I turn to the stairway to my left and make my way upstairs to walk onto the rooftop. The soft sound of music hits my ears as I push the door open, followed by the gentle murmur of quiet conversation. Kirstin is over by the bar in a simple white tank with black jeans, her brown curly hair loose around her shoulders.
“How are we doing?” I ponder as I walk up behind her, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Everything ready to go?”
“Apparently someone isn’t a fan of my new specialty cocktail,” Nico tells me, but the tone of his voice makes it clear he’s not offended, rather teasing.
Kirstin leans her elbows on the bar top, staring intently at Nico as he moves around the bar, but keeps his eyes on her. “Maybe I just wanted something a little stronger.”
“Are you sure you can handle it?”
My eyebrows shoot up as my eyes dart between the two of them, the tension palpable. My eyes widen more when she says, “The real question is, can you?”
“Okay,” I say louder than I intend to, taking a step away from the bar. “I’m going to go check on Cole.”
“Oh, doll,” Nico practically growls as he leans on the counter, now mere inches apart as they both ignore me. “Try me.”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
I turn on my heel and walk away, mumbling to myself, “I guess that’s a thing now.”
“They’ve been flirting for the past twenty minutes,” I hear Cole say from my left. I turn to see him leaning against the ledge of the rooftop, staring at my boss and the bartender. “It’s gross.”
I laugh and shake my head as I walk up to him, turning around to mimic his posture as I watch Kirstin and Nico. They’re still leaning into each other, their voices now hushed as they whisper to one another. “There is definitely something there. I just can’t pinpoint if it’s romantic or, well, you know.”
“Or if they just want to jump each other’s bones?” He fills in, causing me to laugh through my nose. “I think it’s the latter.”
“I should probably start mingling and introducing our matches,” I say as a group of five people emerge onto the rooftop. “I’ll come find you in a little bit.”
Cole reaches out as I take a step away, grabbing my purse off my shoulder. “I’ll store this behind my booth.”
Giving him a grateful smile, I turn and head up to the group of four people that were mingling when I arrived and introduce myself. Spending the next twenty minutes, I greet and welcome our new matches, make sure they’re with who they are here for, and answer some of the random questions that come up.
Kirstin is still lingering at the bar talking to Nico, and I make a mental note to ask—or harass—her about it later. Spinning on my heel, I walk over to the buffet and grab myself a small plate of chips and salsa before I weave through the crowd and head back over to Cole.
He’s currently at his station, so I lean on the wall nearby as I munch on my snack and people watch. A few people are already on the small makeshift dance floor that Nico created us, their laughter infectious as they spin each other around.
“Want to dance?” Cole asks, causing me to jump slightly at his approach. “You look lonely over here.”
I lift my plate slightly. “I have the best company ever, thank you very much.”
“Wow, I’m beat by some cheap chips and salsa.” He holds a hand over his heart, attempting to look wounded. “What did I ever do to deserve this?”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” I tut with a roll of my eyes. “I’d pick food every time.”
Cole shrugs before he grabs the plate from my hand and sets it on the small wooden beam that wraps around the ledge. He then grabs my hands and walks backwards to the dancefloor, dragging me with him.
Stepping onto the dancefloor I say, “Don’t you have a job to do?”
“The next ten songs are already programmed,” he informs me before twirling me in a circle. “My only job now is to make sure you have fun.”
“Ever the gentlemen.”
Cole spins me twice more, causing me to laugh loudly before I fall into him, my hands landing on his shoulders. We end up dancing around like no one is watching, just enjoying each other’s company and getting sucked in by a few of the other couples who are dancing near us.
A slow song suddenly comes over the loudspeakers and the couples who weren’t already dancing make their way over. I smile as I see Nico walk out from behind the bar and hold a hand out to Kirstin, pulling her into him and swaying to the music.
Turning, I see Cole bending slightly at the waist with his hand extended in my direction when he says, “May I have this dance?”
Slipping my hand into his, I let him pull me into him, his hands landing at a respectable place on my waist as my hands rest on his shoulders.
