“So, another drink? I still taste tequila,” Charlie said, making a face.
“Me too. I’ll get this round,” I said quickly.
“Coming with you.”
“I really didn’t want to interrupt your catch-up,” I said to him as I handed the bartender my card.
“Actually,sheinterrupted me walking you to the bathroom,” he corrected me.
I gave him a sympathetic look. “Seeing an ex for the first time is awkward for anyone.”
“Maybe, but I’m having a great time standing in that corner over there, dressed like freaks.”
I folded the receipt and tucked it into the clutch.
“Back we go then.”
The Celtics scored in overtime, which led to another round of tequila shots.
“Next weekend’s my birthday, so I convinced everyone to go karaoke-ing in Koreatown. You guys better come with us,” Perry insisted as she stood in between us with one arm draped over each of our shoulders. I felt four feet tall next to her.
Charlie pointed to his right. “Koreatown is right there. Should we do a karaoke nightcap?”
I hesitated, and he put his hand on my shoulder. “Charity karaoke nightcap. It’s been kind of fun watching Kristen stare at us every time she thinks I’m not looking. What do you say?”
I looked over at Kristen looking in our direction. “I guess I never say no to a nightcap. Not even the karaoke kind.”
The karaoke bar was on the top floor of an office building with only one elevator working. Charlie and I were the last two to go up. The smell of his aftershave was making me feel lightheaded.
I looked over and caught his eye. “What a fun faux date,” I said. After two cocktails and a tequila shot, I was finally out of my head and having fun. It felt like we were dressing up and role-playing.
He laughed and repeated, “Fun faux. Faux fun?”
Perry had booked a dimly lit room with a small stage and a fully stocked bar with two bartenders.
Charlie handed me a five-dollar bill. “Can you grab me a whiskey soda? I never made it to the bathroom at Scallywag’s.”
My eyes were having trouble adjusting to the dark. I walked cautiously to the bar and ordered a whiskey soda and a vodka soda with a splash of cranberry. I stuffed his cash in the tip jar and grabbed both drinks, then nearly collided with Kristen.
“Woops, it’s so dark in here!” she said, raising her hands apologetically.
“Hey again,” I said, trying to sound friendly.
“Sam, right?”
I nodded.
“So, how do you know Charlie?”
Without Charlie, I wasn’t sure how much I was supposed to commit to the bit, but I wanted to follow through.
“We’re officemates, actually,” I mumbled.
She raised an eyebrow. “Officemates, that’s cute.”
“I put my song in the queue,” I heard Charlie announce as he rejoined the group.
I handed him the whiskey soda. “I’m going out on a limb here, but having been hostage to your Spotify playlists for the last few months—”
