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acop88 · 3 months ago

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The Lazy Bird Speakeasy

Tuesdays aren’t exactly the best day to hit a club, but it was on a Tuesday night that Amelia went out with her English co-workers to celebrate their impending summer freedom. Her best friend and co-teacher Layla, the other sophomore English II teacher Zoe, Layla’s boyfriend and yearbook teacher Trent, and the very cool (and very gay) Brad, another co-teacher. They had heard about a speakeasy underneath the Hoxton hotel in Chicago’s West Loop and wanted to check it out.

Layla and Trent led the way through the ritzy lobby of the hotel, the other three trailing behind, gabbing as they went. “I think it’s this way,” Trent sighed. “I think…”

“I heard it’s in the basement, so surely there’s a staircase somewhere.” Amelia laughed and pointed toward the south side of the lobby. “Stairs to the basement.”

“Our little navigator,” Brad said, pinching her cheek as they walked along, arm-in-arm. “Let’s find it, I’m ready to get my flirt on.”

She giggled. “I wonder how many people will be here, it’s pretty early.” It had just passed 9:00. They were coming from a taco joint across the street, where the margaritas flowed freely. She didn’t usually drink but Amelia felt like celebrating. It had been one of her toughest years in the classroom yet, year 6 in Chicago.

The group walked down the stairs, where there was an arrow pointing down and the logo for the Speakeasy on the wall. As they rounded the last landing, there was a row of books at the end of the long hallway and another group in front of them, looking confused. Three guys and two girls were searching amongst the books, the last girl turning around upon hearing footsteps behind her.

“Hey, finally, some reinforcements. We don’t get the riddle.” The girl was pretty and thin, dolled up in a skintight black dress and maybe a little younger than them in her late 20s. She had dark brown hair and a thankful smile. “Google let us down.”

Layla and Trent were first to come up to the frame in the center of the bookcase. It was a riddle that read “I am a symbol of beauty and grace, yet my choices leave a bitter trace. I long for love, but wealth I chase, In East Egg’s charm, I find my place.”

Amelia, Brad, and Zoe walked up next, reading it in their heads, and then looked at each other. “Daisy Buchanan.” The three laughed, looking around at the other books around them.

The two guys to Amelia’s left smiled at her, one Hispanic looking guy and a taller, athletic African American guy. His eyes looked back to the frame, and to her. “Do you know who it is?”

“East Egg is a fictional island from the Great Gatsby, where the old money lived. Daisy Buchanan was Gatsby’s long-lost love.” She smiled back at him. “We’re high school English teachers.”

The taller one smiled brighter, taking a step closer to her. “So, we must have to find something with a daisy on it? What do y’all think?”

She nodded, not at all trying to find a book, but looking up at him. He was handsome, at least 6’3” and had the kindest light brown eyes. He was wearing a dark blue chambray button-up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his arms were huge. “Agreed.”

His friends to the far right, the pretty girl and her boyfriend with light bleached hair at the tips found the book. “This shelf has it!” She pulled it back, and the bookcase started to open from the middle, revealing a small doorway.

The group was relieved.

“We’re a bunch of detectives,” the man said, looking from the door back to her again. He smiled brightly, raising his left hand to her for a high-five. “Good teamwork.”

She bit her lip, dorkily raising her right to meet his. It looked very small in comparison to his, and she gently pulled away.

Both sets of friends seemed to pick up on the staring contest and walked into the room without the man or Amelia. It was louder now, the basement beyond the bookcase revealing a dimly lit bar, with 3-4 smaller areas with couches and booths, small tables adjoining.

“Do you detectives have anywhere to sit,” Amelia asked, breaking the staring contest. It seemed like they were looking at each other for a minute straight. “I mean, my group reserved that red couch area, and we should have some extra room.”

He smiled bigger. “That would be great. This was kind of a last-minute decision to come here….my partner Adam wanted to try it.” He held out his left hand, gesturing for her to walk in first, and they found both sets of friends talking in the far-left corner, where the red leather couch she’d reserved was situated.

Her friend Brad was eagerly talking to blonde girl from the man’s group. They both smiled brightly at their friends. “So, I invited them to sit with us,” Brad stated, eyeing Amelia and the man. “I think we need introductions.” He sat on the closest corner of the couch, with the blonde and Zoe next to him.

Trent and Layla were on chairs across from the leather couch, with the other couple and the Hispanic guy on the others 3, leaving the only space to sit down on the far corner of the couch. Amelia sat next to Zoe, with the man on the end. Her dotted green dress had a slit on her left side, and her bare knee grazed against his jeans.

“I’m Brad,” her friend stated, starting the conversation. “These are my favorite co-workers Layla and Trent. This is Zoe. Aaaand this lovely creature is Amelia,” he gestured to her, winking at the handsome man beside her.

“Amelia,” the man said, smiling at her. He chuckled at the wink and looked around to his friend. “So, I’m Kevin and this is my team, Hailey (the blonde), Dante (the Hispanic guy) and Adam and Kim.” Everyone started chatting to those around them, leaving Amelia and Kevin to turn closer together. “So can I buy you a drink, as a thank you? Ya’ll saved the day.”

Amelia smiled, nodding. “That’d be great. Want to head up to the bar?” She shot up and met Brad’s knowing smile as Kevin followed her ten feet north to the wrap-around bar. It looked like it had been there for 100 years, very art-deco, with bartenders dressed all in black. “Sorry for my friend,” she told him, grabbing an available stool on the left side. “He’s a bit of a drama king.”

He joined her, chuckling to himself. “They seem really cool.” The music coming from the corner was much louder up there, so he leaned into her right ear. “So do you.” He kept her gaze before sliding over a menu from the corner. “What’s your drink of choice?”

She looked it over, settling on her usual order of a Moscow mule, pointing at it. “This is looking good. What about you?”

He pointed to the old-fashioned. “Seems appropriate for the theme. Was that Gatsby’s drink?”

“He didn’t drink, funny enough. He just threw the parties to get Daisy’s attention.”

He nodded. “It’s been forever since I’ve read anything like that. Do you teach it?”

“I do,” she smiled. “Did. We’re celebrating our summer break starting.”

“Good way to start the summer,” Kevin smiled brighter, biting his lip again as he looked her over. She had a cropped black leather jacket that hit her at waist level, and her left leg was slightly exposed again from the slit in the dress.

She felt sexy in his presence, shifting her posture closer to him, her wedges hitting the legs of the bar stool. “What brings you guys here?”

He looked down at the menu again, smile fading slightly. “We just got off a tough case, wanted to blow off some steam.” He looked back at her. “I don’t really do places like this, but I got talked into tagging along. Good team bonding, you know?” He started looking around the room as she nodded. “Plus I heard it was 90s night.”

“I don’t either,” she admitted. “And I’m sorry about your case…can I…ask about it?”

“I can’t get into a lot of details, but I was undercover. Got to know a young brother, he got into it with some patrol officers, and he ended up getting shot.” He looked down, rubbing his knees. “But it’s a long story…. I’d rather talk about you,” he said cheekily, bumping up against her right side.

She smiled. “Well, if you need to talk about it later, I’m here. I’m an excellent listener.” Was he flirting? Was she flirting back? It had been a while.

“I can tell. But I am too, lay it on me.”

Just as he said that the bartender headed their way, a smaller white guy with tattoos on his neck. “What’ll it be for you two?”

“Can we get an old-fashioned and a Moscow Mule?” He pulled out a black credit card from his left jeans pocket. “And two waters.”

The bartender rang them up and handed back the card.

“So where are you from?”

“I live in Roscoe Village,” she said, turning back toward him. “But I’m not from here, I’m from Cleveland.”

“I can tell.”

“How?”

“It’s going to sound weird, but you’re naturally pretty. Chicago girls wear ten pounds of makeup.” He grinned. “I’m from Chicago so I can say that.”

She blushed a little bit. “Where in Chicago?”

“Bronzeville, but I live here in the West Loop. That’s where I’m stationed.”

They got their drinks. “I’m so sorry about your case, though. We lost two of our students this year to violence, I don’t know how anyone can get used to that.”

“Not like Cleveland, huh?”

“I’ve been here for six years and it’s the only thing I don’t understand about this place, the violence is crazy.” She paused, playing with the rim of her gold cup. “But I’m glad there’s good people trying to protect it.”

He took a sip of his whiskey, smiling. “I’m not really ready to go back to our friends, are you?”

“I could stay here a bit.” She took a sip of her drink too. They talked for almost an hour, about everything and anything; her family, his family. Politics. Music. They were finishing up their drinks when her phone went off. “I’m being called to the ladies�� room, I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be here,” he said, licking his lips as she stood.

Her legs were shaking as he did so, and she felt like doing a little sashay toward the bathroom, her wedges clicking in a rhythm against the dark hardwood floor. When she walked in, Zoe and Layla were right by the sinks. “Hi.”

“Heeeeey,” they said in unison.

She blushed. “What’s up?”

“He’s cute,” Zoe said. “We wanted to let you know that that’s the only reason we’re okay with you ditching us.”

“I did not ditch you guys, we just…..got into some good conversation at the bar.” Her smile widened as she checked the mirror. She was blushing hard, but it accentuated the minimal makeup she put on for tonight - just a bit of mascara and tinted ChapStick. “Are you guys having fun?”

“Not as much as you,” Layla said with a smirk, grabbing her arm. “We also wanted to let you know that the detectives are super nice, and they have nothing but good things to say about Kevin. He’s only a few months older than you, 33.”

“I know,” she said with a sarcastic haughty tone, smiling. “We talked about that. And his family, and them, and a lot of things. I didn’t realize it was almost 10:30.” She took out her tinted Chapstick from her purse and freshened up her lips.

“Aaaaaand Kim and I were talking,” Zoe said. “He’s dated a little bit but not seriously in the last year. She said they’ve worked together for nearly ten years and he’s a teddy bear. They have crazy work hours and it’s hard to meet people. That’s why she’s dating someone on her team.”

Amelia nodded. “Interesting.”

“Are you going to come back to us? You can get cozy on the couch with him,” Layla said with a smirk. “I’m a little jealous.”

“You’re dating someone,” Zoe replied, laughing and splashing her with some water as she washed her hands.

“We don’t flirt like that anymore,” She frowned. “I’m living vicariously.”

“Anyway,” Zoe said. “Brad and I think that you should come back to the couch area and dance.”

Amelia smiled, taking off her jacket, draping it around her arms. Her multi-colored Fossil bag stood out against her teal dress, showing off her decolletage even more. “Does this look slutty now? I’m burning up.”

“Yeah you are, girl,” Layla said, smacking her on her bottom. “Go see what Kevin thinks?”

Amelia nodded, taking a deep breath and headed back out to the bar. Kevin was in the same stool, checking his hair in the mirror at the back shelves. It was neat and twisted. He smiled as she sat back down, looking down at her bare arms.

“Welcome back. Everything okay?”

“They just wanted to check in. See if you were a creeper….” She took a sip of water. “I got hot.”

He smirked. “What did you tell them?”

“I did not say that you were a creeper, I promise.”

“I trust you.” He looked at her dress, then at her lips, now shinier from the Chapstick. “You look great.”

“Thanks.” She started fanning herself. “I told them that I lost track of time, that I’m having a really nice time, actually.”

“Me too.”

A slower song came over the loudspeakers than they’d heard all night, a 90s R&B song. “Man this is an old song.” She recognized it as “I Wanna Know” by Joe.

“Do you want to dance?” His soft expression was hopeful, as he looked from her to the handful of couples dancing closer to their friends by the red couch.

She nodded, following his lead and standing up. They walked over to the couch so she could drop off her jacket and her bag, leaving it in the capable hands of Zoe who gave her a big grin.

Kevin gently grabbed her hand, pulling her closer to him to the side of the band, and rested both of his hands on her lower back, just under her waist. There was a six-piece band and a male and female singer. “Don’t look now, but I think we’re being watched.”

She rested her hands on the back of his shoulders, not wanting to look away. They were wide and strong, and her stomach was doing flips. “Oh yeah, I love my crew but they’re nosy.”

He chuckled, “Mine is too.”

“I think this was the first song that I ever slow danced to,” she admitted, recognizing the chorus.

“Had to have been about middle school, right?”

Amelia nodded, looking deeper into his eyes. He was a good five inches taller than her, and she felt so small in his presence, yet so safe. He smoothed his fingers up and down her back, noticing her get the chills.

“Are you okay?” He inched his head down, closer to her left ear as the music got louder.

She smiled, feeling their bodies press closer, and nodded. He smelled so good, a little musky and a little sweet. Teakwood and tobacco. There was a hint of whiskey on his breath. “Just got a little cold.”

“I gotchu,” he said, taking a step closer so now that there was no room between them.

Amelia’s eyeline was at his lips. She swayed back and forth, their rhythm becoming one. Her heartbeat was quick, butterflies rushing around her stomach as his left hand grabbed her right, intertwining her arm into his and resting it against his chest, the only thing separating them. She noticed roman numerals on his hand. “Can I ask about your tattoo?”

“It’s for my brother and sister,” he replied softly, into her right ear, the chorus getting louder. “I was twelve when they were born, and I wanted something to keep me accountable to them.”

“I couldn’t imagine being a parent at that age.”

“I’d do it again in a heartbeat. It’s one of the things I’m most proud of in my life, but with them in Texas I’m ready to take some time for me.” He licked his lips, looking down, into her eyes. “I mean, I’m ready to show someone else what I got to give.”

“Anyone in mind,” she asked, a flirtatious smile teasing her lips.

“As a matter of fact, there is someone...She’s got the prettiest smile I’ve ever seen.” He let go of her hand, moving both of his down further to the sides of her hips, closing all space between them.

She didn’t move her gaze from his for a moment, nearly freezing in her tracks. He tenderly dug his fingers into her sides, reassuring her.

“I wanna know…how to keep these couples dancing.” The chorus was repeating over and over, nearing the end of the song. The male singer sang out, then the tempo leading into the next song quickened. “This one goes out to the lovers out there…I like the way you work it.”

Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” was being played, followed by some slightly faster songs.

Amelia and Kevin danced silently, closely, sometimes face to face and sometimes cuddling from her back. The band took a break at 11:30 and so they walked over to check on their friends, who were all still conversing on the red couch.

“You guys looked great out there,” Brad said, grinning at her, waving his phone. She sat down next to him in the middle of the couch and took the hint and opened her bag as Kevin rested a hand on the back of her bare shoulder.

“I’m going to get some more water, you want something?”

“Same, please,” she said, a thankful smile, watching him walk over to the bar.

“I like him,” Braid said, watching him too. “Smart guy.”

She smiled brighter. “You having fun?”

“I am, but mainly because you look happier than I’ve ever seen you. You two were practically fucking on the dance floor.”

Zoe overheard this tidbit and leaned over. “That’s what I said.”

Amelia blushed. “Do you think it would be weird if I asked him to take me home?” She saw their reactions, her eyes getting wider. “You know, drive me home. I carpooled with you guys but I’m getting kind of tired.”

“Not at all,” Hailey, the blonde chimed in. “Sorry, we’ve spent half of the night talking about you two.”

“I think you should,” Brad added. “Definitely. You look so happy.”

“We should go get a drink,” Zoe talked to the other two on the couch. “And give them a little privacy.”

“I agree, I could use another.” Hailey smiled at her.as she stood. “Nice to have met you, Amelia.”

Kevin came back just as the three left, handing her a glass.

“Thanks.” She took a gulp appreciatively.

“Did I miss more talk about me being a creep?” He sat down close to her, chuckling.

“Not at all, I was just getting some advice.”

He took a drink and put the glass down on the coffee table. “Advice, huh?”

She nodded, turning her body toward him. “I didn’t want to be too weird, but I was going to ask if you would mind driving me home? I’m getting a little tired.”

He stretched his right arm across the back of the red velvet and smiled. “You took the words right outta my mouth. Just let me tell my team we’re dipping.”

They said their goodbyes to each respective friend group and headed back out to the hallway. The blast of cool air was chilly, and the bright light took some getting used to at first. She stopped to put her jacket back on, and he gently took her hand in his and led her out to the hotel of the parking lot. They didn’t say anything to each other until they reached his car, enjoying the comfortable silence.

“This is me,” he said, leading her over to a blue Dodge. It was low and sleek. Kevin let go of her hand and opened the passenger’s side door for her.

She smiled up at him, not breaking the comfortable silence as he gingerly shut the door. She saw him do a little shuffle over to the driver’s side as he sat down himself. “I saw that.”

He gave a slight shrug, eyeing her up and down before putting in the key. “So Roscoe village?”

“Yep, Belmont and North Leavitt.”

“I think I know the way. Close to Hamlin Park?”

She nodded, smiling, settling back into the leather seat. The inside of the car was immaculate, which she wasn’t expecting. He’d said that he uses his car every day for work – she wondered if he was a neat freak. He was very well groomed. “I like the way you say ‘Park.;”

He put the Hellcat in reverse swiftly and pulled out of the lot. “How do I say it?”

“It’s very Chicago; very smooth.”

He smirked. “That’s just me, you know. The ride, the vibe. I’m cool like that.”

She chuckled. “I couldn’t agree more.”

They chatted more about the car and her neighborhood as they got closer to the condo. At one point a car sped out in front of them, and he reached his right arm out to her leg as he slammed on brakes. His hand rested on her bare knee for a moment, where the slit in her dress parted, and they made eye contact for a second. “Sorry, you, okay?”

“That was totally the mustang’s fault.” Her hand rested on him reassuringly, feeling his strong touch on her bare skin made her realize her stomach butterflies were moving south.

He squeezed her hand, before taking off again. “I had a lot of fun tonight,” he started, eyes on the road. “Do you think you’d want to get together again?”

“A proper date?”

He smiled brighter, looking at her as they approached another red light. “What do you consider a proper date?”

“One without an audience of judging friends,” she said with a laugh.

He agreed, nodding. “Yeah, that was a little weird. But I’m glad I was coerced to come out tonight.”

“Oh, this is my building up here,” she said, as he almost drove by. He pulled up to the tree on the corner and put his blue sedan in ‘park’. “Let me put my number in your phone.”

He handed her his Apple phone after unlocking it with his passcode, and she typed in her number and texted him her name. He replied. “Which one is yours?”

‘I’m the one in the middle.”

He got out and met her at the passenger door. “What do you think about dinner Friday night? Italian?”

“I love Italian food.” She opened the iron gate to her building. “It’s a date.”

He closed the gate behind him, following her up to the front door. It was set further back from the first-floor porch.

She got out her key from her purse and unlocked the bottom doorknob, leading him up one flight of stairs. There was a narrow landing for them to stand by her door, apartment #2. “Thanks for taking me home.”

He looked down at her, her back almost to the door. “It just adds to my smoothness.”

She giggled, reaching up on her wedge shoes to give him a hug. Her arms wrapped around the back of his neck, fingers brushing up against textured hair at the nape.

Kevin grazed her lower back, leaning his upper body backward for a moment to look into her eyes, silently searching for permission.

Amelia smiled, nodding a little, and leaned her chin up to the right to meet his lips. Her stomach did a little dance, and her heart beat the fastest it had all night.

He broke away for a split second, more of a smug look on his face, “Mmm mmm. I’m gonna need another one of those.”

She reached up again, hands now on his pecs, smiling into the kiss.

He moved his hands up to grab hers and interlaced their fingers by their sides. His tongue asked for entrance as he did so, and they held back and forth for about a minute before needing to come up for air. “Damn.”

She bit her lip shyly but held eye contact.

He smiled, swinging her left hand for a moment, then up to his lips. “I’ll call you tomorrow? With the plan.”

“Sounds good.” She grabbed her key from her bag again, unlocking the door at the sound of her Pittie mix, Rocco. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.” He watched her walk into her apartment and grinned, in disbelief of the last 4 hours.

Amelia smiled brightly to herself after she closed her door, rushing her dog in a hug. It was an eventful and amazing night.

#kevin atwater fanfiction #chicago pd

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