They were a couple of years older than me and had been friends for longer than I’d been alive. I was so happy to see them I actually squealed when I could finally jump in front of them and catch their attention.
“Oh my God!” April squealed, while Mark ripped me out of her hands and into his arms.
“Oh my God!” he mimicked, squeezing me tight.
“What are you guys doing here?” I asked them. Now the three of us were hugging. “I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“It’s been way too long,” Mark agreed.
I squeaked another excited sound. “Are you here because you wanted to see me? Or are there other reasons?”
“We read about it today,” Mark said, waving his phone between us. “It was featured on the Durham Dish. She’s in her cocktail era and made this place sound fabulous.”
“It is,” I assured them. “I’m the GM.”
Another round of hugging and squealing.
“That’s so exciting, Ada,” April gushed. “Look at you, all grown up.”
“Well, you know how much I love to yell at people.”
They both laughed maniacally. “Remember Jose,” Mark said with his eyebrows raised.
“Hey, Jose had it coming,” I insisted. “He was trying to sabotage my tables.”
They shared an amused look and then burst into giggles again. This would be a good time to note that Jose was the owner’s cat who lived at the bar.
And he was an asshole.
“Do you guys want to sit down?”
“Yes, but where?” April asked.
“I’ll clear a spot for you at the bar. Is that okay?”
“Unless you have a chef’s table,” April said slyly.
“Ha. I mean, this is a little better than Mickey’s but come on now.”
“This place is lightyears from Mickey’s,” Mark assured me.
I led them toward the bar and sat them at the end near the kitchen in a couple of spots we usually reserved for Will or Eliza. Or their significant others. Then I got to work taking their orders even though they weren’t technically in my section.
“I thought you were the GM?” April shouted over the roar of voices. “Why are you taking our orders?”
“Because I love you guys!” I yelled back. Then I confessed, “Also, this is a small family operation. I wear many hats.”
“Well, good for you because it’s supposed to be the best in town.”
Realizing she was attributing my talents to the restaurant's success, I felt my cheeks heat with the compliment.
I gave my suggestions—both whiskey drinks—and they put in their orders—both gin martinis—and then I left them for a bit to attend to my other tables. But first, I stopped by Charlie and let him know they were special guests of mine. He perked up at the prospect of being nosy in my personal life and got to making their drinks.
At least now I knew he would drop them off, and I wouldn’t have to worry about them getting stale on the mat.
April and Mark stayed for a long time, drinking, eating, laughing. Their spot in the corner was quieter than the rest of the place. And Charlie was doing a great job of jumping over to refill their drinks. But it was an hour and a half before I had enough of a lull to take a seat beside them and truly catch up.
At one point, Charlie even brought me over a drink when he refilled theirs, but I nursed it because I was still on the clock. I knew he was being friendly, but honestly, it was one of the best old-fashioneds I’d ever had.
