Work Text:
-
February
The bar was already packed to the rafters when Dee walked in. Shoving her Blackberry into her pocket she rounded the corner, trying to spot her friends.
“Dee, hey! Over here!”
Dee grinned, making her way through the crowds of people to get to Jade and their little group. She threw her arms around Jade, hugging her best friend who she hadn’t seen in about three weeks.
“You look so tan! How was Cali?”
The pair settled into the stools around the table, Jade flicking a strand of hair over her shoulder.
“It was so worth it, I needed the break. I didn’t think of a single term paper and I wasn’t reciting laws in my sleep,” she giggled, Dee nodding.
“That sounds-“
She was interrupted by the music blaring in the bar coming to an abrupt stop, followed by someone warming up on the piano. Jade looked to Dee in question but Dee just shrugged.
“Who is that?” She asked, glancing around. Dee shook her head.
“I have... no idea.”
The crowd cleared a little and she saw a man with dark hair sitting at the piano in the corner of the room, preparing himself for a performance. She kind of hoped he didn’t play something sad; that was what tended to happen when the bar tenders let people use the instrument. She heard the chords and smiled.
“Hey, I think I know this song!” She exclaimed. Jade raised an eyebrow, then snorted.
“You fucking would.”
You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain!
Dee got up, making her way over to the piano. To her surprise a majority of the people in the bar were catching on and as they sang along to this charming guy, she couldn’t help but watch the way he captured the audience with his cheeky smile. He was tall, and despite the beer sitting on top of the piano Dee doubted he was over 21 for half a second. He glanced up at one point and winked directly at her. Usually that made her scoff.
At that moment, she blushed.
-
With the song over, Bradley basked in the cheering for a moment, then reached for his beer. He stood, only to bump into a woman who he had seen singing along.
“Jerry Lee Lewis!” She exclaimed. He grinned, nodding.
“It’s always a crowd pleaser!”
“Do you know anything more recent?”
“I-“
“-I’m going to take that as a no. Scoot.”
She bumped him away from the piano, stretching out her fingers. As she started the first few lyrics of Garth Brooks’ Friends in Low Places, Bradley couldn’t help but laugh. The rest of the bar faded into the background as he listened to her belt the country song, panting at the end.
“Like that’s much better,” he teased. She crossed her arms.
“That’s so rude. It’s a classic!”
He sat on the piano seat beside her, shoulder to shoulder.
“We can agree to disagree, that’s cool too,” she said. Bradley extended a hand to her.
“Bradley Bradshaw.”
“Deanne Taylor, but my friends call me Dee.”
“What’s your major?” Bradley asked, thinking of a song he could play.
“Pre-law. Let me guess; pre-med?”
“Fuck no!” Bradley laughed, nudging her shoulder, “political science.”
“I can respect that. It’s popular around here; what drew you to it?”
Bradley stopped. Swallowed. Painted a cocky smile on his face.
“It’s the best way to get into the career I want.”
Dee glanced at him for a moment, and then smiled.
“Determined. That’s hot.”
Her fingers danced over the piano keys and Bradley immediately realised what song she was playing. It appeared the rest of the bar had caught on too and they all raised their drinks in respect.
Jessie is a friend, yeah I know he’s been a good friend of mine.
-
With the song over, Bradley glanced at Dee, their chests heaving.
“Can I buy you a beer?”
She smiled.
“I’d like that.”
As he got up and went over to the bar, Dee walked back to her friends. Jade grabbed her hand, leaning in to whisper in her ear.
“He’s so hot! Do I need to find somewhere else tonight?”
“What- no! You know I don’t do that-“
“-January last year, that blonde with a great ass?”
Jade smirked and Dee smacked her shoulder, both collapsing into laughter. A cold beer was placed on the table in front of them and Dee smiled at Bradley, reaching for his shoulder.
“Bradley this is Jade!”
“I’m the over protective best friend!” Jade exclaimed over the noise in the bar. She glanced between Dee and Bradley after shaking his hand, an eyebrow raised.
“I’m gonna go get another drink,” she said, catching the context clues. Dee and Bradley took her spot at the table, leaning in together to talk with the loud crowd behind them.
“How far into your degree are you?” Dee asked.
“I’m graduating in the fall,” Bradley replied, “you?”
“Same. Law school after though.”
-
They fell into easy conversation, and without either of them realising the rest of the night slipped by. By the time it was closing time, Dee had laughed until tears streamed down her face and Bradley had settled a little more in his seat.
Jade swung past the table, putting a hand on Dee’s shoulder.
“C’mon Deesaster, let’s get you home. Say good night to the nice man, honey.”
Dee smiled at her, flicking her hair over her shoulder.
“Hey, um, actually... I think I’m going to stay here a little longer.”
“It’s nearly closing time, what are you- oh. Cool, uh, call me tomorrow morning, yeah?”
Jade narrowed in on Bradley.
“I’ll know if you’re a serial killer by then. I’ve got your face committed to my memory now.”
He blinked, a little spooked, and the pair watched as Jade left the bar with her friends.
“Well, she’s...”
“Terrifying?” Dee offered, laughing sheepishly. Bradley shook his head.
“No. She cares.”
Dee paused. Bradley inhaled sharply when she touched his thigh, he didn’t think he was that sensitive but he definitely was now.
“I know this great place nearby,” he started. Dee leaned in, an eyebrow raised.
“Yeah?”
“It’s... it’s got four walls, a great view of the building next door, and it only smells like burnt pizza sometimes.”
Dee snorted, tapping his thigh.
“Just how close is this place? It sounds like somewhere a distinguished law student shouldn’t be.”
“It’s a couple streets away, but we could take back roads.”
“Good. I hate walking in heels.”
Bradley frowned, glancing under the table. Sure enough, Dee was wearing these cute little converse on her feet.
“You’re not... wearing heels?”
“Made ya look though, didn’t I?” She teased. Dee hopped off her barstool, reaching for his hand.
“Have you paid the tab?”
-
Sweaty, sated (and admittedly a little surprised), Dee curled up against Bradley and kissed him once more, her heart slowly returning to a normal rhythm. She hadn’t been expecting much, not even an orgasm (men at college were not concerned with making her come, they tended to be more concerned with themselves) but Bradley had proven himself to be a gentleman. He’d gone above and beyond what she’d expected and she definitely wasn’t complaining about the warm feeling in her stomach. His chest was still moving, trying to catch his breath, but he reached for the blankets and pulled them up, glancing over at her.
“So...”
“So, what do your parents do for work?”
Dee was expecting laughter; instead, she got a short sarcastic snort and Bradley moved on to his side.
“My mom hasn’t worked since I was born, too busy running around after my ass. My dad died when I was little.”
“I’m sorry, that must have been really hard for you,” Dee said immediately, reaching over to cup his cheek. Bradley shrugged, clearing his throat.
“It was a long time ago, mom said I was only two. I don’t really remember him anymore.”
He sighed, then glanced down at her.
“What about you, huh? What about your family?”
Dee hummed, a fond smile crossing her features.
“My mom’s an architect and my dad’s a writer. They both work from home; it gets a little chaotic, especially when all six of us kids were still at home.”
“Six?”
Bradley’s eyebrows shot up and he looked floored. Dee laughed, flopping on to her back.
“Yeah; I have three brothers and two sisters.”
“And you’re the oldest?”
“Second from the top. I have an older brother who’s twenty-three and then my younger siblings are twenty, eighteen, seventeen and twelve.”
“Goddamn.”
Dee leaned in and kissed him, brushing a hand over his cheek.
“Hey, so, I was thinking...”
Dee raised an eyebrow, smiling when Bradley reached for her.
“Instead of doing a walk of shame- ow- instead of doing a walk of shame, how about you stay tonight? We can have breakfast in the morning; I make a mean frozen waffle.”
Dee had whacked his shoulder, but then buried into him as she laughed.
“Walk of shame? Excuse you, I am more of a stride of pride girl. And, well, as for tomorrow... frozen waffles, huh? That sounds... good.”
“Maple flavoured syrup and all.”
“You’re hilarious.”
Dee reached for her underwear while Bradley scooted to the edge of the bed to clean up too.
“Hey, can I borrow a shirt?” Dee called over her shoulder. There was one placed beside her and she turned.
“What?” She asked, a smile on her face.
“Nothin’.”
He disappeared into the main living area and Dee got up to slip into the bathroom. When they reunited in the bedroom Dee pushed Bradley on to his back and curled up beside him, revelling in the warmth he was giving off. She traced the scar on his neck, glancing up when he flinched ever so slightly.
“Sorry! Did that hurt?”
“No, no; it’s an old one, doesn’t have a lot of feeling in the scar tissue. Just... people don’t usually like it.”
“Yeah, well, I do. Makes you look rugged and handsome.”
“Are you talking lawyer to me?”
“Maybe I am.”
Bradley laughed, running his hand down her back.
“Sleep well.”
-
Dee woke first the next morning. Her pillow was soft, warm... and rattling. Hm. She reached up to scratch at her face but found it was heavier than she remembered it being, trapped by .
“Morning.”
Oh fuck, it talks too?
“Hey, good morning. What time is it?”
Bradley yawned, gently moving over to find his alarm clock.
“Nearly eight. Do you have much to do today?”
“I’m a law student, I always have a list of things to do.”
Dee gently nudged his arm, rolling on top of him. Pressing their lips together, she felt Bradley’s hand trail down her body.
“Am I on that list?” He asked. Dee cackled, shoulders shaking as she straddled his hips.
“I guess you could say that.”
“Sorry, I say dumb shit when there’s a beautiful woman sitting on me.”
“I can tell.”
-