{My Bad}: Lovedrunk on Too Many Tequilas

“Hey, it’s my bad,” he said, scooching along the bar, his elbow greasing the line of bevel in the smooth oak. His slobbering in between the slamming of the tequila shots had produced some drool that Claire was unable to ignore. In a half-wink, knocking the last shot back and sucking on the lemon slice, she had decided she’d call a cab and go. Daniel couldn’t help it, leaning into her personal space, his freshly pressed shirt, and cargo pants, smelling almost vanilla-like with a hint of apple orchard. He leaned his lolling head to one side supported by the palm of his damp hand. The other hand reached clumsily for Claire’s shoulder, just missing it, and his fingertips brushed the end of her wispy fair hair. “My bad,” he repeated again, slurring his words at a slower pace. Claire’s vision distorted as she awkwardly shuffled on her leather bar stool.

She took in a deep breath and studied the bar. The barman sat at the top right corner, at the hatch, half-scrolling through his phone and half-listening to their conversation. He glanced down at Claire the odd time, as she returned him a warm smile, this time mouthing, “G and T.” The drink slid in front of her in the lightest touches of movement.

Claire rearranged the shoulder straps of her flowery summer dress, and let the delicate pink cardigan fall backwards down her back, hanging in a loose knot around her shoulders. She wore her hair scraggy, her blue eyes still twinkling from underneath with some form of good humor. She smelt freshly scrubbed. She had taken a long while in the shower to make sure every inch of her body was clean, in the hope that she might have to show it off later on that night.

As she shook her hair, throwing her head back into a semi-forced smile that she’d seen on a movie somewhere, she glanced at Daniel and wondered what he was hoping for.

It seemed awkward to ask, jarring a perfectly good enough night, dinner at Ravoli’s Italian, followed by drinks in the hotel bar. It went without saying that the evening was going to come to a close with one of them making a move towards the hotel room. Daniel was still apologizing for being so tipsy, and for and trying to make her laugh. “My bad,” he said again and this time she leaned into his half-slumbering face. She grabbed his chin gently and slightly lifted herself off the stool, kissing his mouth full on the lips like she’d planned. She closed her eyes tightly and counted in her mind, going through the grocery list for the next day. “Carrots and peas,” she murmured. She pulled back, noticing Daniel was still in mid pout, his eyes deeply closed.

“My bad,” he murmured, moving closer to her this time sliding his arm around her waist. His breath was heavy and thick with anticipation. Claire looked at him, smiled, as he let a curl of his lips crinkle upwards, opening half a winking eyelid. “I’m waiting for you to say it,” he sing-songed. Claire waited some more until she placed her mouth over his ear and whispered, “I forgive you.” One hour until the babysitter left. They’d both better get a move on.