Page 67 of The Fallen Man
Caitlin
The Russian
The evening’s event was lawyers doing lawyer things, although Caitlin wasn’t sure what those things were. It seemed like mostly being snooty at each other and handing out awards. At least they tipped well.
“Hello,” said a blonde man, looking very serious. Katie looked him over. He was good-looking, stylish, and probably had women falling over themselves, so Katie waited for the inappropriate offer to come falling out of his mouth. “I have been told that if I promise not to stab anyone with toothpicks that Katie, the best bartender ever, will make me a cocktail worth having.”
Katie laughed. “Are Evan and Olivia here? I haven’t seen them.” She scanned the crowd.
“No, but Olivia is almost my sister-in-law and she said if I was coming here you were the bartender to talk to,” said the blonde. “Hi, I’m Aiden.” He held out his hand, and Katie shook it. What was it with this family and introducing themselves like she was a real human being?
“Well, honestly, I’m not the best bartender in the world,” said Katie. “I’ll make you whatever drink you want. It’s just that we usually only serve well drinks unless someone asks for something specific. Or unless I think Evan may commit homicide with stir sticks.”
“Completely reasonable. But, well, here’s my specific: can I have something that’s like a cocktail without actually having any booze in it? I like feeling like I’m drinking without actually drinking. Unless it’s wine that Evan picked out, it’s just not worth it.”
Katie laughed again. She liked this family. “Strangely, I know what you mean and yes I can do that. We just booked a birthday event for someone who’s doing a dry January and I’ve been trying to come up with good mocktails. How about I make you one or two of my ideas and you can tell me what you think?”
“That’d be awesome,” he said grinning broadly.
Katie reached into her cupboards and made him a pomegranate spritzer shrub.
“Do I even want to know what you’re drinking?” asked a petite Asian woman scrutinizing Aiden’s drink as she approached the bar.
“Yes, because it’s delicious,” said Aiden. “It has vinegar in it. Which I was not sure about, but Katie has waved her magic wand over it, so it’s good. Ella this is Katie, that Evan and Olivia like. Katie this is Ella.”
“Hi,” said Katie. “I’m flattered, but I’m confused as to why Evan and Olivia are talking about me.”
“They usually complain about going to events, but now they say they’ll come to VAR events,” said Ella. “They’re introverts.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” said Katie bristling on the red-headed couple’s behalf. Then she blushed. Evan and Olivia weren’t her friends. She shouldn’t have said anything.
“This is true,” said Aiden. “But it makes it unusual when they both don’t mind going somewhere.” He added a smile and Katie could tell that he had noted her defensiveness and embarrassment at the same time.
Katie smiled back. “Sorry. I just get attached when I see my customers being adorable at each other. I worked the night heproposed. He got cocktail sauce on his suit and was freaking out. He wanted everything to be perfect for her.”
“Aww,” said Ella, visibly melting. “I didn’t know that. He didn’t say anything.” She whacked Aiden’s arm. “Why can’t you be that cute?”
“Qin,”he said using a term of endearment that Katie wasn’t familiar with, “I will blob all the cocktail sauce on myself that you want. I did not realize that was turn on.”
“No thanks,” said Ella with a laugh. She paused and seemed to be thinking it over. “Maybe chocolate syrup.”
“Sounds sticky, but I’m in.”
Katie laughed. This family was creative. There was an annoying tapping from the main stage mic.
“Attention,” droned the MC and Ella and Aiden both groaned.
“OK,” said Aiden. “I’ll be back. Maybe for one with booze in it if he talks too long.”
“I got you,” said Katie.
The event dragged on. Katie took her break, and changed her socks as usual then went back out to the bar. Jessica wasn’t working tonight, but at least the barback wasn’t Andrew. She tried to follow the events on stage, but the MC’s voice was so monotone that she tuned out and only came to when there was a sudden movement of bodies on the floor as they hit some sort of intermission.
She could see that Aiden and Ella were heading her direction and Katie grabbed materials for his non-alcoholic drink while she filled her next two drink orders. She thought she was almost through the wave of orders, but she would be glad when the speechifying started again so she could get another break. Jackson had already texted that he would be waiting for her at home. She wanted the evening to be over with so she could be home in bed already. She plopped the drinks down, ran the cards, and collected the receipts before turning to the nextcustomer.
“Caitlin,” said a voice and Caitlin looked up into the face of the Russian bill collector.
“This is a private event,” she said sharply.
