The guy's friend steps forward, grinning broadly. "Make it five, Marco."
Marco nods, already reaching for more glasses. "You got it, Tyler."
So, the friend's name is Tyler. He has an easy, boyish face and warm brown eyes.
"I’m Sebastian, by the way," says Mr. Blue Eyes, extending a hand to me. "But my friends call me Bash."
I take his hand, which is warm and envelops mine completely. "Charlotte. But my friends call me Charlie," I mimic back to him.
"Charlie," He rolls my name around like he’s testing its weight on his tongue.
I can feel the heat crawling up my neck and making its way across my collarbone.
Marco lines up five shots, and Bash finally breaks eye contact to pay. Tyler makes quick work of introductions all around while the transaction happens.
"Tyler," he says, shaking each of our hands in turn. "I promise I'm more interesting than I look."
"Emily," my sister replies with a grin. "Charlie's cooler, younger sister."
"Lily," Lily adds. "Roommate and British transplant, as you may have noticed."
"Cool! The accent gave it away," Tyler nods. "That, and the fact that you're not wearing enough clothing for how cold it is outside. You Brits are built different."
Lily laughs, surprised. "Fair point. Though I'd argue that hypothermia is a small price to pay for looking this good."
Bash returns to our circle, handing out shots. "So, what are we drinking to?"
Five shot glasses hover in the air between us.
"To new friends," Tyler suggests.
We each grab a shot and collide our glasses in a chaotic five-way clink, all shouting, “To new friends!”
The tequila still bites, but this time it warms rather than scorches.
"So," Bash says, setting his empty glass on the bar and turning his full attention back to me. "What exactly is the alcohol helping you forget tonight, Charlie?"
I narrow my eyes at him. "Who says I'm forgetting anything?"
That dimple appears again. "You've just got a look."
"What look?" I challenge, crossing my arms.
"The 'I'm here to have a good time and possibly make some questionable decisions' look." His smile grows. "It's a good look on you, by the way."
"You're very sure of yourself, aren't you?" I can't help the smile tugging at my own lips.
"I've been told it's my most annoying quality," he admits cheerfully.
I glance over to where Emily, Lily, and Tyler have already fallen into an animated conversation, Tyler apparently sharing some story that has both ofthem laughing. The three of them seem to have hit it off immediately, leaving Bash and me in our own little bubble.
"Okay, so what brought you here tonight?" I ask, turning his question back on him.
"Tyler's idea," he shrugs. "Said we needed to check out the new place everyone's been talking about. I think he's just hunting for new material for his socials."
"And what do you do when you're not letting your friend drag you to trendy bars?"
"Sports marketing consultant," he says. "Just started at a new tech company, actually. You?"
