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She looked over his shoulder nervously. “Yes,” she said hugging herself. Then, “No. I guess I’m not. I swear you live in a city all your life…”
“Think I can walk you to your car now?” he said and to his surprise, she smiled pleasantly.
“Actually,” she said, “is there a bar around here? I’d love a drink.”
He nodded. There just happened to be one around the corner. “I know a place,” he said. “In walking distance.”
“Great,” she said. “You can be my fearless protector.”
***
Richard
Richardhadneverbeenin the bar around the corner before. He’d driven past it a million times, but never really had a reason to go in. Bars had never been his thing, even when he was younger and a little more social. These days, Richard didn’t really have very many friends outside of work and since his divorce, he did as few social engagements as possible.
To his surprise, however, the bar appeared to be high-class. Warm, amber tones were all around them, the sweet smell of whiskey and expensive cologne. There weren’t that many people seated at the oak tables around the bar, but every table had a single votive candle to add to the warm and intimate lighting. At one end of the room was a small stage where a pianist played jazzy music that added to the ambiance.
“Well,” said Stella as she stood next to him. “This is nice.”
“It is,” he said. “Come on, let’s get a table.”
They walked over to a table near the stage and a waitress walked over almost immediately. “Good evening,” she said. “May I interest you in our wine list?”
Stella’s eyes widened as she looked over at Richard with a smile. He couldn’t help but smile back. “Actually,” he said, “I’d like a scotch on the rocks, please.”
“Certainly, sir,” she said. Then she turned to Stella. “And for you?”
“Yes.” She sat up straight as if trying to appear more cultured than she was. “I’d like a Stella Ar-toyz, please.”
The waitress raised an eyebrow but wrote it down just the same. “Very good,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”
Richard stifled a laugh and Stella glared at him. “What?”
“It’s pronounced Ar-twa,” he said. “Not Ar-toyz.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. She clearly knew what I was talking about.”
He couldn’t argue that. At least she wasn’t rude about Stella’s lack of knowledge. “Well,” he said, “that is an interesting choice for a drink.”
“You think so?” she asked and he shrugged.
“I mean, it’s kind of on the nose, don’t you think?”
She sighed, giving him a smart-ass look - all pursed lips and raised eyebrows. “Forgive me for indulging a little,” she said, woundedly. “I’ve never been in a place this fancy. I always said that if I was ever in a high-class bar, I’d order that Stella Ar-twa thing. You know, since it has my name.”
“Of course,” he said with an amused smile.
A few moments later, the waitress came back with their drinks. Stella examined the large goblet the beer came in with fascination. “It’s just like the ads,” she said, wonderfully. He watched her as she picked it up and took a sip, wiping the thin layer of foam from her lips.
“How is it?” he asked.
She shrugged and set it back down. “It’s pretty good. I’ve had better, though. You’d think a classy beer would have more flavor.”
“You know,” said Richard, changing the subject. “Since we’re taking this respite together, maybe this is a good time for us to have a little chat about your…well, societal knowledge.”
She raised an eyebrow, suppressing a burp from her second drink of beer. “Societal knowledge?”
“Yes. Since we’ll be seen in public together, I think it’s important that we leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that we’re compatible with one another.”
