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I looked away as quickly as I could, but she spotted me and then whispered in Wyatt’s ear. He flicked his eyes in my direction and then said something to Gretchen that made her howl as if he was the funniest person on the planet. Having had extensive experience with his humor, I knew he wasn’t.
Trying not to shrink back, I lifted my chin and headed right for the bar. There was only one empty stool. Thirsty Thursday was in full swing, and the place was so boisterous that I couldn’t hear myself think.
Esme was going at max speed, swiping credit cards, pouring beers, and mixing rum and Cokes with remarkable grace and efficiency.
She smiled at everyone, but when she saw me, her eyes crinkled in a way that they didn’t when she was looking at the person who’d ordered a drink before me. A little warm rush of satisfaction flowed through me.
“Hey, I was hoping to see you. Give me two seconds.” She held up two fingers and I nodded. She was clearly swamped because I didn’t see anyone helping her. Hopefully Batman was just on a break because there was no way she could serve all these people on her own without collapsing.
She came back a few minutes later and plunked a drink in front of me.
“Let me know what you think.”
I didn’t have the chance to ask what was in it before I heard a voice asking if Esme could make her drink again, “this time with DIET Coke.” Emphasis on the second to last word.
I didn’t turn around to confirm who the drink returner was because I didn’t have to. I knew Gretchen’s voice, even in a loud and crowded bar.
“Sure, no problem,” Esme said, dumping out the cup and getting another to make the drink.
Gretchen let out a little sigh like it was taking too long, and I tried not to say anything. I didn’t know what she was doing, but her presence was a constant irritation.
Esme handed the new drink over.
“With lime,” Gretchen said without taking it. Esme added a lime wedge to the side of the glass.
“Finally,” Gretchen said, and took it without thanking Esme, who smiled until Gretchen’s back was turned and then rolled her eyes.
“Listen, I’m friends with her boyfriend’s sister, and I can get dirt on her if you want,” I said.
“Tempting, but she’s nothing special. I’ve made hundreds of drinks for cranky people. I won’t even remember her by the end of the night.” I hated that that was true. She didn’t deserve to be treated like shit. No one did.
“Let me know if you ever change your mind.” I sipped my drink and was hit by a sweet and smoky kick at the same time, and I wasn’t sure if I liked it, even after I swallowed.
“No good?” Esme asked, watching me.
“I don’t know?” I said truthfully. I took another sip and let the liquid sit on my tongue. It was like nothing I’d ever had before, but I decided after my second sip that I did like it.
“Good. No, definitely good.” By my third sip, I was convinced.
“Sometimes drinks have to grow on you,” she said, leaning forward.
“True,” I said. “That’s true of a lot of things. Songs, people.”
She leaned even more forward.
“I don’t think Gretchen is ever going to grow on me,” she said.
I shuddered.
“Same. Sometimes your initial impressions of people are correct,” I said.
She smiled and then was called away again.
I savored my drink and watched her work. Batman came back, at last, and helped, but it was still a really busy night. I ended up having a chat with a local guy who wouldn’t stop telling me about how much he missed his ex-wife, and then switched to talking about his daughter and her dog breeding business.
I let him yammer on because he was sweet, but I also kept a fraction of my attention on Gretchen and Wyatt, who had been joined by friends. Townies that I didn’t hang out with. The group got progressively louder as they drank more, and it grated on me.
They had every right to be here, but their energy was so annoying, and it wasn’t just because I couldn’t stand Wyatt.
