MANifesting

Going around behind the bar, I gently shoved Jackie out of the way by her shoulder. “Martini emergency. Clear the decks.” Since we got in each other’s way so much on busy nights, we had to make light of the fact we were always in each other’s space.

“Whatever,” she said dramatically, holding up her hands. “I was just about to make more coffee anyway.”

She went to the far end as I whipped up another special concoction, pouring it into two martini glasses. Catching Allie’s eye, I flashed her a wink before coming over to their table.

“A little something fancy to start the weekend off right,” I smiled.

“Wow, thanks,” Christine said, sniffing the liquid carefully.

“Thank you,” Allie said, looking up at me through her long dark lashes.

“Are you hungry?” I asked.

“No, we already ate, thank you,” Christine said.

“Cool. Well, holler if you need anything else.”

I sat back down at my table behind Christine, opening my laptop. It was tricky to pretend to stare at the screen while sneaking glances at Allie as she sipped her drink.

The girls chatted a bit about some guy Christine was dating, and how he was much better than the last few. Just as I was attempting to force myself to actually get some more work done, a phone rang.

“Hello? Oh, hi, Kyle.” There was a pause, then Christine jumped up laughing, swigging the rest of her drink. “I’m on my way.”

“Thanks so much for the martini, it really was excellent,” she said, turning to me. “You’ll keep Allie company for a while, right?”

“Absolutely.”

Allie grabbed her wrist, but she jerked it away. There seemed to be an intense but brief conversation communicated through vario

us intensities of glaring, then Christine left.

“Come sit with me,” I said, clearing some room on my table. “I just have a few more minutes of work.”

Allie grabbed her things and moved to sit across from me while I pretended to work. She sipped her martini so delicately, making me far too aware of those perfect lips.

She pulled a notebook from her purse, writing quickly. It was nearly impossible to concentrate on the bar’s fruit order when I really wanted to know what she was jotting down. Finally, I snapped my laptop shut.

“What are you writing? Please tell me it’s all of the ways you’re thinking of asking me to walk you home.”

Her light, sweet laugh was enchanting. “It’s my intention journal,” she said softly. “I write things as if they’ve already happened. It’s supposed to make you believe that things are possible, so you’re more likely to act on them when they actually happen.”

“Does it work?”

Her hair bounced slightly as she nodded. “I think so. At least, it helps me focus on things more clearly so that I’m less nervous all the time.”

The last thing I wanted to do was make her nervous, but I had to keep her with me.

“Listen, it’s pretty clear that Christine dragged you here to see me,” I said gently. “If you’re uncomfortable with that, I could call you a cab. I don’t want you to feel like you’re held hostage.”

“No,” she said quickly. “It’s just…”

She looked so fragile that I needed to put her at ease. Holding out my hand on the table palm up, I held my breath until she took it, flashing me that stunning little smile.

“Let’s just hang out for a bit,” I said. “How does that sound?”

She nodded eagerly. “Sure.”

“So, tell me a few things about yourself. What do you do? What are you into?”