Page 17 of Single Girl in the City
She dug through her backpack and pulled out her compact mirror, then held it up for him. “See. Dimples.”
He turned his head right, then left. “Okay, I’ll bite. What is it about my dimples?”
“They mean your smile’s real. When you talk to customers, your smile is big but not always real.” She shrugged. “I like real.”
His dimples vanished but the warm flicker in his eyes said he was still being real. A signal that maybe it was time for her to be real and honest.
Okay, here it went. The moment of truth—the truth he deserved.
“Owen,” she began. “When I came back to Portland, I knew that—”
“We’re out of Stella,” the other bartender said, breaking the moment. “I’ll watch the bar while you grab another keg.” He looked between the two of them. “Unless you want to handle the bar and I’ll—”
“No, you go,” Abi said, but he didn’t budge. “Seriously, we wouldn’t want to keep your adoring public waiting.” He searched her eyes, where she worked hard to erase any trace of nerves and guilt. “It will give me time to go over the menu and figure out what I want.”
Again, he hesitated so she turned her attention back to the menu.
She waited until he disappeared out of sight before she allowed herself to take a deep breath.God,she was in trouble. And hungry. And broke.
She looked in her wallet and back to the menu and nearly wept. She had exactly enough money to buy a cheeseburger, a side of fries, hot cocoa, and gas money for her sister. Even though Dotti wouldn’t ask, Abi wasn’t a freeloader.
She set the menu down and waited patiently for the other bartender to come her way. When her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since her muffin at lunchtime, Abi stared at the bartender—as if by staring him down he’d look her way. Only instead, a woman met her gaze before quickly skittering away.
She wore a pretty, red dress, bitchin’ black night-on-the-town heels, and an embarrassed smile. Then the woman glanced over at the entry three times in three seconds and studied her lap. It was girl speak for “I’ve been stood up.”
“Nope. It’s none of your business. Eyes on the prize.” That prize being a big, fat bacon and blue cheeseburger with extra bacon. “The last thing she’d want is for you to go and make it even worse.”
Then, as if Jenny herself had plopped down on the stool next to Abi, the song that they had always sung at karaoke became the ambient music at the bar. Abi hadn’t even been aware that there was music, but now it was crystal clear.
“I knew there’d be someone,” she grumbled to herself. She’d felt as if a good deed was right around the corner all day. Then when she’d had that moment with Owen, she assumed it was because it was time to fess up. But Jenny stepped in and saved her from imminent heartache. At least that’s what she told herself when Owen reappeared.
“Seriously, you need a bell.”
A smile, sans the dimples. “What did you decide on, Angel?”
It took everything she had to let go of the menu but eventually, she set it down and met his gaze. “A hot cocoa and …” she hesitated, looked at the guy next to her chowing down on a big, juicy burger and groaned. “And a martini for the blonde at the end of the bar.”
He laughed, a big, guttural laugh that made her want to laugh along with him. “So much makes sense now.”
“No. It’s just … she looks sad.”
He considered this for a long moment. “Is she a friend?”
“No, she’s a complete stranger,” Dotti said, pulling up a stool next to her. “My sister’s trying to save the world one act of kindness at a time, didn’t you know?” She stuck out her hand. “Dotti, nice to meet you.”
“Owen,” he said, taking her hand and Abi could practically feel Dotti shaking her head—in disappointment. Not that Abi had a defense, she should have told him the truth on minute one of day one.
“She’s actually really good at it,” Owen said, and something warm spread through her chest at the idea that he’d stick up for her. Instead of joining the bandwagon oflet’s poop on Abi, he’d defended her.
“If you’re doling out miracles, Angel,” he said, “then can you give me one of those Time-Turners from Harry Potter?”
“Someplace else you’d like to be?” Abi asked.
He looked her up and down, then leaned in. “Right now? I’m good.”
“What would make you great?” she asked.
“Is this your way of asking me out?”
