“Well…”
I stopped in my tracks. Brock was watching another couple leave, then he leaned across the bar to speak softly.
“I’ll make you a drink. But if anyone asks, you have to claim you ordered it before the hot water went out. I was told customers that already had drinks can stay and finish them.”
I hopped onto a barstool and grinned. “I won’t tell anyone. As long as you make it extra good.”
Brock smiled while fixing not just one drink, but two. He placed one in front of me, then took a sip from the other. “Our secret.”
Our secret. That simple phrase filled me with a swirling mix of confusion and excitement.
“Are you allowed to drink on the job?” I asked.
“I’m allowed to make one for myself at the end of the shift. Which is right now, since I’m cleaning up to go home,” he explained.
“Ahh.”
“So, why are you late?” he asked while cleaning up behind the bar.
“I got roped into something after class,” I said. Which wasn’t technically a lie. “Better late than never.”
“True. I wanted to tell you I started watchingThe Wirelike you recommended.”
“Yeah? What do you think?”
His back was to me while he began cleaning up the area behind the bar. “It’s a little dated, but it’s great. And mostly accurate, too.”
“Yes!” I exclaimed. “Unlike a lot of other police dramas, they tried to stay as true to life as possible. How much have you watched?”
“I just started season three.”
I blinked. “You’re really flying through it. I recommended it… what, on Tuesday?”
“Wednesday,” he corrected. “The day you wore the red blouse to class, with the black necklace.”
I was glad he was facing away from me—it meant he couldn’t see my cheeks turn red. “Ah, that’s right.”
We chatted for a little while about the characters onThe Wire, and how many of them had gotten their start there before moving on to better things. Idris Elba was the biggest name, but at least half a dozen other actors were well-known in Hollywood now. Brock made another round of drinks for both of us, and I didn’t tell him no.
By the time my second drink was finished, the bar was empty and we were all alone. But I wasn’t ready to go home yet. Jace hadn’t texted me, so I assumed he was still out with his Army friend.
“You’re closing up all by yourself?” I asked.
Brock snorted. “Ellie was working tonight, but as soon as she heard we had to close up early, she bounced.”
“I can help!” I offered, more enthusiastic than I intended.
For a second, something flickered in his eyes. Surprise, maybe, or something warmer. “You don’t have to.”
“I know. But I gave you an F on your exam, so I feel like I need to make it up to you.”
His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “You what…”
“Just kidding!” I quickly added. “You got a B-plus. But come on, it’ll go quicker with help.”
Brock chuckled, then nodded once. “Yeah. Okay. Thanks.”
I hopped off the barstool, my boots tapping softly on the hardwood floor. The place looked different when it was empty. Warmer, somehow. More intimate. He’d already dimmed the overhead lights, leaving only the softer amber glow from behind the bar.
