True Nature by Willow Madison

head.
    Becca answers seriously though, "It's about time!" I smile at her, she's the mother hen to Dan's big brother routine.
    Dan just keeps looking at me. I shake my head and Mike and I head back into the living room.
    We find a guy I don't know standing over Lucy and Stephie. He's right in front of Lucy, though. She has a half-full flute in her hand, again, too.
    She's laughing as I walk up to the guy. I don't say anything, just take in what's happening. The guy is obviously looking down her dress and standing too close, his own flute empty. She's leaning back, but laughing loudly, tits shaking too much, taking a sip of champagne. I have to calm my instant reaction, taking a breath before taking the step into her view.
    She sees me and a look of confusion crosses her face. She's reacting to the steely look I can feel, my jaw clenched, lips pressed into a tight line. "Hey..." She sees the glasses in my hand, Mike standing behind me and she freezes in mid-greeting. Stephie just looks at Mike with a hand out for her gin and tonic, a small smile on her face.
    I imagine for a second what I would like to do in this situation....if Lucy and I were further along in our relationship. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself, my fingers squeezing both flutes. Good thing Becca insists on good glasses or I might need stitches tonight. I allow a grin to cross my features.
    As Lucy falters, the guy turns in my direction. Mike immediately steps in between us. "Hey, we haven't met...I'm Dan's old college buddy, Mike. This is Max." He remains between us. The guy smiles slightly and takes in the two glasses in my hands. He figures out that Lucy is with me and he quickly takes a step back. He's probably also reacting to my hard look and tensed arms.
    "I work with Dan in publishing." He quickly puts out his hand for Mike to shake, then for me. I just shrug sarcastically with the two glasses still in my hands. Stephie jumps up to stand next to Mike, with a quick glance at me and eyes wider for a second, a smirk on her lips.  I move passed him and look at Lucy.
    She has the most perfect look of guilt and shame...like I caught her in the act of misbehaving. I have to stop myself from smiling...I want to keep that look on her face as long as I can. She looks down at the glass in her hand already and then back up at me. She tries to smile, but only gets to a small one before  stopping again.
    I hand her the glass of wine I'm holding and she takes it with a small, "Thanks," now holding two glasses, looking embarassed again.
    I lean over her slowly and put my hand on the other glass, with an edge to my voice and a wink, "I'll take this for you." I take it out of her hand violently quick, the liquid swishing, but not leaving the glass, the base of the flute hitting her fingers. She just looks up at me with the perfect cocktail of emotions...a heaping amount of shame with a splash of fear. I sit next to her and put my hand high on her thigh.
    I ignore the guy as he quickly walks away; Mike pulls Stephie away, too, she gives us one last look over her shoulder.
    I decide not to say something about her behaviour...we're not there yet...not the right time to reveal that much of myself...and certainly not around a bunch of other people. Lucy is rubbing her fingers against the coolness of the glass I gave her. I take her hand and kiss her palm, her fingers are a little red where the flute hit them, but she relaxes somewhat.
    "Is that bourbon in your hand, mister?!" She's leaning over me now, looking at the drink I'm holding.
    "Yes." I'd forgotten all about teasing her with it. "Knob Creek actually...I believe you're familiar with it." I'm grinning at her now.
    She hits my chest and leans over me. I notice her glass is nearly empty again. "Give me that!" She reaches for the glass, but I just leave it on the arm of the sofa, out of her reach, pushing her shoulder back with my hand.
    "Nope...told you. Not a little girl's drink." Our faces are close