Sarah smiled. A real smile, not the professional one.
Conversation came easily, thanks to the drinks. Before Lizzie knew it, they were discussing movies, books, and of course work.
“… and then that woman had the audacity to ask if I can do anything about the sun. It was too bright on the mountainand interrupting her skiing,” Sarah concluded a story about the worst guest she’d ever had.
“Oh my goodness, that reminds me of this guy who came into the bakery once and demanded a non-round bagel.”
They both laughed out loud, which felt good, and genuine, and freeing.
“Where do these people come from?” Sarah asked with a laugh.
“Becki used to say they all came out of the same barn where they never learned human interaction,” Lizzie replied. Instantly, she caught the way Sarah’s head tilted.
“Becki?”
“My ex.”
The silence stretched for a beat. Then another. Then…
“Ah.”
That ‘ah’ carried a lot of weight. As if she’d been wondering about Lizzie. As if there was something she’d been wanting to ask that had now been answered.
The kiss flashed through her mind again. She raised her hand, ready to place it on Sarah’s but then closed her eyes.
She had to get away from here. She needed to text Maya. Get her to talk her out of whatever this spiral was she was in. “I need the bathroom. Be right back.”
The bathroom was single stall, and there was a line. She sighed and picked up the phone. Three texts from Maya, one from her mom, and one from Jasper. She was typing aresponse to Maya, describing the while Sarah situation, when the bathroom door opened again.
Crap.
Cynthia and Emma wandered in, staring first at the line, then at her.
“Well. Lizzie Wakefield. Are you following us?”
“It’s a public bar.”
“Right. A public bar where you just happen to be with your boss.” Cynthia turned to face her directly. “That’s her, right? Sarah Barnes?”
“We’re working.”
“At a bar on a Saturday night?” Cynthia’s smile was sharp. “That’s what we’re calling it?”
She had to curl her hands into fists to channel the rage. “We’re scouting locations for a bar crawl.”
“Oh please. You two have been eye-fucking each other. Emma, didn’t I say they were hooking up?”
“Cynthia,” Emma said uncomfortably.
“What? Look at her. She’s blushing. They’re totally hooking up.” Cynthia stepped closer. “It’s kind of gross. Her using her position to sleep with her intern.”
“We’re not sleeping together.” Not that she didn’t want to.
“Yet.” Cynthia laughed. “God, this is so pathetic. You’re really out here working during spring break and trying to fuck your way to a good recommendation. Very on brand, Lizzie.”
Emma grabbed Cynthia’s arm. “That’s enough. Let’s go. There’s another bar with more bathrooms somewhere on this rock, I’m sure.”
They left. Lizzie stood there shaking, her nails digging into her palms. She abandoned her quest to use the bathroom and rushed back to Sarah.
