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With a nod to the bartender, Avery slid her glass in front of her, momentarily enthralled by the bright yellow drink with a thin red wine floater on top. “Let’s see. My favorite memory of Minnesota was going to the women’s basketball games with my dad. It’s not a specific memory, just a collective of time I got to spend with him since it was the one thing we did together. I always got to decide which foods we ate, and sometimes he would buy me a T-shirt, or memorabilia of some kind. Those days were always special. Especially since they started happening less and less when he remarried. However, this one time, one of the opposing players got injured. It was deathly quiet in a full arena. That was the last game we went to.” Lost in memories, Avery felt her lips curl down.
It felt nice to tell someone a story. To open up to a time before her struggles started. To bask in a memory of a time before the crush of life was slowly suffocating her. In a month, her life wouldn’t be her own. But right now, she could just be Avery. A stranger in a bar, enjoying the company of a carefree woman.
Likely, they would part ways, never to hear from each other again, but that didn’t tarnish the night any. If anything, the golden road of opportunity fell before their feet. It had been a long time since Avery had hit it off so quickly with someone. Working two and a half jobs to make ends meet made it hard to afford to let loose and have fun. Stella seemed to have fun in spades, and maybe it was precisely what she needed before putting her game face on to try and win the prize.
Pulling out her bag, she slid a ten over to Stella. “Here, let me pay for the drink.” It was the last of the tips she’d made that week, but she couldn’t in good conscience not offer.
“Oh, no. You put that away. It’s my treat.” Stella pushed the money back with a wink.
Picking up the glass, Avery felt her nose tingle at the sour notes. She held the drink up to Stella. “To new friends and opportunities in California.” Avery clinked her glass with Stella’s.
They took a sip, but she could tell Stella was waiting for a reaction. The drink had an initial tart sting, which paved the way for the fruity notes to soothe afterward. The egg whites added a creaminess that enhanced the layers of texture, elevating the drink.
“I’m not sure what I expected, but that’s a damn good drink.” Avery raised it to her lips again. With each passing moment, she felt her barriers falling.
Stella, who looked pleased with her reaction, said, “Going back to your memory, I’ve never been a huge basketball fan, but maybe if I had a team I was passionate about, it might be different. It sounds like a cool experience. Also, I’m glad you like the drink. I would feel like hiding in a fraidy hole if you hated it. There was this one time, I was out with my best friend Amy, and she was trying to catch the attention of the emcee at this piano bar and ended up sending him into anaphylactic shock when he didn’t realize she had added kiwi to the Hurricane she ordered for him.”
“Was he okay?” Avery leaned in, unsure when Stella grabbed her arm, but she found her warm palm pleasant on her skin.
“Oh, he was peachy, and they dated for six months. It didn’t last because she found out he was not okay with her brother, Ethan, because he’s a trans man.” She paused. Avery supposed she was waiting for some reaction to the news.
“That wanker. I’m sorry Amy had to go through that, but it’s good she found out in the end. One of my ex-girlfriends was a trans woman, and I saw a lot of the ugly sides of humanity when we were together. She was amazing but had to deal with so much darkness around her.” Avery felt Stella’s hand squeeze her arm.
“Wanker? I didn’t have the impression you were from across the pond. Or was your Minnesota story bull?” Stella teased, her lips twitching to keep from smiling.
“Damn, you caught me. I’m MI6, sent to this bar to watch over that fellow.” She hid behind Stella, pointing to someone swaying to the music at the end of the bar. When Stella looked over, he grasped his stomach and uttered a loud burp.
Their laughter could be heard around the bar. “My cover is blown,” Avery spoke to her sleeve. Stella smacked her on the arm, laughing as the hit turned to a caress. “The truth is I just binge-watched Ted Lasso last month and can’t seem to shake the vernacular. Wait, what’s a fraidy hole?” she added. Feeling bold, she reached over and caressed Stella’s fingers.
“A fraidy hole is a storm shelter from the tornados.” Stella’s foot found its way onto Avery’s stool as she rubbed up and down on Avery’s leg.
“Have you ever been through a tornado?” Avery’s fingers continued to play with Stella’s hand as she relished in the silky feel of her skin. The thrill zinged through her veins. It had been so long since she’d met someone that set her heart pattering.
“Oh yeah, loads of times. That’s one thing I sure don’t miss livin’ here now.” With a relieved chuckle, Stella nodded to the bartender, who Avery had just realized subtly asked if they wanted another round.
Stella took a sip of her drink, the liquid glistening along her lips. Her tongue darted out to capture a drop. Avery’s knees weakened. It was good that she was sitting down or she’d be a puddle on the floor right about then.
“We only have to worry about the earthquakes in Cali.” Avery looked around the bar, but her eyes returned to Stella’s. “Thanks for the drinks, by the way.” She hadn’t been able to splurge like this in a while. Everything she’d gotten from the show was already earmarked for another use.
“Earthquakes, draughts, and tsunamis, but at least they don’t have hurricanes. Isn’t it funny that people native to California hate when people call it ‘Cali?’ But most people call it that,” Stella said as she readjusted herself in the seat. Avery struggled not to have her gaze drift to where Stella’s skirt had ridden up. Her mind drifted to tantalizing ideas of stroking the exposed area.
“How long have you been here?” Avery asked, clearing her throat.
Stella smirked, catching her gaze. “Going on ten years now. Although I won’t feel like a true Californian until I surf the pavement as an earthquake rumbles. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not actively wishing for an earthquake. I just feel it’s necessary to go through at least one.” Stella leaned her head against Avery’s arm. The contact brought a shiver up her back.
“I’m terrified…” Avery was going to say more: terrified of confined spaces, of an earthquake that might trap her somewhere, or perhaps she was terrified of Stella and her dancing eyes and fantastic personality. But the whisper came out encompassing everything.
Stella leaned in and their eyes locked. “Me, too,” her voice soft before erasing the space between them.
Their lips connected in a brief kiss. Avery was sure Stella could hear her thundering heart. Stella’s tongue swiped her lip, requesting a gentle entrance. Her hands rested on Avery’s legs, stroking her thighs. A quiet moan left Avery’s lips as they both pulled back slightly to catch their breath.
“Want to get out of here?” Avery asked, tucking a strand of hair behind Stella’s ear. They still hadn’t left each other’s space.
Stella stood from her chair and turned to the bartender. “We’ll cash out now.” She indicated in the air with a check mark.
Avery had paid for her first drink with cash. She stood and gathered her messenger bag while waiting for Stella to finish closing her tab.
“Come on, Avery.” Stella pulled her purse up on her shoulder and left the bar without looking back. Avery followed in her wake, enjoying the scent of strawberry vanilla that seemed to cling to Stella’s skin.
