Page 12 of A Love Bite

“You bet,” she says, barely looking up as she pours a drink. “I thought you’d never ask.”

I turn to Alex and Opal. “I’ll be right here behind the bar. What do you ladies need? I don’t mind covering all of your drinks tonight.”

Alex smiles, the tension from earlier easing a bit more. “I think we’re good for now, but thanks, Jake.”

Opal lifts her half-filled glass. “I’m fine yet.”

I give them a reassuring nod before jumping behind the bar, rolling up my sleeves, and getting to work. Lila and I fall into an easy rhythm, years of experience allowing us to communicate with just a glance or a nod. The rush of the crowd fades into the background as we focus on serving drinks and keeping the energy in the bar upbeat.

Despite the busyness, I keep an eye on Alex and Opal. They seem to be relaxing, talking and laughing more freely. It feels good to see them unwinding after such a stressful day. Every now and then, Alex catches my eye and gives me a small smile, which sends a warm feeling through me.

As I mix a particularly complicated cocktail, Lila nudges me with her elbow. “You seem pretty taken with your friends over there,” she teases, a knowing grin on her face.

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Yeah, you could say that. It’s been a hell of a day. Just glad I could help them out.”

Lila raises an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Well, if you keep looking at her like that, she’s bound to notice.”

I feel my cheeks warm a bit, but I shrug it off. “I just want to make sure they’re okay.”

Lila smirks but doesn’t push further, and we continue serving drinks to the growing crowd. As the night wears on, the bar remains packed, but we manage to keep up with the demand. Alex and Opal seem to be enjoying themselves, and I’m glad to see Opal starting to relax and laugh more freely.

Eventually, the rush begins to die down, and I take a moment to catch my breath. I glance over at Alex and Opal, and Alex gives me a thumbs-up, her smile bright and encouraging.

“Thanks for helping out, Jake,” Lila says, wiping down the bar. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“No problem,” I reply, taking a swig of water. “Always happy to help.” I make my way over toward Alex and Opal. “How are you ladies holding up?”

Alex grins at me, her eyes sparkling. “We’re good. You were amazing back there.”

Opal nods, her expression much more relaxed than before. “Yeah, thanks for everything, Jake. We really appreciate it.”

“Anytime,” I say, feeling a warm sense of satisfaction. “I’m just glad you’re both doing okay.”

Tom asks me for a drink, and I get back to it, lost in the easiness of taking orders and slinging ‘em out. I keep an eye on the ladies, though. They seem to be enjoying themselves, the tension of the day slowly melting away. Oh. Looks like they’re ready for a second round of drinks.

“What can I get you for round two?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady despite the nerves fluttering in my stomach.

“Another gin and tonic for me,” Alex says with a smile.

“I’ll take the same,” Opal adds, her mood visibly lighter.

I turn to mix their drinks. My hands are usually steady behind the bar, but tonight, every time I think about Alex, I feel a jolt of nervous energy. As I finish mixing their drinks and place them on a tray, I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

“Here you go,” I say, placing Opal’s drink in front of her.

As I reach to set Alex’s drink down, my hand trembles, and before I can stop it, the glass tips over, spilling gin and tonic all over the table.

I mutter a curse, my face flushing with embarrassment. “I’m so sorry, Alex. Let me get you another one.”

Alex laughs softly, a sound that somehow eases my embarrassment just a bit. “It’s okay, Jake. Really. Don’t worry about it.”

I grab some napkins to clean up the spill, my mind racing. Why do I always seem to get so nervous around her? As I wipe up the mess, I can’t help but glance up at her. She’s smiling at me, her eyes filled with warmth and amusement.

“Let me get you a fresh drink,” I say, and I turn back around.

Lila notices my flustered state and raises an eyebrow. “You all right, Jake? You seem a bit off tonight.”

I sigh, shaking my head. “Yeah, just…nervous, I guess.”

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