Never Let Go

We sashayed back into the casino. She quickly rejoined her old man at the black jack table. I strolled over to a Wheel of Fortune game and enjoyed playing with a group of people who celebrated every win. After half an hour, I went to a nearby bench and sat rigidly, trying to keep my mini skirt from rising any farther. Calm and content, I settled down and people watched. Monica joined me and explained, “Henry had to go make a phone call.” Even his name sounds old. Unplanned and uncontrolled, I laughed out loud. She glared at me then smiled “What?!” she asked in a high-pitched voice and with highly elevated arched eyebrows. I continued to laugh. “I’m just having fun! I’m not going to marry the guy!” she proclaimed. “You would be having a great time too if you would just loosen up a little!” she predicted. My laughter halted and I rolled my eyes. Didn’t she see me at the slot machines and playing Wheel of Fortune? Did I have to cozy up to an old pimp for her to consider my time spent here as “good”? I. Don’t. Think. So. After inhaling secondhand cigarette smoke and being approached by several men that were so not my type, I was ready to go. Monica looked at me in disbelief. She said that her fun had just begun and wouldn't let me go out like a square. I hated that word with such a vengeance that I gave her a look that could have boiled water. She dared me to approach a man, any man and start a conversation with him. It would be so much fun she teased. “You don’t have to marry the guy, just talk to him!” At first I refused and called her childish then I saw the knowing look on her face and I took the dare. I hate when people automatically decide things about me. I wanted to wipe that smirk off of her face so quickly that I could literally taste the adrenaline in my mouth! I looked around. It was not going to be easy. The casino was filled with sleazy looking guys, rednecks, thugs, pimp wannabes, stiff necks, and guys with girls hanging on them. In fact, the women in the casino outnumbered the men by a ratio of about 4:1. "Go on girl!” Monica urged much to my dismay. I would never approach any of these bums! I scoured the casino looking for one decent human being to strike up a meaningless conversation with. Temporarily, she gave up and slipped away, much to my relief to talk to a scrub who had been flirting with her since we arrived. While she permitted the guy to buy her a drink, I continued to scan the casino looking for a harmless fellow to talk to. Someone won big at one of the Texas Hold ‘Em tables and that area erupted into applause, shouts and screams. That’s when I saw him. He was standing at a craps table occasionally talking and laughing with a group of people. He was reasonably tall, about 6’1, slender build aged 32 – 36 would be my guess and from first glance his teeth were not jacked up. Dressed casually in a dark green Polo shirt and Girbaud jeans, he wore a gold necklace, stylish wire rimmed glasses and seemed to be intently studying the craps table. He stood amazingly upright and had an air about him that held me captivated. I stared at him for about five minutes and tried to determine if he was with a woman. He spoke casually to a good looking guy and for a brief moment, he looked at me just as I was staring at him. He smiled a weird smile and I quickly looked away. Damn! I thought. He's gay. I stole a glance back in his direction. The guy that he had just spoken to was hugging, talking and laughing with an attractive woman, so that quickly turned off my gaydar. They're probably just buddies. I casually sauntered to a different location in the casino. I had to get a better look at this guy before I just walked up to him and started talking. Finally, I made it to a row of slot machines that were directly behind him and sat on a bench. Okay, my mind buzzed. That man is fine. He has a nice behind. Just as I was admiring his ass, Monica found me and bounced back in my direction. "I knew you wouldn't do it," she giggled. My butt was glued to the stool, but my brain was racing over there to talk to him. “I dare you to go over there and talk to him,” Monica urged with a huge smile. I raised my eyebrows and shook my head in disapproval. “Go on girl! He looks harmless,” she continued. Looks can be deceiving, I thought as I looked down at my outfit. Damn! How I wished I had not changed my clothes! Monica was still trying to sell him to me. “I double dog dare you!” I laughed off her childishness but she continued to coax and aggressively pushed me an inch off of the bench. I exhaled when I saw her old man Henry return to his table. Good. Maybe she will leave me alone and return to her pimp. Monica was relentless, “Okay, I see that I have to take matters into my own hands and go over there and explain the situation to him.” I shot her a horrified glance. “What’s the situation?” my voice faltered. “That you want to come over and talk to him and get to know him a little better but you are just too shy to do it!” she announced a bit too loudly. “No! Don’t do that!” I pleaded in a hushed whisper. “You know I will!” she teased through her dark lipstick. I exhaled again, closed my eyes . . .