“Keep walking guys,” Logan waved them off as he directed me and Maria to the next bar. He opened the door for us, and we entered the crowded space. People were everywhere here. An old Elvis song played on the jukebox, and the bartender reminded me of Edgar Allen Poe. He had dark curly hair and a mustache. He wore a suit, looking pristine in an old fashion way, and poured the concoction he currently made in the shaker, giving it a good whisking. He poured it into a flared glass, and the foam reached the rim. He decorated it with an orange peel and then burned a stick of cinnamon and swirled it in the drink before tossing it away.
I wanted that drink. It looked delicious.
Three people got up from the bar just in time, and Maria sat down on the stool quicker than the man had time to place a tip on the counter. I was between the two of them, Maria and Logan. The Poe looking bartender came up to us, wiping down the bar in front of us with a clean rag. “What can I get you?” he asked over the loud music blaring.
“Can I have the drink you just made?”
“Flaming Orange? Anything for the pretty redhead,” he winked, and I grinned, appreciating the attention, but I didn’t want to do anything about it. No one compared to Godrick, not even Poe.
“I’ll take one too!” Maria said, never taking her eyes off her phone.
I leaned over to whisper in her ear since that was the only way she could hear me in this place. “Is that Officer Cortez? What’s going on with the two of you?”
She waved her hand in the air and peeked over at Logan, who sulked with his beer. “I don’t know. We went out once. He is nice.”
“Attractive too,” I mentioned, but Maria just gazed longingly at Logan.
“Yeah, he is that.”
“You know, Logan always needs a kick in the ass when it comes to dating. The way to do that is for you to date other people. Don’t wait around for my brother, or you’ll be waiting forever.”
“It’s why I
invited Gabriel out tonight, but he is on duty. He said he was going to swing by though,” her smile was large and bright. It was obvious she liked Gabriel, but Logan was interfering with that. I’d have to talk to him about Maria. The jealousy he showed while she talked about Gabriel was uncalled for since he didn’t plan on doing anything about it.
“Good for you,” I nudged her with my arm, and Poe placed a pink drink in front of me with a cut strawberry on the rim. I didn’t order that.
“From the man down at the end of the bar,” he said and leaned forward. “Can’t say I blame him. Your Flaming Orange is on me.”
Oh, gosh. I’d never had so much attention before. I glanced away and bit my lip. I wasn’t in a relationship, technically. I didn’t know what Godrick and I were, but I was allowed to have fun. I wouldn’t have sex with anyone since I knew who my heart belonged to. It didn’t mean I couldn’t accept drinks.
Right as I lifted the rose-colored drink to my lips, I glanced down the bar to see who sent it to me and saw Brian. The drink fell out of my hand, and the glass shattered on the bar. Luckily the pink drink didn’t ruin my outfit, but I felt bad for breaking the glass.
“Oh my god, are you okay?” Maria shrieked, standing from her stool.
Logan pulled me away from the bar and gave me a look over to make sure I didn’t hurt myself. The bartender came running toward us with his brows pinched together. He actually looked worried about his customer. “You okay, Doll?”
“I’m fine. Sorry, I just thought I saw someone I knew,” I glanced down the bar again, and Logan followed my gaze. Brian wasn’t there anymore. He had to have been there. Was he just in my head now? Did I make him up? Imagine him?
“Was he there? Who did you see, Lucy?”
“Logan, I swear it was him.”
“Stay with her! Do not move from this place. Keep an eye on them for me, will ya?” he asked Poe. I didn’t know his name, but Poe fit.
“You got it, man.” Poe cleaned up the broken glass by picking up a small trashcan behind the counter and pushing the glass with a rag over the edge. Quickly putting it into the trashcan. “You okay? You sure?” he asked me.
“I’m fine. I’m so sorry about that.”
Maria rubbed my back, and suddenly I got so angry, so livid. I didn’t want to be babied; I didn’t want to soothed. Everything was fucking fine. I was fine.
“Your drink is coming up. It’s still on me.”
“Thanks, Poe,” the name I gave him in my head slipped out, and he tossed his head back and laughed, the rich sound filled the bar. He even sounded classic.
“Not the first time I’ve heard that, but I like it more coming from you.” Poe winked at me while he shook up my drink.
I tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear and saw Logan out of the corner of my eye, making his way through the crowd. He shook his head. “He isn’t here. You sure you saw him?”