I was a little miffed at my BFF for making me come out for nothing and miss dinner with Jake but decided to give her apass. She didn’t have kids yet, so she didn’t understand. I knew she wasn’t intentionally being thoughtless.
Laura: How about two weeks from tomorrow? I’ll pay for a sitter if Carrie or your parents can’t watch Jake, and I promise I’ll be there before you, and drinks will be on me. Plus, you’ll have all weekend to recover.
Again, she didn’t understand that just because I wasn’t working, didn’t mean I had no other responsibilities. Keeping a two-year old alive was no simple feat. Not something easily done hungover.
Me: It’s a soft yes.
Laura: Again, I’m so sorry, and I apologize for not texting sooner. I feel awful making you wait by yourself.
Me: It’s okay. I’ve been chatting with the bartender, Derrick.
Laura: He’s not the bartender. He’s the owner. I think Vicky fucked him last year.
Me: I don’t want to sleep with him, but he’s been really nice. It makes sense, knowing he’s the owner.
Laura: Maybe he has a brother.
Me: Maybe. I’ll talk to you this weekend. Don’t work too hard.
Laura: Love you. Thanks for understanding.
Me: Love you, too.
I set my phone on the bar and slipped my purse off the back of my chair as I smiled at Derrick.
“Well, my friend isn’t going to make it, she has to work late, so we’re going to try again two weeks from tomorrow.” I pulled my wallet from my purse. “What do I owe you?”
“Aw, I’m sorry she couldn’t come,” he waved his hand. “The soda’s on me. Thanks for keeping me company.”
“Likewise,” I said as I slid off the barstool. “Thanks for the Coke.”
“Are you guys meeting here when you go out again?”
“I think so.”
“Good. I hope to see you then. Have a nice night.”
“You, too.”
I left with a smile. Even though the evening had been a bust, I was glad I’d gone out. I proved to myself that I could be alone, and I’d be okay.
Staring at the hunky bartender had helped.
It was true what I told Laura. I didn’t want to sleep with him. Especially now, knowing he’d been with our friend, Vicky. She was a trainwreck. A sweet trainwreck, but a hot mess, nonetheless. Derrick obviously didn’t have very high standards about who he slept with.
But he’d managed to make me feel good by taking an interest in me, and my still-bruised ego appreciated that.
****
Gabe
After Brayden’s game, I decided to swing by and say hi to my brother and see what possibilities were at Flannigan’s tonight.
I took a seat at the bar, and Derrick greeted me with a big smile and set a coaster down in front of me.
“Hey! Was your spine tingling? ’Cuz I was just thinking about you!”
I eyed him warily while he pulled a frosty mug from the cooler and filled it with my favorite draft beer.
