I Love My Side of the Story by Sabrina Lacey Page B

it is. (I’m a little jealous of the friendships women have.)
    “Josh, what’re you having?” David asks.
    I ask him, “They have Guinness?” since I
know he’s been here before.
    “They do. He’ll have a Guinness,” he
tells the bartender, early twenties, baby face bearded to help him look older.
It helps.
    The guy catches me looking at him and
says, “Hey…I saw you at that showcase.”
    I thought he looked familiar. “Oh,
right. How’s it going?”
    He pours my Guinness the right way, nice
and slow, a dense foam layer on top. “You were great, man. It was like I was
taking a class just watching you. So present ,
you know?” David looks at me, impressed.
    “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.” I look
to Amber, but she didn’t hear him. Could I ask him to repeat it? Damn.
    David pulls out his card. “This one’s on
me, then.” The guy takes it with a nod and a grin, goes to ring us up. “I’ve
never seen you act.”
    “It’s no big deal,” I say.
    He scoffs. “Modesty will get you nowhere
in your business. Cut that shit out right now. So, I bet Amber calls you in all
the time, huh? Kind of the perfect set-up.” He signs the bill and I shoot a
quick look to Amber, hoping she didn’t hear that.
    She didn’t, but I catch the tail end of
Jess yelling, “Lady with a baby,” and think, what the fuck? Amber looks at me
and says, “She’s kidding. I’m not…”
    I have no idea what just happened. What
are they talking about? When I’m sure she’s not listening, I tell David, “No,
it’s not like that. I don’t mooch off her.” We walk to the table with our girls
in front of us, purposefully distance them out of earshot.  
    He gives me a sideways glance. “You’ve
gotta be kidding me.”
    “I’m not.”
    “Is she working on anything right now?”
    “Yeah. Amazing project,” I say, watching
the girls sit down, us four steps behind.
    “So, what’s up? You don’t want in?” He
whispers.
      “Doesn’t matter. Auditions are over. It’s
cast.”
    “Too bad,” David says and drops it.
    One more step, and I take my seat beside
her.
    Now’s my moment. I announce, “Dinner is
on me, by the way.” Surprise all around, which kind of irks me.
    “Yeah? Why is that?” David asks.
    I pause for effect. Look to Amber, then
to our friends and BOOM: “Booked a national commercial!” Gasps. I grin and
high-five David across the table as Jess says I’m awesome.
    I look to Amber and see the look I’ve
been hoping for: love, respect and pride. She throws her arms around me. “Oh my
God, baby. That’s so great!” she says and kisses me. I’m the happiest I’ve ever
been. Right here. Right now.
    I grin, “Perfect timing, huh? It’s like
I got a gift from the gods for moving in with my girl.” I kiss her again,
stoked.
    “Well done, Josh. On you, then! I’m
starving,” David says. “I want to order soon, if that’s okay with you guys.”
    “Me too, so hungry,” Jess agrees. As her
attention goes to the menu, a smokin’ hot little number – brunette,
skimpy dress, legs all the way to China – walks by and smiles at us.
David checks her out; I pretend to look at the menu. She told us to ditch the
girls, with her eyes and body language. Women. I swear some of them get off
getting men other women have. Guys do it, too. But you can punch them. I’m glad
Amber didn’t see. I don’t want anything dampening the sex we’re going to have
later. As everyone talks about the menu - what we’re going to order, what wine
– I check out Amber’s thigh next to mine. I reach down to touch it, feel
the silky fabric of her dress covering it, all the time acting like I’m not
hard; like I’m not counting the minutes until I can get her home and take her
on the kitchen counter. Home. Our
home.
    When David starts up with, “We had a lot
more fun unpacking than you guys are gonna have,” competitive guy that I am, I
can’t help but take the bait.
    “We’re going to have more fun than