Chapter 1: Chapter One
Becca Swindell gave a deep sigh as she looked at the shot of whiskey in front of her. She wasn't really convinced that was what she needed right now, but the bartender at 502 Bar had resolutely put the shot glass down and poured it for her when he'd found out she was here to forget about her scoundrel ex-boyfriend. Derek Smith was everything she could've asked for; successful, handsome, funny and loyal. They'd been together for two years two days ago and, when she thought he was going to propose and surprise her with a nice dinner, she opened her door to find him coming home, kissing Gina the secretary from work, the one he'd sworn was just a co-worker. What added insult to injury was that she and Derek lived in the same building, and it was only four weeks until Christmas. She'd already bought him an expensive watch and she was going to have to face her mother as a single woman once again.
"Bottom's up," she decided to go with it and knocked the shot back. She gave a cough as she squeezed her eyes shut; she hated the burning aftertaste of whiskey.
"Can I get you another one?" a rugged voice asked. Becca looked to her left to see a tall, handsome man with brown hair and blue eyes, giving her a sympathetic look. It took her a few seconds to realize she'd met him a couple of times before at Derek's work parties.
"Eh, I wouldn't say no to a Cuban," she responded now. "Thanks. Luke, right?" she remembered.
"Bartender, can I get a Cuban for the lady and a double whiskey, on the rocks?" Luke Shelton asked as he sat down on the stool next to her. "And yes, well-remembered. Rebecca?" he asked to check.
"Becca," she nodded. "Or Bexx," she added. "So, double whiskey. Bad day?" she asked, his order not having gone unnoticed. Her new companion grimaced.
"Bad month," he said honestly. "My girlfriend… Well ex-girlfriend now, she… she said no when I proposed, some bull about not being ready or moving too fast. And I found out earlier this week that she went back to her ex and they are now engaged," he told her with a wry smile, taking his whiskey from the bartender and raising it in a sarcastic cheers motion.
"Oh, yikes. And I thought I had it bad," Becca responded as she gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.
"Why? What happened to you?" he asked, turning towards her a bit more.
"I thought Derek was going to propose for our anniversary, but instead I saw him coming home with Gina. We live in the same building," she told him, trying not to relive that moment. The image of his lips kissing hers, kissing her neck, as their fingers were fumbling with buttons and zippers trying to undress each other. What hurt especially is that he could've known that they'd get caught by her. It would have been less mean if they'd gone to hers and she happened to live there, but he obviously knew his girlfriend lived in his building.
"Asshole," Luke said simply and clinked his glass against hers. "I saw them at work the other day and I wondered what had happened with you," he commented, seeing from her expression that maybe he shouldn't have. "Sorry," he said sympathetically, putting his hand carefully on her arm.
"It's not your fault," Becca let him off, taking a couple of big gulps of her drink. "Ugh, I hate feeling like this. Why should I feel the need to drink myself into oblivion? Why is it okay for him, and for her, to treat us like that?" she let out annoyed.
"Oh honey, if I had a dollar for every time someone asked a similar question," the bartender commented with a sad shake of the head. On the one hand, he'd be rich; but on the other hand, the bar would have a lot less clientele.
"Well, exactly. Let's still drink, but because we want to have fun. You in, Luke?" she asked, actually sitting up straighter and looking slightly excited. He looked at her, taking her in as he considered what she was suggesting. Her chestnut curls were up in a messy bun, fighting to get free. Her green eyes sparkled mischievously. He thought she'd looked pretty at the last work party, dressed up to the nines, but he actually preferred the way she looked tonight.
"Yes, let's," he agreed, holding his glass up. She grinned as she clinked hers against it and they both finished their drinks. "Can I get you another?" he asked, seeing her nod. "Another round," Luke told the bartender.
As they worked their way through a couple of drinks, they started talking to get to know each other better, rather than about their exes. Luke had moved to San Antonio three years ago, working at the same law firm as Derek the whole time. He loved playing sports, but also enjoyed playing games like trivia. Becca had moved to San Antonio five years ago, mostly just to spread her wings. She'd never intended to stay long-term, but she liked where she worked at San Antonio Magazine and now had some of the best friends she could ever ask for. They were just sadly on holiday this week, when she'd felt she needed to go out and drown the memory of Derek.
'What you doing in this place?'
'Well, I could probably ask you the same thing.'
'Another round, girl. What you think?'
'If you're buying, well you know I'll drink. So make it seven on seven.'
'Do you want it on the rocks?'
'A double shot of heaven.'
'Spillin' off the top.'
'And we'll go shot for shot for shot, 'til we forgot what we came here to forget. Ain't a clock a tick a tock that's gonna stop a night we won't regret.'
"I like this song, come on," Becca jumped off her stool and grabbed his hand to pull him along with her onto the dance floor.
'So put your drink down, throw your camera up, spin it around and snap a payback picture. I'll send it to my ex.'
'I'll send it to my ex.'
'And send 'em both a text saying we ain't going home alone tonight.'
"I'm not really much of a dancer," Luke protested a little lamely. She kept hold of his hand as she started dancing, forcing him to move with her.
"It's not that hard. Just don't overthink it," she advised him, and he had to admit it was easier as he followed her lead.
'I got you covered if you don't know how to dance. But if you want we could grab a cab.'
'Girl, we got all night, I got a bottomless tab. So let's go….'
'Shot for shot for shot, 'til we forgot what we came here to forget.'
"See? You're doing better already," Becca told him with a smile. He gave her a smile back and twirled her, making her laugh.
'So put your drink down, throw your camera up, flip it round and snap a payback picture. I'll send it to my ex.'
'I'll send it to my ex.'
'And send em both a text saying we ain't going home alone tonight.'
Luke stopped for a second when he actually heard what the lyrics were.
"You okay?" she asked concerned.
'It feels too good to let it end right here.'
'(I ain't going home alone, home tonight)'
'So let's not let it end right here, let it end right here.'
'(Girl, you're going home with me tonight)'
"Just, this song," he said, lost in his thoughts. He wouldn't be so presumptuous as to expect her to actually come home with him tonight, he wasn't even sure if he was ready for that. But they sure could make it seem like they had gone home together.
'So put your drink down, throw your camera up, flip it around and snap a payback picture. I'll send it to my ex.'
'I'll send it to my ex and send em both a text saying we ain't going home alone tonight.'
"I'm not sure I follow," Becca said, slowly letting go of his hand. If this was his way of hitting on her, he had another thing coming.
"Not literally do what the song is saying, but we could make it seem like we go home together. Try to get back at Kirsty and Derek," Luke tried to explain quickly, grabbing her hand this time. He watched her catch on slowly.
"In that case," she started as she dug her phone from her pocket and held it up, "smile." She leaned into him, both smiling. "Another?" she suggested, at which he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "That's a good one," she smiled, "and share." She quickly uploaded the second picture to her Facebook and Instagram, with the caption, "my night just got infinitely better". "Are you on social media?" she asked, thinking it would be more effective and more likely to reach those they intended to make jealous if she could tag him.
"Yeah, let me add you," Luke nodded and took his phone out too. He found her through Derek's profile and added her. Becca finished her post, accepted him and went back to tag him in the picture.
"Done," she grinned, laughing when he held his hand up for a high five. "Come on, my turn to buy a round," she said, and they headed back to their spot at the bar. As well as their usual, she got them a celebratory shot of tequila. "Here's to our payback plan," she toasted as she held her shot up.
"Cheers," Luke clinked his against hers before they both drank it.
As the night wore on, they snapped more pictures of them dancing and drinking. They exchanged phone numbers too, so they could share the pictures with each other.
"Oh, you know… I think I should go home," Becca said when she felt a little dizzy as they danced. Luke secured his hold on her arm.
"Okay, let's get you some water and then I'll take you home," he said as he helped her back to the bar. She simply nodded as she let him. "You're not going to be sick, are you?" he asked carefully, watching her slowly sip the glass of water.
"No, don't worry," she assured him. It was very rare for her to be sick after a night out, and usually only when she'd had even more than she'd had tonight.
Luke ordered them a taxi to drop her off home first and him second. They discovered that they actually didn't live that far away from each other; she lived at the Westmount at Cape Cod apartments and he lived five minutes away by car at Indian Hollow apartments.
"Thanks for tonight Luke, I definitely had a better night than I would've done feeling sorry for myself," Becca thanked him when she saw they were coming up to her road.
"You're welcome," he smiled, thinking it was the most fun he'd had since Kirsty had left him and maybe even in a while before that. She started digging for her purse to pay for her share of the cab fare when the driver pulled up outside of her building.
"Oh, don't worry, I got this," he assured her and the driver.
"Thanks, again," Becca smiled and started getting out. She noticed as she did so that Derek was stood by his window, almost as if he was waiting for her to come home. As you looked at their building, she lived in the top right flat and he lived in the middle left, so she'd have to pass his front door to get to hers. She also noticed that Luke had gotten out behind her to say goodbye properly, so she turned around and kissed him. "Derek's by the window, please play along," she said softly as she barely pulled back far enough. To his credit, he didn't show any hesitation or surprise as he pulled her back in and kissed her back, his right hand gently resting in her neck as his left encircled her waist. It left her a little breathless when he pulled back and it took her a second before she could respond. "Thank you for a magical night," she said a little louder for her ex-boyfriend's benefit, in case he had the window open, as she gave the man holding her a wink. She knew it would make it sound like he was dropping her off after they'd hooked up.
"Thank you," Luke said back, giving her a sexy smile and a light squeeze of her bum, wanting to make sure that her ex caught the whole show. "I hope we can... do it again some time," he added, making her laugh a little more flirtatiously than she normally would.
"Call me, and we'll see," she teased, pressing one last kiss to his lips before she pulled away and headed towards the stairs to her front door. Her 'conquest' went through his hair as he looked after her, letting out a low whistle before he chanced a quick look up to the window. Derek, her ex and his co-worker, was no longer stood at the window, but Luke was pretty sure he would've caught most of that.
"Hey, you comin' or not?" the cab driver yanked him from his thoughts impatiently.
"Yeah, I'm coming," he said now as he got into the taxi. He glanced back one last time, thinking he saw his colleague climbing the stairs from his to her apartment.
"Hey Bexx, what are you doin' huh?" Derek's voice stopped her short of putting her key in her front door. She fought back a pleased smile and straightened her face before turning back towards him, as he climbed the last few steps up to be closer to her.
"Oh, hey Derek," Becca said simply, as pleasant as she could and as if she hadn't known that he'd been watching. "And, I was just having a fun night out," she shrugged with the dreamiest smile she could. It wasn't hard, that kiss has been something else.
"Yeah, but that's not you," Derek brought her crashing down, making her worry that he had seen through her already. "And with him?" he couldn't help asking, now actually sounding jealous. She bit back her critique, thinking it was rich coming from him, the guy who'd cheated on her.
"What's wrong with Luke?" Becca asked. "He's handsome, nice, funny, good kisser," she listed, putting the dreamy smile back in place.
"He's a colleague of mine," her ex tried the most practical objection he could think of, as he knew that Luke actually was a good guy and good at his work.
"Oh well, I guess we're both seeing someone from your work then," Becca pointed out, gave him a fake smile and unlocked her door now. "Night," she said and shut the door before he could say anything else.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone