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Of course.
After dinner, I was tempted to call Maddie. We hadn’t made plans for tonight because she and Grace would be at the Lucky Bar until closing time, but I missed her. Was she having fun? Was she thinking about me as often as I thought about her? I needed to see her.
For years, I hadn’t wanted to need another being, because losing them crippled you. But when it came to Maddie, I couldn’t help myself. My days here were numbered, and I didn’t want to let one pass without seeing her. I was of half a mind to show up
at The Lucky Bar unannounced, but decided to text her first.
Landon: Everything all right? Having fun with Grace?
Her answer came moments later.
Maddie: Inofun. Cowded
Had she typed without watching the screen? I went out on the front porch and called her.
“What was that?” I asked the moment she picked up.
“Hi, Landon. This is Grace. Sorry about my sister’s blunder. She typed before I managed to whisk it away from her.”
“Is she okay?”
“Oh yeah. But Jose, the bartender on shift tonight, thought he’d prank her. Made her a Bloody Mary with one of those fancy vodkas that don’t burn your throat. You can’t even tell it has vodka. He was... quite generous.”
“Doooooon’t tell him that. He’ll think I’m drunk.” Maddie’s voice resounded through the phone, rising over the background noise.
“She still thinks she’s sober,” Grace informed me.
“I got that. How is she getting home?”
“I’m going to get in a cab with her, drop her off at home, and then come back. I’m serving drinks tonight, and I need to be here until the band leaves. Or... we could use your white knight services. Are they available tonight?”
“Yes,” I said at the same time Maddie’s voice rose to a pitch.
“You little traitor. I don’t want him to see me drunk.”
Grace chuckled. “Oh good. She can tell she’s drunk. We’re making progress. How fast can you be here?”
“Half an hour.”
“Great. I’ll keep her far away from the Bloody Marys in the meantime. Jose, if you serve her another drink, I will kill you in your sleep.” She practically yelled the last sentence, making my ears ring.
After a hurried goodbye to my siblings, I hailed a cab and headed to the Lucky Bar.
The place was more packed than the last time I’d been here. I had to give it to the owner; his strategy of booking the place solid with live bands was smart. In a city with bars at every corner, he was thriving despite the competition. I found Maddie on one of the couches on the left from the bar. A wisp of a blonde was doting on her.
“Grace?” I asked when I was in hearing distance. She nodded, holding out her hand. She looked just like Maddie, but about a head shorter, and her eyes were almond-shaped rather than round.
“Nice to meet you, Landon. Our girl here’s not feeling too well.”
Maddie sighed, motioning with her forefinger for me to come closer. When I leaned over her, she immediately wrapped her arms around my neck. I kissed her without a second thought, tasting tomato juice and vodka on her tongue. But underneath all that heady mix was still my sweet Maddie. My sweet and inebriated Maddie. I realized just how inebriated when I had to stop her hand from snaking under my shirt.
“I’ll get you home, drunk girl,” I murmured after tearing my mouth from hers. Straightening up, I turned to Grace. “I’ll take care of her tonight. Don’t worry about a thing.”
Grace sighed. “Wow, my sister is right. You have graduated from the school of perfect men.”
“She says that?”
“Oh yeah. So often, I’m gonna start being jealous soon.”
