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“Claudia loves your new drink,” Frank said proudly as Ryan’s face lit up.
“Really? You like it?”
I smiled. “It’s so good. I don’t know how you make these flavors blend so well together, but it’s amazing.”
“Yes!” Ryan pumped a fist in the air.
“Do you already have a name for it?” Britney asked, and I was practically on pins and needles, waiting to hear the answer.
He smirked. “Nick came up with this one.” He paused before looking at Frank. “Awkward Moment.”
Britney cried out, “Yes! That’s awesome!”
“It’s perfect,” I said with a laugh. “And fun.” I took another big sip, almost finishing it off.
Ryan leaned toward Britney, and I swore I heard her breath catch. “Do you like yours?”
“It’s delicious. Does it have a name?”
“Of course it does.” He looked over at Frank, who rolled his green eyes. “It’s called Jazz Hands,” Ryan said with a laugh as he wiggled his fingers in the air.
Frank just shook his head.
“You don’t like the names?” I asked him.
“They’re so stupid half the time, but people seem to love them.”
“He doesn’t understand because he’s not creative,” Ryan said. “He’s all finance and smarty-pants up here.” He tapped on Frank’s head and Frank jerked away, glaring at his younger brother. In response, Ryan threw his jazz hands in the air, taunting him.
“Don’t you have drinks to make?” Frank shoved him, and Ryan snickered.
“Yeah, yeah. You’re just trying to keep the pretty ladies all to yourself,” he said before walking away to take more orders.
“I should go help.” Frank nodded toward the bar, which was still packed. “But I’ll get you both another first.” He smiled again, and I swear I melted at the sight.
“You’re in trouble,” Britney whispered.
I swallowed hard because I was, and I knew it. I had never been so sure of anything.
She’s Back
Frank
Seeing Claudia’s face when I walked out of the office lifted my entire mood. One look into her eyes, and I knew it was going to be a good night just because she was there.
Somehow, she changed things for me. I had no fucking idea why or how, but it didn’t make it any less true. Seeing her made me happy, making me realize just how foreign that feeling had become for me. I didn’t know how dead I’d been inside until the sight of her brought me back to life.
Nothing about this made any sense, and I tried to fight it but failed. My brain told me to
walk away, to give her a curt smile and stay behind the bar making drinks. But my legs refused, taking me to her instead. My mind said one thing, but my body did whatever the hell it wanted.
I cared for all of two seconds until I had her in my arms. Then I couldn’t have cared less if the bar burned down around us. That’s how much this woman affected me.
“Hey, I need your Moleskin,” I shouted, and Ryan and Nick both turned toward me.
Most bartenders in the business had their own Moleskin notebooks that they carried around with them everywhere, making notes as they tried to blend new cocktails or came across a recipe they really liked. I carried one too, but it was filled with the cost of inventory items and where I could try to negotiate a better deal. Mine probably didn’t a single drink recipe in it, and Ryan would probably freak out if he knew.
“For what drinks?” Ryan asked with a smirk.
