Shaken Not Stirred (Mixology #1)(17)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“You have to admit it was funny.”

“Funny? You mean absolutely infuriating. Ugh, it makes me mad just to think about it.” I was used to Macon playing games, but having two people do it was worse.

Brody grinned. “Come on, I heard you guys hit it off after the truth came out.”

“I wouldn’t call it hitting it off. He’s nice, but not for me.”

“Not like Lyle,” Macon said in a poor imitation of me.

“Don’t you guys ever get tired of messing with me?” I set down Lyle’s drink on the bar in front of me.

“Nah, it’s too much fun.” Macon laughed.

“Glad I can give you guys so much entertainment.”

***

“Hey, here’s your drink.” I handed it to Lyle, letting my hand touch his a moment longer than necessary. His skin felt cooler than I expected.

He took the drink and set it down immediately. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” I mumbled as I walked back to the bar.

“Not into the highball, huh?” Brody asked.

I shrugged. “Who knows? He didn’t even try it.”

“That would make most people give up.” Macon’s attention was only half on me. He’d noticed a girl across the room.

“You’re the one who told me to put in more effort.”

“Not with him.” Without a word, he got up to talk to the girl. I wished I had that kind of confidence.

Macon returned a few minutes later with a triumphant smile on his face.

“Just a 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.” Brody laughed.

“I don’t think I’m a bad kisser. I figured the kiss didn’t do it for him.”

“So what are your big plans tomorrow night?” Macon reached over and filled his empty glass with water. I hated when he did things like that. Why couldn’t he ask like a normal person?

“I don’t have any.” Not yet at least. Seeing Colin gave me new determination to find another date.

“Ohhhh,” Macon said. “Don’t let him catch you in that one.”

“I’ll find plans.” I felt pretty confident. Usually when I wanted to get attention, I found it. The problem was, it wasn’t always the right kind.

Macon took off as soon as Brody got back to work, and I was left at a nearly empty bar. I talked to Mary for a while before she left when she got a new table in her section. The kitchen was getting ready to close, but Max was pretty lenient when it came to late-night diners.