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It’s busy tonight.
“I need four Michs, two Coors, and six shots of rail vodka ASAP.”
“On it.”
“Behind!” Amanda calls, squeezing around me with stacks of clean drinkware.
I’ve been on the clock for four hours, and according to my pedometer, I’ve already walked five miles. The bar is filled with the low rumble of conversation, barstools being scuffed around, glasses clinking, and the faint sounds of Lakes post-game commentary coming from the televisions. Another win tonight, people are happy, and the bar is full of good energy. It will be a fun night!
Birdie is hanging out at the bar. The place is filled with fans who’ve finished watching the Lakes beat Dallas 5-2, and now they are waiting around to see if any players show up. According to Birdie, Lonan and a few others will be showing up any minute now. She’s sipping on a gin and tonic, and I’m working on a cucumber and basil sour ale from Citra—it’s tart, refreshing, and delicious.
“Ready for another one, Gary?” I ask my regular. He’s an older guy in his sixties and is one of my favorite customers. He bought me a beer after I gave him one on the house.
“Yeah, why not. How ya doing tonight, Micky?”
“I feel almost as good as you look.”
“Hey now. I’ve told you I’ve been happily married for thirty-eight years. You gotta quit hitting on me, lady.”
I laugh and grab a new bottle, swapping it with his empty one.
“You going to bring her down here one of these days so I can size up my competition?”
I toss the empty bottle in the recycling, and it adds to the cacophony of sounds.
“Yeah, if I can drag her away from her book club. She’s from Seattle, too, ya know?”
“Well, I’d love to meet her. Us West Coast gals have to stick together. You tell her I’ll give her a free drink when she comes in.”
He nods his baseball cap in reply.
A collective “Ayyy!” booms when some of the Lakes boys walk in. The crowd joins in singing the local hockey anthem to congratulate the team on their win. I still haven’t learned all the words to that song, but I probably should, considering it’s a hockey bar. Hopefully I’ll be out of here and working on Sugar & Ice before I get it memorized.
Behind the bar is a cheat sheet with the players’ usual orders, so I begin popping bottle caps and pouring shots to get it ready for the server to pick up.
“See ya later!” I call to Birdie right before Lonan wraps his arms around her waist from behind. The smile on her face grows, and her eyes sparkle as she turns to face him. They are such a great match—and their story of a childhood crush to all-grown-up marriage makes me reel.
“Micky! How’s it hanging tonight?” Lonan asks.
“By a thread.” I grin. “How many of your boys are coming in tonight? Is this everybody?”
“Kucera should be right behind. He used to never come out with us preseason, but lately, he’s been coming to Top Shelf with us regularly. You happen to know anything about that?”
“Nope.” But I’d almost put money on him coming around just to find new ways to piss me off.
“Kid’s doing great so far. Keeps to himself a lot, but he’s smooth on the ice and has good intuition. And he’s got hands—I like him.”
That makes one of us.
“Good to hear. I’ll send your drinks out in a sec. Want me to get a food order put in?”
“Nachos!” Birdie shouts. “Love you, Micky!”
“Love you more!”
I smile and enter her order on the touchscreen register as they walk to their corner. And automatically add extra jalapeños for her like a good best friend.
A group of four college boys are at one end of the bar. They have been cracking jokes and making me laugh for most of my shift. It makes me miss my college days.
