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Of our college group, she was always the exotic-like one. She has a soft olive tone to her skin, which makes her tan easily in the summer. Her hair is a rich chestnut color, but it’s curly.
So curly.
She wears it short these days, and spends hours straightening it, but in college her hair used to go down to her butt.
When it doesn’t matter, she can be loud and flamboyant. But when she cares...that’s when she shuts down.
While it’s funny watching Saint flirt with her, it’s clear to me that she’s not interested but he’ll never catch on.
“Well, if you ladies need anything, we’ve got Ben and Shayne running the floor, and Colie and Jake on bar.” The center of my chest starts to itch as nerves jump in. “Have fun.” Saint taps the table twice before returning to his spot at the front door, checking IDs and handing out coins.
I’m having a hard time focusing though. The moment he said Jake’s name, I felt as if I was underwater. After I spent most of the last two hours convincing myself he wouldn’t be here tonight...
Dumb, dumb, dumb.
Of course he’s here tonight! It’s probably their busiest night!
“Oh. Jake,” Emina grins, writing her name and phone number on her coin before dropping it in the Enforcers bucket. “He was nice, wasn’t he?” She knows that he walked me home on Thursday, but I don’t think she realizes what the thought of him is doing to me.
For all she knows, he’s just a bartender here who was kind enough to make sure I got home safely.
Hell, that’s all he is!I scold myself. I shouldn’t be embarrassed. He did a nice thing for me on a bad night, and that’s all she wrote.
“He was,” I manage to agree, putting my head down to write on my own coin. While the zoo and trip sound fun—and I do enjoy a good, local wine—the box seats game night is what calls my name. Even if I don’t have twenty people to take with, it would be a fun experience.
“Table or bar?” Em asks as we move away from the prize table. Another group of people come over, taking our spots. Unlike us, they are not escorted by Saint, further cementing that Saint was indeed flirting with Emina.
“Table,” I answer, not too quickly, I hope. Thankfully, she doesn’t say anything and we find a high top available near a giant cut-out of a leprechaun, taped to the wall. Unlike the other night where we stood around the table, we both climb up into the tall chairs. I put my phone on the table, face down. It has an ambient display, where the time and temperature will flash on if it catches movement. It’s handy when I’m working—I can just move my hand over it as it sits at my desk, and the time will display—but it can be distracting at times, too.
It's not long after we sit that a woman comes to the table. I think I remember her from Thursday night, but it’s all a little fuzzy. She has short blonde hair in a cute, sassy cut that I’d love to try but know I’d never be able to pull off. There’s a single streak of green in it, too, something else I’d be afraid to try.
“Welcome to O’Gallaghers, ladies.” She places cocktail napkins in front of us both. “I’m Shayne. Can I get you both something to drink?”
“I’ll start with whatever’s on tap, please,” Emina says. “I’m not picky.”
“Sure. And for you?”
“I’ll do the same,” I answer out of habit, but then I remember the owner’s beer. “Actually, the other night I tried a beer the owners made? I don’t remember what it’s called.” I don’t even know that I was told the name of it, but she doesn’t need to know that.
“Yep. OG. I can get you that. Anything to eat?”
Emina and I look at one another, and say at the same time, “Shalaylees.” What’s better than a bite sized cheeseburger in a wonton boat?
Nothing.
The answer is nothing.
Grinning, Emina adds, “If you could. Please.”
“Sure thing. I’ll get that order in for you and your drinks out in a moment.”
Shayne walks away and I take a moment to look around, taking in the different people. It’s busy but not as busy as I figured it would be.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you.” My friend reaches to the middle of the table, laying her hand flat. “I got an inquiry for a destination wedding.And! They’d be open to a videographer.”
My brows lift and my smile is quick. “Really? Where to?” Emina started shooting weddings last summer, and she does a damn good job. Her client base grew mostly by word-of-mouth but I helped her build an online presence.
“Cabo.”
