“You deserve it,” I say, leaning my head back against the heated spa chair.
I open my phone and see an ad for a new rooftop bar downtown. The kind with heat lamps and modern firepits and drinks that look like science experiments.
“Oh my god, I just realized something—I never got to take you out for your twenty-first birthday.”
Fia snorts. “Penny, that was months ago.” It was only three months ago. “You sent me money and told me to ‘raise hell responsibly.’”
“It’s not the same. I wanted to take you somewhere,” I say, frowning.
“It’s fine. Honestly, I don’t even really enjoy drinking, you know that. And obviously…” She rubs her small belly. “That’s a hard pass right now.”
“Well, we could still go out,” I offer. “Somewhere low-key. You could get a mocktail, maybe live music or something chill. We can’t just sit at home every night.”
Her eyes brighten slightly. “Nothing crazy, though…” she trails off, then perks up like she’s just had a brilliant idea. “What about Rebel Tavern?”
My spine stiffens against the leather massage chair, and I sit up quickly. Shehasto know, why else would she suggest that place?
“Rebel Tavern?” My mouth goes dry. “That little dive bar down in Carolina Beach?”
Fia nods, pulling her phone out, half listening to me.“Yeah, that one. It seems chill, they have live music on Wednesday nights, and Jesse mentioned it before.”
My fingers dig into the armrests of the spa chair, and I rack my brain for a response.
The last time I was in Rebel Tavern was just weeks before everything went to hell.
Danny was out doing something sketchy, and Jesse and I snuck into the bar, crawling through the bathroom window from thealleyway, and danced in the corner of the wood-paneled, smoke-filled dive bar.
We felt free, his hands on my hips, his lips on my neck, his whispers in my ear telling me he loved me. The taste of cheap beer, the way the lights blurred, and when they closed, we ran down to the beach, buzzed and alive, the moon the only light around us.
The way he kissed me—wild yet sincere. I remember everything.
That was the first and last time I ever set foot in that place.
“Hey, you sure you don’t want to go somewhere uptown? There’s a new rooftop bar that looks fun. They have tapas.” I grin, knowing I can entice my sister with food, but she shakes her head, eyes glued to her phone screen.
“Tempting. But no. I don’t want to risk running into anyone…” Her smile falters.
Right. Brett.
I let out a breath and nod. “Okay. Rebel Tavern it is.”
I’m not sure there’s enough liquor in all of Rebel Tavern to erase the memories of that night.
Fia and I walk over to a coffee shop after the nail salon. It’s peaceful now that the morning rush is gone and just calm enough, with the indie playlist and aroma of espresso beans.
I begin to feel my nervous system relax after the whole Rebel Tavern memory relapse. This week is truly going to be the test of my emotional stability, I already know it.
Fia crumbles the paper bag in her hand and rubs her belly.
“I feel so much better.” She smiles after demolishing her second breakfast. “Do we still have time before we need togo home?”
I crinkle my brow. “Time for what exactly?”
She swivels in her seat, staring up at the chalkboard menu on the wall. “I wanted to bring Jesse a coffee.”
Well, the peaceful feeling is now obliterated.
“Isn’t he working?” I ask way too fast.
