, but there was another person looking back at me too, arm draped over Jayla’s shoulders.
As I headed over towards the trio, I blew out a shaky breath. Here I go.
Turns out the third was a charmer. He stuck his hand out immediately to give me an enthusiastic shake, “Hey pretty lady! I’m Hale, Jay’s leading man! Bo here has been going on and on about her beautiful new acquaintance.”
At that, Bo’s cheeks flushed and she gave Hale an exasperated look before turning to me with a silly grin, “Hale is just a smooth talker. He likes to just fly by the seat of his pants when he talks.” “And he’s not blind,” she mumbled at the end or so I hoped.
My heart skipped a beat thinking about the fact that no matter what she just said, Bo had been talking about me and obviously in a positive way. And maybe she said I was beautiful, though I could tell that Hale was the type to have easily embellished that part.
My reverie was quickly interrupted by Jayla who elbowed Hale, saying “Yeah, he’s full of it sometimes.” It seemed her comment was mostly directed at me though as her glare towards me turned into a sweet half smile as she turned and gave him a quick peck on his lips.
Mental note: Jayla still hates my guts. Well crap. That was not going to make my job any easier.
Sensing some animosity, Bo quickly changed the subject to drinks. “Lauren, do you want something? We’ve already had a round, but I think we’re ready for our next anyway,” she questioned Jayla and Hale with an eye raise.
They both nodded quickly and Bo redirected her dark eyes to me, “You can have anything you want.” I shuddered, not sure if I imagined the timbre of her voice dropping to a low husk.
I shook my head quickly, before nodding and Bo looked at me with a slightly confused smile filled with mirth. “I mean yes, I would love a beer please. Are there any Hazy’s on tap?”
She nodded, “Hazy it is. The Dal’s got almost anything you’d want.” And there it was, that flirtatious wink.
As she headed towards the bar, Hale hopped up after her, offering to help carry the drinks back from the bar.
Without their buffering presence, I was left back in the sights of Jayla’s less than amused stare.
After a few moments I’m sure were intended to make me sweat, she seemed disappointed that I kept my stoic façade. Just before I was going to start fidgeting, she abruptly broke the silence, “Do you plan on planting here? Because, Bo Bo doesn’t need more friends and she’s got booty when she wants it.”
I was taken aback by her directness, unable to come up with an answer immediately. Finally, choosing my words carefully, I let out, “I hope so. I really like spending time with Bo and I wouldn’t mind spending time with you and Hale as well.” I swallowed before admitting, “I don’t have a lot of friends, so it would be nice.”
This seemed to thaw her a little because her face softened slightly before she warned, “Guess we’ll see.” She paused, “Bo and I haven’t had the best of lives but we’ve always had each other. Sistas from another mista and all.” Then she leveled another stare, “And that’s all we need.”
Ouch. Alright, back to cold freeze. “Ok, sorry” I managed to choke out feeling the need to apologize. I had my work cut out for me. “I…” my mind blanked as I sputtered about in all my awkward glory.
Fortunately, Bo and Hale returned with a gust of warmth and energy, sloshing our drinks on the sticky, worn oak table with dimpled smiles.
“Ladies,” Hale raised his glass. “Here’s to a night of fun!” He turned to wink at Jayla, “and sweet, sweet loving!”
Jayla blushed shyly and I couldn’t believe she was the same ice queen who was putting me in my place earlier.
While lost in my thoughts, I suddenly noticed 3 sets of eyes trained on me as I failed to raise my glass. Not for the first time, I was happy that I couldn’t blush. “Oh, sorry! I just…got lost in my thoughts,” I trailed off. “But, cheers! Thanks for having me. I’m really looking forward to hanging out with all of you tonight!” My eyes caught on Bo’s and my heart raced. After a moment, I tore my gaze away as I felt the uncomfortably heat of Jayla’s attention again. I smiled as warmly as I could towards her trying to maintain a relaxed posture.
“So Jayla, what are you into? What do you do? Bo said you’re wicked smart.” I was actually a little curious what someone as sharp as Jayla would go into.
Jayla squinted her eyes at me briefly before slowly responding, “I’m into a lot of things. I’ve done a little design work, help people find stuff and other people, some…IT stuff.” The last one she paused a little awkwardly on making me think it was more of an illegal situation than a polo shirt and khakis sort of job. “I don’t really like to hold myself down as I’m a woman of many talents.”
Interestingly, Bo discretely rolled her eyes while Hale just smiled adoringly. “Lil’ Mama’s many talented. I’m sure she’ll find her groove here soon,” he cood. I would have to probe the issue of Jayla’s employment a little with Bo later. It didn’t escape my attention that she didn’t mention it in all our talk of Jayla at the coffee shop earlier in the week.
“So what do you do, Lauren?” I cringed a little at how she enunciated my name, but at least she seemed interested and not as homicidal. At least she seemed more like a “slit your throat in your sleep” gal than a “torture you slowly” type.
I’ve answered this question so many times in the course of my perpetual introductions that the half-lie flowed smoothly from my lips, “Oh, I do life coaching at a high-end consulting firm. Mainly helping the wealthy gain more control over their lives.” I never elaborate and most people find it ambiguous enough that they don’t care.
“Well, if you want to send any of that fancy advice my way, I’m happy to hear it,” Hale chuckled out.
Meanwhile Jayla quickly blurted out, “None of that fancy advice needed for me! I gots plans and don’t need anyone to bring me down.”
I soothed out for both of them, “Well people don’t really change much and whatever I say doesn’t really change their happiness anyway.”
I felt a shift beside me as Bo contemplated me. “So you don’t think what you do is really making a difference?”
For the first time tonight, a truth came out, “I used to think I was, but I’m not so sure any more.” My eyes caught on warm chocolate orbs with my confession and I had to swallow down my morose thoughts before breaking the deep eye contact.
Luckily Jayla saved the moment. “You’re kinda lame. But you’re not the worst.” While an insult, her eyes sparkled and the corner of her mouth pulled upwards in a smile she was fighting against.
“Thanks Jayla,” I laughed out. I was beginning to see why Bo was so attached to the larger-than-life personality that was Jayla.
The rest of the evening flew by with laughter and some silly antics from Hale. We even played some pool and I got to show off my above average skills, earning me another small rung of approval from Jayla, but not as much as when I offered to buy a couple rounds.
As we wrapped up our third game, Bo’s cell phone buzzed before she wandered away. “It’s probably D-Man looking for a booty call,” Jayla intoned, eyeing me curiously or a reaction.
“Who’s that?,” I blurted out before quickly correcting with a nonchalant shrug. So much for playing it cool.
“Oh just Bo’s flavor of the week…month…whatever,” she shrugs. “He’s cool even if he’s a needy little dick sometimes.”
Soon Bo came back, face contorted into a perturbed, half scowl while Jayla responded by throwing her hands up in the air exclaiming, “Seriously dude?!”
“Sorry Jay, guys…umm…I gotta go.” The brunette actually looked a little more pissed than contrite, running her hands through her hair before turning to me. “Lauren, it’s been really great hanging out and I’d really love to do it again,” her voice lilted into more of a question at the end. “I really am sorry but…,” she trailed off.
Briefly my mind stuttered as she clearly expected me to say something. I finally stumbled out, “Of course, no, I understand if you have to go. I’ve had a really good time too, hanging out with all of you.” I actually did and Jayla seemed to warm to me a little through the night and she was in all honesty a ton of fun. “And I’d be happy to hang out whenever we’re all free.” I added the “we” at the end for a little safety.
After she pulled on her leather jacket, Bo pulled me in for one of her amazing hugs. She really has an amazing knack for it and I can’t help but admit how our bodies fit just right. The hug lingered for perhaps a second too long before she turned her head to place a soft kiss on the corner of my mouth. Oh god, I’m a goner.
Jayla must have had some similar thoughts because she quirked her eyebrows up looking between the two of us as Bo pulled away. I stood frozen as I saw long dark tresses whip around and before I recovered, she was out the door. The taller woman then patted me on the back following my gaze to the door, “C’mon life coach. Life’s real battle is deciding whether to hang on or let go.” She paused before adding, “And I think a drink would help with that battle.”
Eh hem…a gruff forced cough breaks through our conversation. “You will not be getting this place lit as there’s only 30 minutes till closing time…Jayla and friend.” At that, a vested man with graying hair and a face distinguished with smile lines turned to me. “Hello. I’m Trick, Bo’s grandfather and unfortunate guardian of this one here,” he bows his head while wrapping Jayla’s shoulders in a tight grip. “Are you friends with my two troublemaking young folk?”
The warmth of his smile betrays his relation more so than his name, which I recognized from my files and Bo’s stories. I reach out my hand shaking his firmly, “Yes, I’m just getting to know the both of them and they’re both wonderful.”
If possible, his facial expression warms even further as he nods, “I am lucky to have the two of them. Even luckier that Isabeau will take over for me as the purveyor of this waystation and Jayla will always be around to drink away my top shelf.” He winks at Jayla and I witness something I never imagined I would as she managed to look sheepish.
“Oh, I didn’t know Bo was going to take over. I thought, well, I don’t know what I thought,” I innocently throw in.
It serves to unsettle the man a little as he scrunches his bushy brows, “Hmm, as you’ve said, you’ve just met Bo. Bo has always planned to run our family business when I retire.”
“Oh, you’re right.” I innocuously add, “I just met Bo and have no idea what she wants in life.”
Trick hums lowly, appraising me before nodding. “Yes, well, I’m sure as you get to know Bo better, you’ll learn of her commitment to her family heritage.” He puffs his chest a little before adding, “The McCorrigan’s have run The Dal Riata for 4 generations after moving across the pond from The Land of Saints and Scholars.”
I left his pride intact with a warm smile, adding only, “I’m sure I will.” At that, Trick seemed satisfied and bid us adieu before returning behind the bar.
Trick’s bristling at my questioning served to douse the ardour of the rest of our party and after some goodbyes we all headed home not long after.
While I had walked to the bar, I hailed a ride back home. As I sat in stuffy artificial warmth of heated rideshare, I stared out the fogged windows with a small smile. I thought of how I had genuinely had a nice time tonight and then lingered on warms hugs, dark eyes, and deep dimples.