 |
| Available for download on Amazon. |
He
was a friend of a friend. I only met him once but I fell in love… like I
usually do when I meet funny, intelligent, attractive, slightly nerdy guys who
are so far out of my league we aren’t even in the same solar system.
And
now I’m at his wedding.
Alone.
Life
sure is a bitch sometimes.
“I’ll
be at the bar,” I muttered to no one in particular as I climbed out of my
beribboned chair, trying not to take the entire tablecloth with me, and wound
my way through the tables to the one friendly face I was looking for. “You guys
take cards, right?”
I
held up my “emergencies-only” credit card for the bartender’s inspection.
“Of
course.” He smiled. Probably not a day under 80 and in suspenders. My heart
melted a little.
“Good.
Cut me off at $100.” I slammed the card down on the counter and climbed onto a
stool, struggling to keep the uncomfortable dress from strangling me, which
would have been impressive since it was a one-shoulder number. My first and
only ‘little black dress’ and I only bought it because it was on sale and my
best friend, Nina, threatened me with bodily harm if I didn’t get something new
for this wedding. “You been a bartender long?”
He
grinned at me with an evil gleam in his eye. “Started in ’58. That long enough
for you?” His well-trimmed beard shook with mirth.
I
studied him for a minute, then nodded. “We’ll find out.”
“What’re
you drinking?”
“Well,
I just finished a terrible vodka tonic that that guy managed to screw up.” I
pointed at the bro at the end of the bar who was probably still suffering from
the hangover he got on his 21st birthday. “Let me ask you, sir, how
does one mess up a vodka tonic?”
The
old man solemnly shook his head. “It’s a shame.”
“It
is,” I agreed. “Do you mind if I call you Corilinus?”
“Normally
yes, seeing as my name is Dave.” He leaned an elbow on the bar in front of me.
I
shook my head. “You, sir, are no Dave. Now, Corilinus, as for my drink, I want
something old school that’s not beer. Oh, and whiskey and tequila are not
allowed. What can you do for me?”
Corilinus
chewed his moustache in thought. “Old fashioned.”
I
shook my head and tisked. “Old fashioneds have whiskey in them.”
Corilinus
conceded with a nod. “This may be tough. I’ll make you a good vodka tonic to
enjoy while I consult the bible.” He pulled an old hardcover book out of a
drawer and dropped it on the counter in front of me.
“Corilinus,”
I said as I stood on the rungs of my stool and held out a hand to shake, “you
have a deal.”
He
shook my hand with a laugh. “What’s your name?”
I
dramatically tossed my hair back. “People call me Vira… no.” I shook my head.
“No, they don’t. I can’t lie to you, Corilinus. Do I look like a Vira?”
Corilinus
shook his head but his eyes sparkled.
My
shoulders slumped. “Knew it. My name is Lydia.”
“Ah,
that is a beautiful name.”
“Thanks!
It was a birthday present.”
Corilinus
stared at me for a long moment, then laughed. “I’ll get you that drink now.”
“Lydia!
I thought that was you!”
He
leaned against the bar next to me and I bit back a sigh of longing.
The
friend of a friend.
Any
hope that my love was a figment of my imagination went out the window at the
sight of him… or maybe that was the loneliness and vodka. It’s hard to tell the
difference sometimes.
I
felt my knees go weak as I took in his trimmed beard and gorgeous smile, and I
was still sitting down. “Hey, Frank. Congrats again.” I raised my freshly
filled glass in his direction before sipping.
He
laughed. “Why do you insist on calling me Frank?”
“Because
Fabio was taken and Josh is too common for you.”
“Well,
thanks… I think.” He caught the bro bartender’s attention and I loudly gestured
for him to stay as far away from my side of the bar as possible.
Frank
looked at me with question marks all over his face. Not literally, of course.
That would be ridiculous.
“You
do not want him! He messed up my
vodka tonic. Corilinus!”
“How
do you mess up a vodka tonic?” Frank was baffled.
“No
idea, but he managed it.”
Corilinus
smiled at me, finished pouring wine into two glasses for his customers, and
headed my way.
“What
can I get for you, Vira?”
“Aww!”
I gushed. “You just earned a bigger tip, sir!”
He
winked at me and turned a pointed look at Frank.
“Whatever
he wants, put it on my tab,” I ordered.
Frank
laughed. “I’m the groom, Lydia. I drink free.”
I
nodded. “Like I said, put it on my tab.”
Frank
chuckled and shook his head.
People
were always doing that around me. I haven’t quite figured out why, yet. I
suppose someday…
“Two
beers and another bottle of champagne.”
“Yes,
sir.”
“Thank
you, Corilinus!” I called as he walked away.
Frank
leaned down to whisper in my ear. I got a whiff of his cologne and nearly
swooned. “His nametag says ‘Dave.’”
I
leaned closer, on the surface playing along with his secrecy, but really just
trying to catch more of his cologne. I have no idea what it was, but I always
swoon when I smell it. I can never get enough of it. I love it.
Especially
on a good-looking man. It’s almost as good as chocolate on a good-looking man.
Or
nothing on a good-looking man.
No comments:
Post a Comment