Page 3 of Along Came Amor
Damaris:And?
Ava:The divorce is finalized.
Damaris:I meant, “And how are you doing?” not, “And what did the email say?” So, I ask again: And?
Ava:And... I’m going to the bar to get a drink.
Damaris:By yourself?
Ava:Yes.
Damaris:Good! Do NOT order rosé.
Ava:But I like rosé!
Damaris:You ALWAYS drink rosé. Get something else.
Ava:Like what?
Damaris:I don’t know. Something new and different. Trust the Universe!
Ava stopped herself from replying with the eye-roll emoji. As far as she could tell, “the Universe,” as Damaris described it, was by turns a benevolent dictator or a prankster with a juvenile sense of humor. Sort of like Ava’s cousin Sammy.
Either way, not to be trusted.
From the bed, her own purple brush script urged her tomove the fuck on.
She headed down to the bar, determined to do just that.
Chapter 2
It was early evening and the restaurant in the Dulce Playa Hotel’s lobby wasn’t full. Only a few people sat in booths scattered around the open space. The dim lighting emphasized the tasteful deep blue and gold color scheme, and a classic rock song played low in the background.
Ava perched her butt on one of the high chairs stationed at the bar. With her long legs, she was practically the same height as when she’d been standing.
Old Ava would’ve been mortified to drink at a bar by herself, but New Ava had a book in her purse and she would survive this.
Turning over the menu, a lovely piece of textured navy blue cardstock with gold foil lettering, she immediately spotted the rosé option. She was tempted to order it anyway, regardless of Damaris’s decree, but one glass cost more than an entire bottle did at Ava’s local liquor store. Besides, she was starting a new chapter, right? Might as well let the Universe decide for her.
Closing her eyes, Ava swirled her index finger for three seconds before jabbing it down on the signature cocktails menu. When she opened her eyes, she peered at the drink the Universe had chosen.
A Limón Dulce.
Hmm, maybe that was like lemonade. Could be refreshing. Despite being October, it was a hot, humid day.
Ava made eye contact with the bartender, a fresh-faced young woman with a rosy complexion and dark hair slicked into a low ponytail. She wore the Dulce’s uniform of a black vest over a dark blue button-up with a nametag that read “Luz.”
“What can I get for you?” Luz asked as she made her way over.
Ava offered a polite smile. “I’ll have a Limón Dulce, please.”
“You got it.” Luz set a square napkin—dark blue, with the Dulce logo stamped in gold—in front of Ava and moved a few feet away to mix the drink in a cocktail shaker. As Luz poured the liquid into a martini glass, she asked, “You’re here for the teacher’s conference?”
Ava nodded. “How did you know?”
“I didn’t think it was the other one.” With a grin, Luz set the pale yellow drink on the napkin. “Enjoy.”
Other one?Before Ava could ask, Luz moved away to help another customer. Ava murmured her thanks anyway, then discreetly sniffed the drink. The color bore an alarming resemblance to urine, but the crisp citrus scent reminded her of baking lemon bars with her little sister, Willow, in their father’s kitchen. Ava lifted the glass to take a sip.
