“Lavender line?” she asked more than said.
“Is that a bar?”
“No, it’s part of St. Ann Street that crosses with Bourbon and includes Lafitte’s, which is the oldest gay bar in the country. Continuously operated gay bar, at least,” Dana said.
“Oh,” Samara replied.
“It’s okay if you want to go somewhere else. It was just a thought.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ve been to gay bars before,” Samara replied.
“You have?”
“I live in LA and work in Hollywood. Of course, I have.”
“Well, okay,” Dana said and told the driver where she wanted him to go.
They’d have to walk a bit since the Quarter was pedestrian-only this time of night, but the driver got them as close as he could park. Dana helped Samara out of the car and took her hand, pulling her through the already thick crowd.
“It’s busy tonight,” Samara noted into her ear when they paused on the sidewalk.
Dana shivered a little at the closeness and replied, “It’s New Orleans at midnight. It’s pretty much always like this. Come on. I’m taking us somewhere it should be a little less packed.”
With their hands linked, Dana led them into one of thebars she expected to be less crowded, but she was surprised to find it busier than usual. At least, there was a group of people leaving a table with three chairs. She snagged it quickly, telling Samara to sit there and that she’d be right back with their drinks.
“You don’t even know what I want,” Samara said.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“Whatever you’re having, I guess,” Samara replied.
Dana rolled her eyes and said, “I’ll be right back. Save that chair. People will steal it if you don’t physically hold on to it, and sometimes, even when you do.”
Then, she walked to the bar and waited in the short line to place her order, turning back around to check on Samara a few times. Once she had their drinks, she turned again and found a tall, lanky woman talking to Samara. Dana sucked in air through her teeth and walked back to the table.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hi,” Samara replied, giving her ‘save me’ eyes.
“Oh, you’re here with someone,” the woman said.
“She is, yeah. I’m her girlfriend. You are?”
“I was just leaving,” the woman replied.
“Okay. Bye. Have a nice night,” Dana told her, and when the woman walked away, she added, “I can’t even take you out in a disguise without you attracting attention, huh?” she joked and set the plastic cup in front of Samara before she sat down and wrapped her arm over the back of Samara’s chair. “Just in case.”
“I swear, I didn’t do anything. She just walked up to me.”
“You’re still hot, even with all that crap on,” Dana said.
“Gee, thanks,” Samara replied and took a drink. “This is, like,allalcohol.”
“It’s New Orleans,” Dana replied, laughing. “Well, it’s a good bar in New Orleans. Not all of them are generous, but I know a couple of the bartenders here, so they tend to be nice to me.”
“You know them how, exactly?”
“They worked some of the parties I’ve catered.”
