Chapter 12

Victoria realized she had no way home and stopped at the intersection to hail a cab on this busy Saturday night. Across the street, she eyed a posh bar called the Library Square Public House. A drink sounded like a good way to ignore the heeding hell of what she'd just endured. She turned away from the approaching cab and crossed the busy intersection. She stepped inside of the bar to find the Vancouver Canucks game available for viewing on every major screen. The bar had a few spots open, but the rest of the establishment was quite full. She took a seat at the glossy, wooden bar top and comforted herself against the plush black leather stool. A bartender approached her, greeting her to a thick Australian accent, and arms covered in tattoos, but a dress shirt to glamorize himself. His slicked back brown hair and clean shaven face was the total opposite of Beauua's, and she appreciated looking at anyone who wasn't the man that had broken her heart.

"Greetings ma'am, what can I get started for you?"

"Any stout please."

"We've got a dahhk meadah."

"Uh, sure."

When he'd stepped away, she took a peek at the beer menu to clarify what he'd said in an accent she couldn't comprehend. "Dark matter," she snickered, looking up just in time to see him setting a glass before her.

Victoria looked to the right and saw a large wooden table, resembling a tree stump, with five seats around it. Three men and two women were watching the Canucks game on an even bigger screen, their excitement and happiness something she envied. Victoria pondered this, what it would be like to just once not be sitting solo. To have a group of friends to confide in.

While she stared, one of the men came over to the bar, catching her viewership. He sported a Canucks navy t-shirt below a black fitted blazer and trousers. His dark brown hair blended wonderfully with his tanned skin tone. He was upper crust like Beau, but still held a casual vibe. His natural smile made this all the more clear. It seemed Beau was never one to smile unless Victoria's love was in the picture. Now that she'd thought about it, she'd never seen him smile until the day she agreed to date him. 'Let him fall back into his miserable world,' she declared.

"Hi," the gentleman spoke to Victoria after placing his order. He looked down at her from the left, tilting his head to get a full view of her face.

"Good evening," she replied.

"Are you watching the Canucks game?"

"I am. Just walked in though, hope I didn't miss much."

"You didn't. Just a bad first period. Is your date in the bathroom?"

"I'm here alone."

"Why don't you come sit with my friends and I? The more Canucks fans, them merrier."

"Uh.."

"You look upset. I think you could use the company."

Victoria was impressed with his immediate reception of her pain. Although it was probably obvious she had been crying just moments before. His straightforwardness was a turn on. Beau waited how long, secretly fantasizing about her before he even had the nerve to say hello. What a coward.

"Sure."

"I'm Kevin."

"Victoria."

"Could you put her drinks on my tab?" Kevin wooed her with his statement to the bartender before picking up his lager and escorting her to his table.

"Hey guys, this is Victoria. She's here alone and she's gonna watch the game with us."

Everyone exchanged pleasantries before turning back to the game. The first period had just ended, and Kevin took this as a chance to get acquainted before the start of the next.

"You seem upset. I know I'm just a stranger, but feel free to confide in me. I'm a psychiatrist I should mention."

"You must be ultra receptive then. I just had my relationship end."

"What happened?"

"Long story short, he is embarrassed to be seen with me. I've put up with it for as long as I could, having him claim not to know me tonight was the last straw."

"How could someone be ashamed to show you off?" Kevin flirted, looking her up and down with a smile growing larger. He'd noticed her exposed sides and slender frame, getting even more enticed to know she was single.

"I'm his student."

"Oh! How old are you?"

"26. I'm only four years younger than he, therefore I do not see why he needs to act this way. I don't see what's so shameful."

"I do not either, he sounds like quite the fool to be a professor. What do you study?"

"English. I get my masters in a few months."

"A brilliant woman you are. I'm impressed with you already. As for your professor, I don't need to tell you that you made the right decision. The fact that he would even think to ditch you when you look this amazing is appalling, not to mention cold hearted. No one is worth your time that doesn't appreciate your company, and I'm sorry anyone would do that to you."

"That's very kind of you, thank you Kevin."

Victoria's evening lifted up immensely with her new table mates. The game had been a thrill ride as well, the team bouncing back from a 3 goal deficit. After a few spirits and good companionship, Victoria had nearly forgotten the traumatic outburst of the evening.

But not Beau, who had spent the entire performance sweating and hiding back his tears. He couldn't stop thinking of his prize and how much he'd hurt her. To think he'd actually lost her over something so stupid. He stewed in his seat and wanted so badly to leave the venue, find her, and win her back. When the show was over, Dean Chambers invited Beau for a drink. A drink seemed like the only cure for his post break up illness.

So when Beau and his guests entered Library Square Public House, and had a seat at a booth in the back, he nearly choked on his scotch neat when he saw Victoria. Even more so because her back was being caressed with another man's hand.

"Are you okay?" Rebecca asked.

"Uh, yeah. I just swallowed down the wrong pipe," he'd covered. No way would he start a scene in front of the Dean.

Beau pretended to be interested in their conversation, when really he was just eyeing Victoria with mad affinity. He'd half expected to have burnt a hole in her backside from glaring so hard. He knew he had no right whatsoever to be angry. This was karma for hurting both her and Ava. This was what he deserved.

"Are you interested in the game?" Dean asked.

"Uh, yes," Beau covered up.

"I didn't know you were a Canucks fan. I'm sure we could score some seats eventually. Preferably a suite."

"That would be fantastic."

Victoria smiled and celebrated in a shot with the rest of her tablemates when the Canucks game ended in victory. Beau watched her smiling and it pained him so. How could she look so happy just 2 hours after what had transpired?

"It's quite late and we have some engagements tomorrow. Do you mind if we leave?" Dean asked Beau.

"Not at all. I think I'll stay and watch the post game coverage. Thank you again for the seat upgrade. I'll cover this round of drinks."

"That's kind of you, Professor Edison. See you on campus."

The Dean and his girlfriend departed, leaving Beau to freely stare at Victoria. The fake smile was now gone, all he could do was hold back tears while he waited for their bill. She looked so luminous. Her exposed backside and breasts were to die for. He so badly wanted to walk up to her and kiss her neck. He could see her laying naked in his bed asleep, her back just as open for him to touch. And yet here another man was touching her skin the way he would. He slammed down the last of his drink as soon as he saw Victoria get up for the restroom. He immediately followed suit and waited in the long hall for her return.

Victoria came out of the restroom, climbing the few stairs before turning the corner to come face to face with the man she now loathed.

"What are you doing here Beau?"

"What are you doing with that man?" he immediately countered.

"I have nothing to explain to you. Please go back to kissing your boss' ass."

"I can't tell you enough of what a mistake I made. I can't let this night end without you telling me we can work this out."

"The answer is no. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to return to my fun evening."

He was out of a reasonable retort. He knew it was over, but he refused to take part in this decision. He had to make it known how much he loved her. He couldn't let her leave with another man.

"Victoria, if you leave with him, it will destroy me."

Victoria said nothing to this and continued down the hall, back to where Kevin was smiling eagerly for her return.

"Hey, do you want to get out of here?" Kevin asked.

"Sure," Victoria said, turning back to look Beau in the eyes as she said so. He didn't need to hear what she said to know exactly what was going on. He watched as they walked out, his hand still on her backside as they made their way to the street. His heart exploded as he gasped deeply in pain. He wouldn't let himself cry in public anymore this evening. Thankfully, he was so used to holding onto his pain within, letting it continue to eat up his already downtrodden insides.

He sat in his car in front of her house for an hour waiting for her to return home. When she still hadn't, he gave up and drove away. He couldn't spend another minute having the knowledge that at this very moment, another man was naked with her, touching her body, kissing her perfect lips..he just couldn't take it.

#

Victoria made out with Kevin on his sofa, enjoying the feel of his hands on her naked back, his luscious lips against hers, and knowing he was about to slip off her dress. That is, until her conscious got the best of her.

"Wait…" she pulled back.

"What's wrong?" Kevin asked.

"I'm sorry. You are really hot and I'd love to sleep with you, it's just that jumping into bed with someone literally hours after my relationship ends makes me feel horrible. Even if the bastard did ditch me in public on our date, I still feel this is shameful of me. I'm sorry to have wasted your time and lead you on."

Victoria, pulled her straps back up on her dress and straightened out the skirt portion.

"Please, don't be sorry. It's 2018, you're allowed to say no. I won't pretend like I'm not disappointed, but I'm an adult and I understand what you mean. I do hope that when you are ready to put yourself out there again for dating, that you'd call me first instead of wandering into another hockey bar," he laughed, prompting her to fall into a relaxed ease.

"I really appreciate that, thanks."

"Do you want me to drive you home?"

"No, it's okay. I think I'd like to walk. It's nice outside, and it would provide me with some clarity."

"You're lucky we're in such a safe area, otherwise I'd insist."

"You're a wonderful man, thank you again."

Victoria stood up and allowed Kevin to walk her to the door, where she kissed him on the cheek before stepping outside. She was only a few blocks away from her home, and she would have to walk passed Beauua's town home on the route.

As she passed by his home, she couldn't help but look toward his slightly opened curtains. She witnessed him sitting on his sofa. He was only in his pants now, looking completely distraught as he drank straight from a bottle of whiskey. The hurt was written all over his image. Dare she comfort him? She looked away and marched forward to her home.