Page 27 of Worth the Risk
“Sounds good, I was heading there anyway.” I grab my keys and wallet and we take Colt’s truck down the road and park on the street in front of AJ’s. I walk in and look around the crowded space. I spot Winnie as soon as I pass the threshold, she’s giggling just like she was in my dream earlier only instead of looking up at me, she’s looking at someone else.
We walk into AJ’s at 8pm…and by we I mean myself, Mare, and Alder. Rhett didn’t show up for dinner and I haven’t heard from him since we talked in my backyard a few nights ago. Knowing I was seeing him tonight I spent a little longer on my hair, doing my full curly girl routine. My thick brown almost black hair is long and hangs down my back. I applied some light makeup and took some care picking out my outfit. I decided on a sage green silky slip dress that I’ve never worn because it cuts lower in the front than I usually wear. I paired the dress with some nude sandals and called it good.
I’m trying to move on from the disappointment of not seeing Rhett. So I decide maybe I’ll have a couple drinks and act like I’m a young 31 year old celebrating her birthday, it will be a gooddistraction from the constant thoughts of him. As hard as I’ve tried I’m still stuck on him. I look around the table, Marigold is a knockout. Long blonde hair, petite frame, she’s a couple inches shorter than my 5’4”, big blue eyes and a body she keeps in shape by doing all the outdoor sports you can imagine. She’s my opposite in so many ways, but we work. I can’t imagine my life without her in it.
“Win! My birthday girl! What are we drinking?! It’s been too long since we’ve done this!”
“You were at my house drinking wine earlier this week.”
“Like I said, too long.” I laugh. “I’m thinking I’m gonna start with a beer. What about you guys?”
“A beer sounds good.”
“I’ll get us a pitcher,” Alder says and walks over to the bar.
I take my jacket off, set it next to me and glance around. There are a few guys here tonight, some I don’t recognize and a couple regulars. I check my phone for the millionth time tonight, hoping Rhett had checked in. He didn’t, so I put it away for the night. Mare sees but doesn’t comment. I mentioned to her this morning that Rhett was coming and now that he was a no show I looked a little pathetic. A very attractive clean cut man stops next to Mare.
“Fancy meeting you here.” He smirks and she turns to glare at him.
“Grant. What are you doing out, don’t you have an early shift tomorrow?” He answers yes and they start sniping at each other…ahh so this is Grant. The hot doctor from the radiology lap who stealsnot clearly labeledfood.
“Grant, this is Winnie. Winnie, Grant.”
“Nice to meet you, Winnie. I have heard so much about you.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard a lot about you too.” Mare nudges my foot under the table and shoots me a look. I shake Grant’s outstretched hand and then he turns back to her.
“Back!” Alder shouts like I was timing him for a race and sets the beer pitcher and glasses down on our table.
“That was fast. The crowd is big tonight.”
“The new bartender your uncle hired has a thing for me.” I laugh.
“Oh yeah? And how did you discover this in the five minutes you’ve been here? Isn’t tonight her first shift?”
“Win, sometimes you just know. And trust me, I know. She was giving me her most charming smile and she’s been eyeing me since I walked in.” That makes me laugh harder.
“I would not be surprised. You’re a gorgeous man, Alder.” He smiles and nods, agreeing with me. He’s always been so good at accepting compliments, Mare is too. She’s helped me get better at it over the course of our friendship.
“I think I’m going to go back over to the counter and see if I can get her number. I’ll be back birthday girl.” He kisses my cheek as he passes and I watch him saunter away. I shake my head at him. Grant says goodbye and moves back to his own table so Mare leans across the table and whispers.
“So, see anyone here tonight that looks like they’d show you a good time?”
“I’m not sure that's exactly what I’m looking for tonight but I see a couple guys I could be interested in.”
“Yeah you do! Alright tell me who we’ve got our eye on.” I love when she does this. She treats situations I’m not comfortable with like it’s both of ours. As someone who used to have crippling anxiety it warms my heart.
“Okay, um, what about the guy over by the pool table?”
“The one with the 5 o'clock shadow or the blonde?” she asks.
“Not the blonde,” I confirm.
“Yes, Win. That guy is hot. Like meet me in the bathroom hot.” I blush but laugh.
“Marigold, I am not meeting someone in the bathroom.” She just shrugs.
“Fine but I’ll watch the door if you change your mind.” she winks and I laugh hard before taking another long drink of my beer.
