AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I can tell.”
The napkin lands in a ball in front of his chest.
“Don’t go apologizing for our behavior, you lug nut,” Steeler Jersey says. “You’re one of the worst when you’re not trying to impress your tourist.”
I shake my head. “We gave up having sex for this?”
A roar rises from the group.
“Who is this chick?” Another girl in pj’s leans forward to get a better look. “She’s cool.”
“I’m a bartender,” I tell her. “I’m used to a rowdy bunch.”
Another “Oooooh” rounds the tables.
“How’d you meet her, Gabe?” Steeler Jersey asks.
The second Pajama Girl agrees. “Yeah, Gabe. Cough it up.”
“She’ll probably tell it better,” Gabe says.
“Well,” Mendo says with a dramatic swoosh of his hand to get their attention. “It all started with a case of crabs.”
More napkins launch through the air, and sugar packets, too.
The waiter brings our drinks and stares everybody down. “I’m not your mother, and I’m not picking up your mess.”
“Awww, don’t be like that,” Mendo says. “We’ll be nice.”
The waiter whirls away.
“I hope nobody wanted food,” Mendo says. “I think he just quit us.”
“Don’t get Tino on our case,” Anya says. “He’ll kick our sorry asses out, and then where will we drink our swankies?” She pushes mine closer. “Take a drink, then tell us the story.”
Everyone’s eyes are on me as I lift the straw to my lips. It can’t be too crazy with so few ingredients. It’s the color of iced tea with a hint of green. I take a sip.
“Oh!” I say. “It’s brown-sugar limeade!”
“You should have it with coconut water,” the girl insists.
I turn to Gabe. “Do you sell this with vodka? Or maybe tequila?” I sip again. “No, it’s sweet. So rum, maybe.”
He shakes his head. “Haven’t thought to.”
“You should. Tourists love to feel like they’re drinking something they can’t get anywhere else.” I take another swig. Rum. No, tequila. I can’t decide.
Gabe leans over to sip mine. “We can try it with different liquors.”
“And coconut water.” The girl won’t let it go.
“So, the story,” Anya says. “I didn’t even hear the whole thing.”
“Well, I was there—” Mendo starts, but the group shushes him.
I look out over the vast group. This is a lot for barely knowing Gabe, but this is an accelerated relationship.
So I launch into it.
