The bartender sets the drinks on the counter.
I look at the beer. One won’t affect me at all, but I’m driving my pregnant wife tonight.
Putting it down, I slide the glass to Barry. He nods, understanding instantly.
I grab the margarita and take a small sip. Not bad.
Lore reaches us and promptly steals the drink from my hand. “Hey, mine.”
She sips it, makes a disgusted face, then sets it down.
I take it back, lifting it in an exaggerated toast before taking another sip.
She laughs slapping my chest. “Goof.”
I run a hand down her arm. “Who was that?”
She waves a hand. “A friend from med school. I guess he’s dating Officer Clemons.”
“Oh,” I say, but before I can add anything, the same guy strolls up behind her.
“Lore, it was great to see you.”
My hackles shoot straight up.Lore.That’s my nickname for her.
“Great to see you too, Brick,” she says.
He leans in and kisses her cheek, then recoils the second he sees my glare. His eyes drop to my dress blues, then to the empty glass clutched in my hand. He swallows hard and beats a retreat without another word.
Lore turns to me, catching my expression. “Stop.”
“He called youLore,” I mutter.
She smiles. “A lot of people called me Lore before you claimed it.”
I make a face and set the glass down. “He’s lucky you never dated.”
She makes a small, noncommittal sound and avoids my eyes.
“You never dated him, right?”
She hesitates. “We… never dated. Not like that.”
“Like what?” I ask, already knowing I won’t like the answer.
She exhales. “There may have been one… encounter.”
I deadpan. “You hooked up.”
She nods, avoiding my eyes.
I shrug. “It’s fine, Lore. You’re acting like I don’t have a history too. It was a long time ago.”
I glance around the bar. No will notice if we slip out. “Let’s get out of here. There’s not much of a scene tonight.”
Lore nods, and together we slip out before Barry catches us leaving.
In the car on the short drive to the restaurant, I ask, “So this… encounter. When was it?”
