Free Shaken Not Stirred (Mixology) by Alyssa Rose Ivy

number tonight?” I asked him.
    “She’s with her brother. A number was all I
pushed for.”
    “Do you think you’ll call her?”
    “Maybe. She’s only here a few more days
though.”
    “What are you going to do when there are no
more tourists?” I pushed down on the cover of the blender so I
wouldn’t have the ingredients to a Blue Bayou all over my
shirt.
    “What I did last winter,” Macon shouted to be
heard over the blender.
    “Which was?” I poured the Bayou, setting it
aside with a couple of beers for one of the waitresses.
    “Get really, really bored.”
    I laughed as I opened up a few more beers. I
saw a couple of regulars sitting down and knew exactly what they’d
want with their burgers.
    “Hey.”
    I glanced up to find Colin with a hand on the
bar. He was wearing a t-shirt for a change. I’d never seen him in
anything without a collar.
    “Hi.”
    “I’m glad you’re working tonight, I’ve been
meaning to call you, but things have been crazy with work.”
    “Oh. That’s all right.” I played it off,
trying to pretend I hadn’t spent the last few weeks over-analyzing
my silent phone.
    He leaned in slightly. “I know it’s last
minute, but any chance you want to go out tomorrow night?”
    Was he serious? After ignoring me for two
weeks I was supposed to go out with him last minute? “Sorry. I have
plans.”
    “Oh.” His face fell. “I knew it was too much
to hope for, but I had such a great time with you the other day,
and I’d love to see you again.” His puppy-dog face wouldn’t work on
me. I didn’t need to deal with being someone’s fallback date.
    I glanced at Brody. Was he hearing this?
    I wanted to say something snarky, but my
polite side won out. “I had a nice time too, but I already have
plans.”
    “Maybe another time, then?” His voice was
hopeful. “If I give you more notice?”
    “Maybe.”
    “Excuse me.” For once I appreciated being
interrupted by a customer.
    “Sorry, I have to work.” I walked away, still
not sure what to make of Colin’s apparent interest. Had that girl
dumped him? Did he want to date multiple people? Had he forgotten
about me until he saw me at the bar?
    “Where’s your girlfriend?” Macon asked Colin,
surprising me enough that I spilled a beer. Thankfully, it didn’t
get all over the girl who ordered it.
    I mopped up the mess and waited for his
answer. “Girlfriend? I don’t have one. Didn’t you hear me
pathetically asking Maddy out?”
    Macon wasn’t deterred. “Yeah, but that
doesn’t mean you don’t have a girlfriend.”
    “I don’t.”
    I dared to glance over at Colin. He looked
confused. “The only dates I’ve been on in the last few months were
both with Maddy.”
    “Are you sure?” Brody asked.
    I groaned and reminded myself to stop telling
Macon everything. He couldn’t keep anything to himself. I quickly
turned away.
    “Yeah, I’d know.”
    I could practically feel Colin’s eyes boring
into the back of my head, but I didn’t turn around again. Maybe I
misread what he was doing with the girl. They weren’t kissing or
anything. In theory, it could have been a friend.
    “I wouldn’t mind a girlfriend though,” Colin
called loud enough for me to hear. I turned in time to watch him
walk away from the bar.
    “Huh. Would you look at that?” Macon watched
Colin walk toward the exit.
    “What?” I checked my shirt, searching for an
explanation for why Macon was staring at me.
    “No mystery girl, and he wants to see you
again.”
    “Yeah, he had his chance.”
    “Maybe he really was busy with work.”
    “Too busy to call once in two weeks?”
Usually, I wasn’t that girl. I didn’t sit around moping about a guy
who never called, but I always knew when it was going to happen. I
could read people, and although I wouldn’t have admitted it out
loud, I had wanted to see him again.
    “I’m not saying you should give him another
chance, but at least stop worrying about whether you’re a bad
kisser.”