“What’s going on?” I smile, grabbing a stool at the bar next to them.
“I was trying to convince Rachel here to do some shots, but she isn’t going for it,” Liz grumbles.
“Well fuck it, I’m down,” I say, and Liz claps and calls the bartender toward us. She bends over the bar, showing off her tits, almost giving the guy an aneurysm. “Six shots of your finest vodka.” She winks.
“Excuse me, I didn’t agree to this,” Rachel groans.
“Come on, you can tell me all about the girl.” But I immediately realize it was the wrong thing to say; Rachel hits her head on the wooden bar.
“She uh didn’t hear back,” Liz whispers.
“Well, then we do shots and find someone new for you.” I decide.
“Yesssss!” Liz cheers.
The shots arrive, and the bartender gives us each two. Liz and I clink the tiny glasses and down them immediately. The warm buzz of the vodka runs down the back of my throat and into my almost empty stomach. I’ll have to remember to grab some fries or something on the way home. We both pick up our second shot and look at Rachel. She lifts her head enough to take the first shot, Liz cheering her on. Then she begrudgingly takes the second one as Liz and I take ours too.
“Come on, let’s go get you a woman,” I tell her, taking her hand.
I don’t know Rachel’s type, having only seen her with one relationship in the few years I’ve known her. Rachel and Liz had been friends for a long time, having lived together for at least a decade. Their old roommate had gotten married just as I moved to New York with Aspen. While she was staying with her mom, I needed a place to stay, and Brooklyn seemed the most feasible. I had always thought I’d eventually move out to a place of my own, and while I can afford it financially, I think I’d miss them too much.
“She goes for femmes like you!” Liz says reading my mind. No wonder she and Rachel usually went out, they had totally opposite tastes in women.
“Good, then I know exactly how to help. What do you think of the redhead by the door?” I nod my head, and Rachel glances over.
“She’s cute,” she admits begrudgingly.
“Okay, so go over to her and offer to buy her a drink.”
“No way.” Rachel shakes her head like I’ve told her to dance naked on the bar.
“Finish your wine and go over there,” Liz says more commandingly.
“Ugh,” Rachel grumbles, but listens to her and we watch as she walks over. It looks like it’s going well, they’re both smiling, until a random man walks in and puts his arm around the other woman. Rachel is immediately walking back to us.
“Her husband wanted to know if he could watch,” Rachel groans, and we order another round of shots. What is with the audacity of men these days?
“Why would he want to watch you fuck his wife better than he can?” Liz scoffs and I laugh.
“They always want a guest star until they realize you do a better job.” We all clink glasses before downing the last shot.
“What about her?” Liz points to a brunette reading at the other end of the bar.
“She looks like she doesn’t want to be bothered.” Rachel frowns.
“If you say hello and ask about her book, you’ll know for sure. She might just be waiting for someone with a brain cell to talk to her,” I add.
“Fine, it’s not like I have anything to lose at this point.” She shrugs.
Liz and I watch on as Rachel not only is invited to sit with the woman, but she puts down the book too.
“Success!” Liz cheers.
“She just needed someone who was her type,” I agree.
“Is that what you’re looking for?” Liz tilts her head sideways at me.
“No, I’m not looking for anything except another drink.” I chuckle.
