“Yeah. She’sa few years older than me. We don’treally get along.”
“How come?”
“She’s an overachiever. Biomedical engineer. She constantly looks down on me for wanting to open my own bar instead of following a stable career path. She’s just snobby.”He shrugged.“She’s alright, I guess. You’ll probably never meet her.”
“Interesting. Okay. Carry on.”I waved a hand for him and Nate to continue the conversation I’d interrupted. “Her outfits are amazing,” I murmured, taking in her flawless getups. Her hair, makeup, and clothes were all perfection. She had an impeccable fashion sense.
“Emery?”
I turned to see Fiona at the bar.“Hi!What’re you doing here?”
“Getting a drink, if that’s okay with you.”She sat on the stool in front of me. “I didn’t know you work here.”
“I’m new,” I said. “This is like my…”
“Fourth shift,” Nate answered before I could.
“Yeah.” I gave him an odd look, to which he smiled sheepishly. It was weird he was counting. “Fourth day, I guess. I didn’t know you come in here. I’ve never seen you here, even before I worked here.”
“Oh, that’s ‘cause I’ve never been. I’m always stuck at home babysitting my sister. I love her and we always have fun, but I basically raise her when she’s not at school.” She bit her lip and looked past me. “I can’t decide what I want.” Her eyes roamed the shelves while my eyes roamed her. I caught myself and stopped dwelling before she noticed.
“What do you like?”I asked.
“Sweet, mostly. I thinkI’ll have a sex on the beach.”
“That’s one of my favorites.”
“The drink, or the real thing?”
“Both!”
“Same.”She grinned as I madethedrink.“Is it okay if I keep you company? I got bored and my parents are home for once, so I don’t have to watch my little sister. I figured I may as well go out.”Her bright nails closed around the glass I set down. They matched today’s dress, too.
“Of course. If anyone wants a drink, they can handle it.”I waved toward Sean and Nate.
“Cool. Thanks.”She took a sip, then gave me her card and said, “You can leave it open.”
I started a tab before coming back to the conversation. “How old’s your sister?”
“Eight. Well, eight in a couple months. She’s pretty awesome,”Fionabragged.“She takes after me.”
“Someone’s conceited,” I teased.
“I bet you are, too. You have every reason to be.”
Normally I’d have a witty response, but instead an awkward,“How’s your drink?”came out.
“Perfect. Yours is the best sex on the beach I’ve ever had.”
“So I’ve been told.”I giggled at my own funny, causing her to smile.“We should hang out sometime.”
“I’m so down. Maybe we can make a date of barhopping. Assuming this isn’t the only one.” She gestured toward our surroundings.
“It is,” I said. “Literally. There’s one other bar, but it doesn’t count. It’s like a gin bar with an older crowd. Mostly a gentlemen’s bar, if you know what I mean.”
Her nose scrunched. “Gross. I guess this one isn’t too bad if it’s the only choice. Especially since it has you.” She smiled before taking another sip and tilting her head. “I take it there are no gay bars around?”
“Like a lesbian one?” I rethought everything as she nodded. So shewasflirting. Probably. Maybe? “Nope, there’s no specific place for us. I mean, notus, I’m not actually gay, but I—”
