Page 101 of Bastard Bartender

Epilogue

Two Years Later

“Home away from home,” Nic says as we step out of the airport and into the desert air.

“Whoa.” I stop, reminded of how hot it can get in Las Vegas at the end of July. “Remind me to get on her for having the wedding in July. I almost forgot just how bad this heat gets.”

Nic wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Oh, come on. A little heat won’t kill anyone. Have you already forgotten your roots, you New Yorker you?”

“Yes, my roots are in San Diego, remember? Beach weather. Not dry desert, want to fry you alive weather.”

He laughs as he tugs me to the waiting taxis. We hop in one, and thankfully, they have the air blasting, making us feel somewhat normal in this godforsaken heat.

When we arrive at my old apartment building, memories of my first arriving here a few years ago flash through my mind. I can’t believe how naive I was back then. So young and new to the real world. Now, I’m a big-time event planner for the best venue in the US. I still pinch myself at the thought.

I’ve grown used to living in New York. It’s amazing how different each coast is even though we all live in the same country. I’ve had to get used to people wanting rye toast for breakfast instead of sourdough, but don’t even get me started when people ask how I liked living in Nevada.

Please, for the love of all things holy. It’s pronounced Ne-VAD-uh. Not Ne-VAH-duh. I feel like everyone on the East Coast pronounces Nevada and Oregon wrong.

Besides that, we’ve made great friends, and we have truly made a life for us there. Even Nic has been able to keep up his adventurous lifestyle, living in the Big Apple; having trains that can take you from state to state really helps with this fact. And, yes, he agreed to no more BASE jumping or anything crazy like that. He can find all of his adventures without being too dangerous. Lately, we’ve been spending a lot of time in the Hudson Valley while he zip-lines, and he’s in the beginning stages of getting his helicopter pilot license. I’m not crazy about it, but he’s working with a reputable flying school, and he has a few hundred hours of training left until he’s up there solo.

We hop out of the car and head toward the front door of the complex heading to Marie and Sammy’s apartment. We were able to clear Nic’s place from the Airbnb, so we have a place to stay, but it won’t be available for a few more hours, so Marie told us to come straight to her place when we arrived.

After we knock on the door, I hear screams of joy on the other side. “She’s here! She’s here!”

“They know I’m coming too, right?” Nic half-jokes.

Marie swings the door open and throws herself at me with a big hug. Nic braces us, so we don’t fall over as we both laugh and cry happy tears of getting to see each other again.

Of course, we’ve kept in touch, talking almost daily, but it’s not the same as being face-to-face. She and Sammy have come out to visit us a few times in the two years we’ve lived there, and Nic and I were able to sneak a weekend in Vegas around six months ago, but none of that matters. It always feels like forever until we get to see each other again, and we’ve been looking forward to this week for a while now.

Mainly because Sammy finally talked Marie into settling down, and we’re here to celebrate their wedding.

“Are you ready for the big day?” I ask after she gives Nic a hug hello too.

She shakes her head. “Will I ever really be ready?”

Sammy swoops in and picks her up. “This girl was born ready. She can’t wait to be Mrs. Sammy Lopez.”

“Ha! I’m going to be a missus.” Marie laughs.

I know she plays a big game, like she’s being dragged to the altar, but every once in a while, I see the excitement in her eyes. The day she picked out her wedding dress was definitely one of them. I flew out by myself just for the weekend to go dress shopping. Her eyes lit up when she found the one, and we both cried while we toasted with champagne.

“Did that thought just hit you?” I ask, trying to hold back my giggles.

“Hell yeah, it did. Damn, that almost makes me feel old.” She fluffs her hair, trying to look younger than she is.

“Oh, stop. We still have plenty of years ahead of us.”

After hanging for a bit, we all head out to dinner and then to Lounge 702 for old times’ sake. Everyone is gabbing and joking while I look out the window at my old hometown.

I loved my years in Vegas, but being in New York suits Nic and me. We have an apartment in Brooklyn, which is a short subway ride to my job, and Nic’s at a high-end restaurant in Midtown.

The tips Nic gets are great, but a few months ago, he said he’d like to have a job with more stability. That was when he came to me with the idea to be a helicopter pilot. There are many companies in the city that he can apply to once his training is over. While I’m not over the moon about him flying, I respect his choice. In fact, tomorrow, I’m surprising him with a helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon. I’m scared shitless, but I know this is something my man deserves. I might just have to pop a Valium first.

Our life is good. Two years have flown by, and I couldn’t be happier. Tonight’s little trip down memory lane is exactly the thing my heart wants. It’s proof that it doesn’t matter where you live. It’s the people who you share your life with that’s important.

As I glance around, I have to stop and look at Nic. The music is just as loud, the place reeks of beer and bad decisions, and the gorgeous green-eyed man is still looking at me like I’m the only girl in the room.