I smiled at him. “Me too.”
“What can I get you?” Jack asked him.
“Oh, hey.” Caleb nodded at Jack. “I’d like your top flight. There were a few top-shelf whiskies on there that I’ve never tried.”
Jack nodded. “Coming right up.” He glanced at me, nodding at my drink. “You good?”
I glanced down at it, but I still had more than half a glass. “Yes.”
When Jack moved away, Caleb turned toward me again. “Is this your first time here, too?”
“I’ve come here a few times.” I took my time looking around at the pictures and over at the stage where the band was already setting up. “I really like it here.”
“Something we’re always glad to hear,” Jack said, setting down a wooden tray that had six glasses with differing shades of whiskey in each. He slid a small plastic card toward Caleb, matching up the different types to each glass and telling him where each was from. I had no idea so many places made whiskey.
“Thanks, man, that helps,” Caleb said, pulling out his wallet and handing Jack his credit card. “Can you put hers on my tab, too?”
“Oh, um,” I realized I’d forgotten to open my own tab. I really was taking advantage of Jack, not expecting to pay.
Jack tapped the card on the bar. “Sure will.” He smiled at me and turned to set it up.
“Thank you,” I told Caleb, and he shrugged.
“In my book, the guy should always pay.”
It was different from how Neil thought. I kind of liked Caleb’s point of view better, but comparing them wasn’t fair. From the way Caleb dressed, similar to Victor, and him ordering the most expensive thing on the menu, I had a feeling his income was higher than what Neil could earn at his current job.
“So, what other bands have you heard here?” Caleb asked.
I was not above gushing about the two indie bands I’d listened to way too much in the past two weeks. Caleb didn’t interrupt. His smile brought out similar laugh lines like Jack’s did, I noticed. I wound down as he was finishing his round of tastings.
“Today’s band is supposed to have a different sound than those two,” I ended with.
“You’re cute when you get all excited about music,” Caleb said. “I’mreallyglad we did this.”
The way he looked at me made me squirm on my stool.
“Did you have a favorite?” Jack asked, gesturing toward the nearly empty flight.
Caleb was looking at me when he said, “Yeah,” making my cheeks warm.
Jack snorted. “I meant the whiskey.”
Caleb laughed. “I’d like this one.” He pointed at one name on the card.
“I like that one, too,” Jack said. He set a new drink in front of me, and I glanced down to see my other glass was empty. The umbrella in the new one was yellow, and I liked the way it contrasted with the purple drink.
“Thanks, Jack,” I said, handing him my empty glass.
He nodded, turning to grab a whiskey bottle for Caleb’s pour.
“Jack, huh?” Caleb said, lifting an eyebrow. “But you’ve only been here a few times?”
I blinked at him, wanting to kick myself. “I have. This is only my third time.” I needed to learn not to say Jack’s name. It kept raising questions.
“Can you blame me for making sure she knew my name?” Jack asked, putting Caleb’s drink in front of him. He winked at me before moving away.
Caleb laughed. “I guess I’ve got competition.”
