A breath escapes her pouty lips. “You don’t know anything about me,” she retorts before pushing into Black Kettle Bindery and all but running to the back of the store.
Shit!
I just wanted to start a conversation, but apparently with this one, I can’t do anything but say the wrong words at the right time. Instead of following her, I turn on my heel and head back toward Eerie Ink.
five
Olive
I Can Buy My Own Drinks
Ugh! I groan and roll my shoulders back, shaking the tension from my limbs to force myself to stop reflecting on the day I’ve had. I cannot allow Ariella to sniff out my latest obsession. I don’t even know why I’m so fixated on him. He seems sort of like a jerk, and I’m here to do one thing—work. Speaking of the she-devil, I spot Ariella across the room, sauntering toward me in a leather miniskirt, a white silk tank, and heels. She looks like a sex kitten on the prowl, rather than someone meeting her bestie for happy hour.
“Hi. Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re here and we finally get to do this,” she says, greeting me cheerily with a hug.
“I mean, if you weren’t a big hotshot marketing boss, we could’ve done this any day this week.” I grin so she knows I’m joking and not at all sad that I’ve been left to settle in alone my first week in town.
“Uh, yeah. I wish that all jobs came with a summer break. Working is the worst.” She lays her head on the table, emphasizing her exhaustion from what could only be too much adulting.
“New job’s that good?”
A smile blossoms on her face. “Actually, it is. I am hopelessly in love with marketing. I’m having so much fun, I just feel like a bad friend. How’s Beau?” She wiggles her eyebrows and giggles at her own question.
“Whatever do you mean? Beau is a peach.Soeasy to work for. Not grumbly at all.” I laugh with her. Beau is pretty great in reality, but he’s an old man. Very set in his ways with expectations for everything.
The server, an attractive man with red hair and adorable dimples, slides up to our table. “Hey, Ariella, how’s it going? Haven’t seen you in a while.” His voice crackles with something suspiciously close to nerves as his cheeks turn just a smidge past rosy.
“Hi, Howard. It’s so great to see you.” Ari places her hand on top of his resting at the edge of the table. “Can we get three witches’ brews and three shots of tequila?” She freakingwinksas she glides her fingers deftly over his hand.
“Y-yes. Coming right up.” He scurries away on a mission to secure our beverages.
“Umm, what was that?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at her. Ari has always had way more confidence than me when it comes to men. She doesn’t get nervous and awkward like I do.
“Oh, that’s just Howie. We went to high school together . . . and he always gives me free drinks. I think he used to have a crush on me back in the day.” She shrugs me off like I can’t see the pink tinge creeping up her neck.
“Mmmk. We will be exploring that at some point. Who’s the third drink for?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
“Oh. Sorry, I forgot to mention I invited Meg. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course. I love your sister,” I reply, meaning it. Meg is younger than us by two years, but she’s a freaking blast. Always up to no good or scheming up a new plan, she makes Ari’s wild look tame.
Howie delivers our drinks along with something that, if I’m not mistaken, looks like a zero-dollar tab. Part of me hopes he didn’t comp our check just to get in Ari’s good graces, but the other part of me isn’t mad about not paying for them if it means I get to watch whatever’s going on with them unfold. I’m too nosy and interested in her love life to stop. I’ll leave him a big tip to compensate.
As I take my first refreshing sip of witches’ brew, more commonly known during the months that don’t end inb-e-ras sangria, a very casually dressed Meg slides into the booth next to Ari. With a mischievous grin adorning her face, she doesn’t have to say a word before I know I’m in trouble.
“So, Olive. How has Mage been welcoming you so far?” she asks, a knowing smirk dancing on her lips.
“Fine. Uneventful,” I respond, glaring at Ari since she so obviously told her sister about my new gig as the town stripper.
“Meet anyone interesting?”
“Not really, should I have?”
“Nope.” She pops thepon the word emphatically.
“What’s happening right now?” Ari chimes in, glancing between us suspiciously.Okay, maybe she didn’t tell her?
I widen my eyes at Meg, trying to decipher what the play is here. I haven’t done anything other than go to work, get coffee, and spend an irritating amount of time wondering about mystery man, Sam.
