A rebound

“I am telling you, man, it’s going to work, trust me.” Jack argued in defense of his wild plan.

“Shit, man, come on, you know I don’t have the courage to do that, so what’s the point?”

Owen replied with his eyes drifting to his drink; It was painful for Jack to see Owen like this. It took Jack years to gain the self-confidence he now had, and that wasn’t even enough to call a restaurant and make an order.

“Fine, then I will do it for you.” Jack proclaimed and took a big chug of his beer, finishing the pint.

“And what would that help? You just broke up with your ex, like this is why we are here. you are smart enough to know it’s too soon for you.” Owen was now eyeing Jack. “I mean if you were talking about a one night stand...that you make sure the girl is also aware of it being a one night stand ...obviously. Then I would have told you, “go get them, tiger,” But you are not into one-night stands, are you?”

“No…” Jack slumped back in his chair; Owen was right, of course. Even if the hottest girl in the bar would have invited him to her house, he would still refuse her and ask her on a date instead. He knew this because while it’s arguable, they weren’t “the hottest” girls in the club, he did precisely that...twice.

“Look, I broke up with her after a month of thinking about it, and honestly, I am happier than I was in awhile. I am good. I mean it.” Jack paused as the waitress brought them both a fresh pint; taking a sip, he continued, “I tell you what, I am going to go there, and I am going to do it. I will just make sure that they know I am the wingman and not the pilot. And like I told you before, I won’t search for it, but I won’t close the door on its face, okay? ”

Owen sighed and locked eyes with Jack; the two were best friends for years now. And Jack was an easy man to read, so he let the subject go. If Jack believed he was good, he was good. Plus, Owen didn’t see a problem with a one-night stand like Jack did, so even if he “made a mistake” by his own moral code. Owen doubted there were going to be many people who will agree with him.

Jack took a big sip from his pint, then wiped his newly grown beard.

“Alright, I am going, wish me luck,” Jack said while he stood up.

“Good luck, man, you gonna need it.”

Jack looked around the tables, in reality, he already knew which table he would approach. Spotting that particular table is what started the entire conversation in the first place.

Two of the most beautiful ladies Jack has ever seen sitting just a few tables over.

Jack swallowed some spit as he walked towards the ladies. The one on his left was a short blonde woman who wore her hair in a knot. She was wearing a sports jacket that she sometimes opened to reveal her sports bra when the wind died down, and it has become a bit hotter in the summer night, as well as sports tight and running shoes. Now Jack and Owen couldn’t help themselves, and both were trying to listen in on the two ladies’ conversation during their night. They couldn’t hear anything, the ladies were sitting quite a distance away, but everyone in the pub could hear this girl laughing. It was a pure and innocent laugh, one that makes you believe she just heard the best thing in the world right now. Just as Jack thought that the girl laughed again, reveal a perfect smile to go along with that fantastic laugh. And beautiful deep green eyes that almost make you forget yourself. Jack smiled to himself, this girl, he had a good feeling about this girl.

“Hello ladies, I am sorry if I am interrupting, but can I ask for your help in something?”

Jack walked to the bar where they were sitting. Jack was delighted that they were sitting at the bar as that meant his 6’3 frame wouldn’t tower over them...too much.

The blonde girl smiled at him and then looked at her friend, who Jack only managed to catch a quick glimpse of, as she was sitting with her back to his table. But now that he saw her he couldn’t help but stare, she was wearing big round glasses on her round face yet pointy chin and cheekbones, she also wore sports ware, but her clothes were very loose and long. Almost as if her body shape was not something just anyone can lay their eyes on, it would need to be a special accusation for her to wear anything tight on her body. And she was probably going to hate every minute of it.

“Yes, you can. How can we help you?”

The blonde girl replied and did so rather quickly, and Jack was thankful for that as only her reply managed to snap him out of his trance. Hoping neither lady noticed his staring, he reminded himself of the reason why he approached this table. He was going to prove to Owen he can be an excellent wingman. The second these girls walked into the pub, Owen’s eyes lit up. Every time this girl laughed, he melted in his seat. Not having the confidence to approach her, Jack came here to make a move for him. To be fair, he was also returning a favor, although his last relationship just ended; It started when Owen “stole’ Jack’s phone and made a move for him after Jack spent four hours debating on how he should do it.

“Right, so me and my friend over, there have a few bets going on, and I was just wondering if you ladies can help decide who is the winner?”

Jack’s mind was in a full-on panic, he hoped that was not showing on his face, but he was somewhat doubtful.

The blonde girl on his left giggled to herself a bit as she once again looked at her friend, which Jack made a point to avoid looking at. Then said

“Sure, go ahead. What’s the bet.”

At this point, Jack was sure they were laughing at him, but he got this far might as well stick to the plan.

“Alright, so the first bet is like this. I say that you can just approach a girl in a pub with a random made-up story. “Like a bet you made with your friend.” and ask her to weigh in. And if she laughs and agrees, then you can buy her a drink and...you got your conversation started.”

Jack was sweating. See, this was the first time he is the one who approached a girl in a pub. While he talked with girls, he never met in pubs. It was always either they make the first contact, or one of his friends made the first contact with their group.

They both laughed...A colossal weight released from Jack’s shoulders, they both laughed, and it was clear they weren’t laughing at him. They liked it; maybe they enjoyed the balls of coming over and basically admitting exactly what you are doing when trying a pickup line on them. Perhaps the originality of it, or maybe they were just laughing at him.

“You damn right.”

The girl on his left managed to say while also trying to catch her breath, success!

Now Jack just had to make sure she knows that he is not the one on the market.

“Yes!”

Jack exclaimed over-enthusiastically.

“Alright, now for the second bet, and this is the big one. The second bet is...Whatever or not, I can get you two to join us at our table and be an awesome wingman to my friend over there.” Jack, without any regards to social norms, pointed straight at Owen

“Who, and I promised him not to say this but, who was smitten by you the second you walked into the pub.”

This got the girl to release a real-life “awe” and then took a good look at Owen, also quite harshly disregarding social norms. This made Jack feel a bit better about his staring a few seconds ago, but also reminded him of his starting a few seconds ago, and he couldn’t help but sneak another glance at the other girl. He also couldn’t stop himself from biting his lips while doing so, he cursed himself for that and everted his eyes back to the girl on his left.

“Okay, now that I won the first bet, I am going to buy you a round of drinks. Then I will go back to my table, which you are invited to join and share that drink with us. I hope you both like tequila.”

Jack then didn’t wait for the girls’ response and singled to the bartender who was polishing glasses of wine very close to where they were talking. The bartender looked up and nodded twice, and Jack then realized the bartender was eavesdropping. While shaking his head, he giggled to himself and turned back to the girls, who were both shocked at his abrupt exit.

“Hope we will talk again very soon.”

Jack said while he smiled, and it’s important to point out here that Jack was a few pints deep at this point, so he bowed to them, then turned around and walked by to his table.

“So, how did it go?”

Owen asked before Jack could even take his seat.

“First of all, terrified god damn, this is the first time I approached a girl in a pub.”

Jack tossed his body to the chair, faking exhaustion.

“But I think it went well, only the blonde responded, and when I told her I am the wingman and you are the pilot of this mission. (I used nicer words to say that, of course) She took a looking at you, and she seemed very interested.” Jack proclaimed in pride

Owen, who now couldn’t contain his excitement and anticipation, looked giddy and speechless.

“But….” Jack trailed off, and Owen’s excitement died just as quickly as it came.

“What?!” Owen yelled a bit too loud, considering they were in a pub.

“Relax… It’s just the other girl…” Jack trailed off again

“What about the other girl?” Owen asked in a whispered whip of a tone.

“Well shit man, when I saw her I might have stared too much…. And then completely ignored her because I couldn’t stop staring at her if I didn’t” Jack got the words out of his mouth as fast as he could, in an attempt to make them sound better. This only made it sound worse, of course, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized he probably fucked it up.

“Seriously, man?” Owen asked in disbelief.

“What was I supposed to do? Just stare at her? I am telling you it was either ignoring her or staring at her. I think I made the right choice here, okay?” Jack cried out in admission of guilt.

“Yeah yeah, you are right; oh well, I knew it wouldn’t work anyway,” Owen said and returned to sipping his beer.

Jack’s confidence was deflated. The adrenaline rush he got from talking to the ladies was now gone, and he once again sunk into his chair. That is until the bartender cam around with three tequila shots, some lemons, and salt.

“This is on the house, man. I respect what you did there.” The bartender smiled as he placed the shots on the table. Jack and Owen looked at each other, laughed a bit, and raised their shot glasses after licking and pouring salt on the back of their hands. After swallowing the foul liquid, they all washed it down with some lemon juice.

“Hey, did you hear what they said after I left?” Jack asked quickly before the bartender leaves their table.

The bartender stopped in place for a second, then smiled. “It worked on the blonde. She is still trying to convince her friend to join your table.” The bartender trailed off as his smile disappeared. “But I don’t think her friends will be convinced.”

Jack threw his head backward, feeling genuinely bad. He ruined it. Owen and that girl might have been made for each other. And he just had that feeling that they were! But he ruined it for Owen.

The bartender seeing Jack’s reaction quickly continued, “I don’t think it’s because of you, man!” Jack looked back up towards the bartender, who waited to see Jack’s eyes. “From what I heard, she just broke up with an abusive boyfriend, and she does not dig guys right now.”

Jack smiled a thankful smile to the bartender, who smiled back and cleared their table.

“So close, man, you actually got her as well, nothing you could have done with her friend being there.” Owen tried to comfort Jack

“Yeah….” Jack said in a tone that meant he has an idea that he is thinking about right now.

“What? What are you thinking?” Owen asked, worried it would be crazy as it most often was when he used this tone.

“I also just broke up with my ex. Neither of us is looking for a relationship she probably doesn’t want to come here because she thinks once you two are hitting it off, I will try to hit on her as well” Jack started explaining his line of reasoning to Owen, who was right, the plan Jack thought of was crazy...and there was very little Owen can do to stop Jack from doing it.

“So I am going to tell her that I am not going to hit on her. I am not looking for a relationship. Let’s both of us just be good wingmen for our friends.” Jack finished off excitedly. In his mind, that plan was perfect, and he was going to go and do it right now. All Owen could do is shake his head and watch as Jack left towards the bar.

“Hey, sorry for interrupting again…” Jack began before even reaching the bar, making sure the ladies could hear him, though.

“Can I just ask?; Why not?” Jack pleaded to the blonde girl. He knew from the bartender that this girl wanted to say yes.

She looked at her friend for a few seconds, and Jack followed her gaze until he locked eyes with her friend.

“Oh…” He said, “I am so sorry… I ignored you completely, haven’t I?” Jack asked in shame. The girl’s eyes grew wider, almost as wide as her glasses. “I am really sorry… honestly...I just broke up with my girlfriend a few days ago, and I am just not in the right place. You know, I feel like it won’t be fair for me to try and hit on a girl so soon. Both for my ex’s sake, my own, and especially the girl’s.” The girl stared at Jack for a few seconds, and Jack, who was usually really good at reading people, had no idea what this girl was thinking right now.

“The bartender told you, didn’t he?” She eventually replied, which made her friend, Jack, and the bartender, who was still polishing glasses very close by to go wide-eyed.

Jack smiled and chuckled in embarrassment. He then cleared his throat quite literally holding back tears and said, “Yes...He did. I am not lying, though. I know how this sounds like I am just saying stuff that you can relate to so you will like me, and I can hit on you. But the only reason I am here is that he told me your reason was your recent breakup. So I assumed the reason you didn’t want to come was that you didn’t want me to hit on you, and I just wanted to let you know that while the first time I saw your face, I couldn’t look away even if I tried (and I tried) I would not make a move on you, because I would just end up hating myself at the end of it.” Jack took a big breath in and out after he finished speaking, turned to the bartender, nodded once to get the ladies their next round on him.

“I honestly just wanted to be a good wingman to my best friend, I swear that was my only intention” Jack talked with his head bowed low, which made for quite a comic sight considering his height. He then turned around and walked to his table.