Sage sighed.“Fine.And thank you.”
“You are welcome,” Zuri said.“Appetizers?”
We talked as we looked at the menu, choosing things we all wanted to try and agreeing to share everything.The server brought our first round of drinks, and I knew I was going to be back at Pour Standards before the end of summer.
Sage, Zuri, and Ashlyn clearly spent a lot of time together.They had inside jokes that they shared with me and made me feel like I had known them as long as they’d known each other.
Friendship was a big part of what I’d been missing in MacKellar Cove, and being there with Ashlyn and her friends hit home that it was time for me to move on.I made the decision before we ordered dessert to start looking for a job in Amethyst Bay.
I was ready to start over.
“Why don’t we come here more often?”Sage asked as I signed the bill.
“Right?It’s amazing.And sharing all the meals was a great idea,” Zuri said, grabbing my arm.“I always order the same thing, but I have a new favorite thanks to you.”
I laughed.“I have four favorites.”
“Seriously.Everything was amazing.”Sage groaned.“But I want another drink.Are we going upstairs?”
“Heck yes,” Zuri said.“I’m buying.Don’t forget.”
Sage rolled her eyes.“As if you’d let me.”
The two of them started for the stairs on the other side of the restaurant.Ashlyn and I followed them a little more slowly.
“Are you okay?”I asked her.
She nodded.“Yeah.I needed this, but…” She shrugged.
“You’re still sad.”
She swallowed roughly.“Yeah.”
“That’s to be expected.You dated him for a long time.He broke your heart.You’re not going to be over him in a few weeks.”
“Not like he’s over me.”
“Men are different.You know that.”
She rested her head on my shoulder for a minute.“You’re right.Thanks for being here.”
“I’m really enjoying it.More than you know.”
“It’s a pretty great town, isn’t it?Maybe you can come back next summer.No heartbreak required.”
I laughed and followed her up the stairs.“Maybe I will.”
At the top of the stairs, the rooftop bar opened up to showcase the view of Lake Champlain even better than downstairs.From the restaurant, it felt like we were sitting on a beach.The water stretched out in front of us and sparkled in the setting sun.On the rooftop, it was like floating.You had to look over the edge to see the land around us.Water was everywhere, and with the sun sinking behind us over the mountains, it was stunning.The water glittered, the amethyst color that gave the bay its name less prominent on the open water of the lake, but still adding depth to the water.
“Wow,” I gasped.
“Right?”Ashlyn had stopped to wait for my reaction, smiling at the look on my face.“This is why I like coming here.”
“This is amazing.I haven’t seen a view like this since I’ve been here.”
“Yeah, it’s so peaceful.”
I drew a deep breath and nodded.Sage and Zuri were already at the bar, and Sage was grinning at the bartender.
