Beth continued to laugh. ‘Sureyou don’t.’
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake,’ Jenny huffed, sitting back in her chair and crossing her arms.
‘Oh, don’t pout. We’re not making fun of you—we’re proud of you!’
‘Mum, he’s really hot,’ Brittany said in a stage whisper, as she snuck a glance across the room. ‘I mean, for an old guy.’
‘He’s hardly an old guy … he’s probably barely out of his thirties,’ Jenny said.
‘Nah … he’s way older than that,’ Brittany said, shaking her head. ‘I reckon mid-forties.’
‘Definitely,’ Beth said, ‘maybe evenlateforties. He’s got some miles on the speedo. Not that it’s done him any harm, mind you.’
‘He’s not a used car, for goodness’ sake,’ Jenny snapped.
‘Well, he’s not a new one … Is that what’s bothering you? You think he’s too young?’
‘Yes!’ Jenny said, exasperated by the turn of events.
‘That’s so not even an issue. Look at you … What guy in his right mind is going to turn down all this?’ Beth asked, waving her hands at Jenny like a game show hostess.
‘I’m fifty,’ Jenny hissed.
‘So? Fifty is the new forty.’
‘Says who?’
‘Says every fifty-year-old woman who isn’t ready for the scrap heap yet.’
‘Go and talk to him,’ Brittany said, leaning across the table to grab her mother’s hand. ‘He’s just finished serving.’
‘I’m not going over there.’
‘Go and order our drinks,’ Beth said, making to stand up.
Jenny wasn’t sure what Beth intended doing, but it made her scramble to her own feet in case her friend planned on making a scene and dragging her out of the chair.
‘This is ridiculous,’ she muttered irritably.
‘What? You’re ordering a drink.’
‘You two will be sitting here leering at me.’
‘We wouldnotleer,’ Beth said, sounding almost indignant.
Jenny rolled her eyes at them before turning away.Just ignore them. You’re simply ordering a drink. The same way you’ve done before. He’s just a bartender.
A really, really good-looking bartender, a little voice pointed out inside her head.
‘Hi. Wow. I like the new hair,’ Nick said, bracing his hands on the bar as he ran his gaze over her face.
Jenny swallowed hard.Get. A. Grip.‘Thanks. It’s new,’ she said, then winced. Of course it was new, he’d just said that. ‘I mean, today. I had it done … today.’
She followed the curve of his smile and felt her pulse go all fluttery. This was insane. She’d spoken to this guy before, only now it was different. There was no date or life-threatening event to distract her, and she couldn’t deny that he’d been popping into her mind at strange times lately. What was that even about?
‘What can I get you?’ he asked when the silence threatened to stretch a little too long between them.
‘I think I’ll try a grown-up cocktail tonight,’ she said, feeling a little braver.
