“Did you push it? I wanted that!” My hands slam on top of the tablecloth.
She stares at me with a cold, withering stare of her own.
“What!” I can see what she was thinking right on her face. The nerve of her to judge my drinking. I am of age and can pay. The perfect combination for day-drinking. Considering the circumstances, I’m deserving of one or five drinks.
“Hi, girl.” A different, warmer voice sneaks up on me. My face goes flush.
“I got your message.”
Right before me, Lena stands in her matching, black coordinated set. Shiny pink lipstick. Cat-eye sunglasses.
“Can I sit?”
I jump from my seat to grab any napkins I can find, soaking up the vodka covering the tablecloth as I blot it profusely.
Lena tosses her brown hair from the side of her face to lay evenly in front of her shoulders, fully entertained by the sight of me.
“You made it! Do you mind doing me a favor?” I say, pitching my voice higher than normal.
“Sure?”
“Don’t ask any follow- up questions, but can you just pinch me?” I blurt. Lena raises an eyebrow. Seconds later, she is bringing her index and pointer finger together to squeeze as hard as she can against my skin.
“Okay, good,” I confirm, letting out a long breath.
“Are you okay?” Lena asks. She is staring at me as if I have two heads.
“Well, I am day-drinking, so that’s for you to decide…”
Between the pinch and the strain from wrists applying pressure to the tablecloth, a slow ache spreads across my arm. In the chair beside me, her figure is no longer there. Her voice is no longer infiltrating my brain.
“We should just move. Nobody will notice,” Lena says. She phrases it less like a question and more as a statement, already gliding to the next table, not skipping a beat as we move theutensils, drinks and bread over. I scan every inch of the room, wondering where this ghost is hiding out.
“The whole office is talking about how you left the restaurant the same time Holden did.” She leans in, softening her voice. My attention is now snapped back to her.
We both settle into the new table, waving over the waitress to come by again.
“Yeah, I am trying to take big swings like you.”
“That’s sweet of you to say. I know I said go for it, but remember to keep your guard up,” she warns.
“What do you mean?”
“You are sweet and he’s not known for that.”
I know exactly what Holden Strauss is known for and what it’s going to take to fix it. I’m more than just sweet… I’m—
My head feels floaty. Hyperaware of every limb in my body. My lips tingle with electricity as I imagine how gentle Holden’s lips would feel pressed against mine.
“I can handle myself just fine, thank you very much.” My head feels like a cloud.
I’m drifting fast, picturing us back in his kitchen where we had a moment. We both paused, which sent me running out of his house in a panic once the lights turned back on. The face I’ve been staring at for years on my television was readily there, waiting for my next move. I ran away like a little bitch then dreamed about him right after. So, I reassure her and myself…
“Nothing happened”
“You’re lying. You don’t just leave with Holden Strauss for nothing to happen.”
“Why would I be lying?” Nervous laughter spills out of me.
