Page 56 of Can't Kiss the Chef

She does a quick scan of the now near-empty bar. It seems like everyone else coupled up.

She flags down the bartender with a small wave and orders two lemon drop shots and a pineapple tequila.

“I’ll take one of those two.”

“You will?”

“Don’t let the tattoos and biceps fool you. It would be easy to confuse my drink order with a sorority girl’s.”

Her airy laugh is refreshing. A reminder that there was a time not too long ago when I set out to charm a different girl every weekend. Lola’s made her decision, maybe it’s time I make mine.

“Are you a student at Westvale?”

Avery’s face is still puckered from the tangy shot when she answers, “I graduated last May and am a special education teacher at the elementary school.”

“That’s amazing.” I rest my arm on the booth behind her.

“The hockey program I work with back home started a Special Olympics team. I try to go home to coach as many of their games as possible.”

After a few minutes of getting to know you questions Avery’s friend pulls her away to the bathroom.

“Hey By,” Indy says in an annoyed tone I’m not quite understanding. She is standing in front of the booth, arms crossed over her chest.

“Hey Indy, Marcus is at the normal booth with the guys.”

Her eyes twinkle the way they always do when you mention her boyfriend. She abruptly grabs her drink and leaves.

“Are you fucking kidding me, Indy?”

It’s like time stops. The universe loves having a good laugh at my expense.

Perched up on a barstool, her legs hanging freely. Hands are thrown up over her head. Lola’s normal all black outfit is replaced by dark wash jeans and Oliver’s hockey sweater.

“What did you think was going to happen Lo?” Indy turns back towards Lola, shrugging her shoulders before prancing off to sit with Marcus.

“Well,” she huffs. Taking extra aggressive chomps of her gum. “I thought she would at least wait until I got my rum andcoke.” She taps her credit card down on the bar a couple of times, trying to get the bartender’s attention.

“Put that away. I’ll just put it on my tab.”

I wave at redheaded beauty behind the bar at the same time Lola says, “You don’t have to do that.”

“Two rum and cokes, and whatever she wants goes on my tab,” I tell the bartender. Making it clear Lola doesn’t pay for a drink the rest of the night.

“Ehmm.”

“Oh, sorry, Avery.”

My cheeks go red. I take a step back. I’d rather be sitting in the penalty box than standing in the middle of these two.

“This is Lola, one of my closest friends.”

Imagine my shock when Lola jumps off the barstool and tells Avery she’s a hugger. I’d love to know when that happened. Lola is the most apprehensive person when it comes to letting new people into the group.

Avery doesn’t know that so when they realize they keep their horses at the same barn, I’m sure she thinks she just found herself a new bff.

I tap my drink to the bar in time with the pop song playing. Waiting to be asked to join the conversation.

I can’t even harmlessly flirt without Lola injecting herself into my life. She’s everywhere, always.

---