AllFreeNovel
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I think back to some of the drinks I’ve made tonight. ‘Vodka, lime and soda. Ta.’
‘Oooh, yes please,’ one of the other girls says, taking the seat next to me. Mandy is twenty-one, in her final year of studying architecture, and absolutely rocks her prescription glasses.
James gets out two clean glasses and makes the drinks, dropping a short straw into each. It tastes pretty good and goes down easy. I sip away while Mandy tells me all about her Christmas plans with the boyfriend. Thankfully, she doesn’t ask about my plans.
‘Another?’ she says when our glasses are empty.
I shake my head. ‘I have to go. My sister will be wondering where I am.’
‘I’ll drive you,’ James says, fetching his keys from the hook above the till on the other side.
I stand. ‘You don’t have to do that.’
‘It’s Saturday and close to midnight. I’ll be driving you.’
I don’t argue.
Saying goodbye to everyone, I pick up the handbag I scored at a thrift shop today and follow him. He holds the door open for me, and I step past him out onto the street.
As we’re heading for the car park next door, I spot Hunter up ahead leaning against a ute. I know it’s tragic, but I still get the same lightness in my stomach and chest that I used to get in high school. I hate that all this time has passed and that still happens. When will it stop?
Hunter moves to the middle of the footpath when he spots me, eyes on James.
‘What are you doing here?’ I say as we approach.
His gaze slides to meet mine. ‘Bridget said you were doing a late shift, so I came to pick you up.’
James stops beside me and sizes Hunter up. ‘Friend of yours?’
How to answer that? ‘We went to school together.’
‘Oh. Small world.’
Hunter nods slowly. ‘You the owner of the pub?’
‘One of them.’ He extends a hand. ‘James.’
Hunter stares at the hand for a long moment, then takes hold of it briefly. ‘Hunter.’
‘Hunter,’ James repeats. ‘Annie’s never mentioned you.’
‘Really? Because I’ve heard all about you.’
My cheeks are burning now. ‘You can go back inside,’ I say, turning to James. ‘He’ll give me a ride home.’
James looks uncertain. ‘You sure?’
‘She’s sure,’ Hunter replies for me.
James glances briefly in his direction before saying to me, ‘Thanks for helping out tonight.’
‘Any time. See you Monday.’
James smiles. It fades when he turns back to Hunter. ‘Nice to meet you.’
Hunter nods once.
Only when I hear the pub door close behind me do I say, ‘What was that?’
