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Drex sighs, standing from his seat as he nods at his friend. “He’s right. I hope I’ll see you around some time, Sophia.”
I nod, stepping back from the bar. “You, too, Drex. Have a good night.”
The corner of his lips jerk up. “I already did.”
Then, he’s gone, and I force myself to weave through the tables, swiping dirty dishes and placing them on the holoplates against the wall to be transported to the kitchen. I try to dive back into my work, but my mind is still whirring. I’ve never been one to get caught up on these guys, and now I’m finding myself glancing back toward the already occupied space like I might see him there.
“One guy?” Amber says as I slip past her to swipe through the open tabs. I charge more credits to the customer in front of me before grabbing his mug. “You spent half the night only looking at one guy.”
“But did you see the way he looked at her?” Malina chimes in. “She had him eating out of the palm of her hand.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s not like that.”
“It’s risky,” Amber continues with a shake of her head. “You never want to put all your supplies on one ship in case it gets shot down,” she says in a singsong voice.
“Unless it’s the right ship,” Tia adds as she reaches around me for a cloth.
I sigh, slamming my hands on the bar. “I’m not trying to lure a guy in. I was helping a customer. Can we move on?”
Malina shrugs as she turns around and Tia is already gone. But Amber leans in and whispers. “You might not be looking for one, but you have one.” Then she, too, is gone, and her words linger with me the rest of the shift.
A small part of me is hopeful that they are right. I want him to be into me, and that makes my stomach twist in knots. Why would I even want that? I don’t have time for a guy!
I shrug off their questions and comments as we clean up the bar, and soon, I’m on my way home, mulling over my conflicting feelings. I’ve pretty much managed to squash any lingering ideas I have about this guy by the time I step through the door.
“Isa?” I call softly, hoping not to disturb her if she’s not already asleep. I doubt she will be, though.
“Kitchen,” comes her answer, and I smile to myself. I slip through the house and into the tiny kitchen to find Isa sitting at our little table tucked in the corner, two mugs in front of her. “I made sedumroot tea.”
I nod, picking up the warm mug. “Thank you.” I take a sip, smiling when the sweetness bursts across my tongue. It’s my favorite drink and helps settle my nerves at the end of the night. “How is she?” I sink into the seat across from her.
Isa’s lips press into a thin line as she stares down at her mug. Finally, she sighs softly. “She’s pretty much the same.”
I hear what she means through that, though. Mama needs medicine, and I’m doing everything I can just to afford this house and our meager food. I don’t have many options, but thankfully, Isa changes the subject before I can let the weight of it drown me.
“How was the bar?” A smile plays on my lips, and she jerks forward. “What’s that look for?”
I sigh. I shouldn’t even say anything, but it feels so good to be normal for once. To be a girl, talking about a boy, and not worrying over my mother, my job, or any other responsibilities.
“Don’t laugh,” I say as I take another sip. “But… there was a guy at the bar tonight.”
Isa cocks an eyebrow. “Aren’t there always?”
“Well, yeah.” I shift, trying to swallow the nerves that bloom in my chest. “But…he was funny and…handsome.”
“Oh.” She sits forward. “That kind of guy. Tell me more.”
“There’s not much to tell.” I’m already grinning, though. “We only talked for a little while, but it was nice. He was fun to talk to, and I’ve rarely been able to connect with customers in the bar.”
“A connection,” Isa teases, wiggling her eyebrows. “How hot was he? I feel like you’re holding back on me. Give me details.”
I roll my teeth over my bottom lip, nervous to say anything more. If I don’t care for the warriors around Armstrong that women throw themselves at, Isa hates them.
“Well, he was tall, muscular, with beautiful teal eyes.”
Her eyes narrow. “And?”
Shit. I should have known she would see right through me, so there’s no point in holding back. “And…he’s a Kaleidian warrior.”
