Page 70 of Side By Side

“When I say I need you here, it’s not because of what happened.” Chandler locked the car with her fob. “It’s because it’s easy with you. Even when I miss your hand or I don’t land a jump, skating is easy with you. It always was. We weren’t partners back then, but it was always easier, skating with you on the ice with me, than it was with anyone else. I think I needed that.”

Belle nodded. Then, she pointed.

“That’s Jay’s.”

“That’s where they keep the alcohol?”

Belle laughed and said, “Yeah.”

“Let’s go.”

Belle looked down and realized that Chandler had taken her hand and was pulling her along. She didn’t mind that at all, but bringing Chandler would definitely get in the way of her other plans tonight. That was especially true now that it appeared that Belle would need to be their designated driver.

Having arrived inside, Belle looked around, finding the place to be pretty much what she’d expected based on the pictures she’d seen online. It was clean, had TVs everywhere that weren’t showing sports, and had a long bar that lined one wall with blue, green, and pink neon lighting around it. There were tables along the other wall, and at the end of the room was a DJ stand and the dance floor. She guessed that to the left, where she saw people coming and going from, was the more chill space where there were a few pool tables and some dart boards along with more tables.

She didn’t have time to look further because she was pulled again, this time in the direction of the bar.

“Are they playing porn on the TVs?” Chandler asked, looking into Belle’s eyes as if to avoid looking at them.

Belle looked up and said, “Not exactly. Tasteful stuff. Men are mostly clothed, from what I can see.”

“Yeah, I need a drink.”

“You don’t want to look at mostly naked hot guys? I mean, I assume they’re hot. They do nothing for me. They have abs and stuff. Oh,” Belle let out and looked down at the bar. “And dicks. Yup. Dicks are out.”

“What?” Chandler looked up and then quickly away. “They can play that in here?”

“Private business, so yeah,” she replied. “Not your thing?”

“No, not really?”

“Twinks?”

“Huh?”

“Are you not into twink types?”

“I–”

“What can I get you?” a bartender walked up to them and set down two blue napkins on the bar.

“Um… Can I just get a beer?” Belle asked. “Whatever domestic you have in a bottle is fine. I’m not picky.” She looked at Chandler. “What do you want?”

“Shot.”

“Okay. A shot of what?”

“I don’t drink much,” she said softly to Belle over the music that had started to play even louder than when they’d just walked in.

“Why don’t you start with a mixed drink? Want something sweet that doesn’t actually taste like alcohol?”

“No, nothing else sweet today. A shot of… tequila.”

“Coming up,” the bartender said before Belle could suggest something else.

“Are you sure about this?” Belle asked once her beer and Chandler’s shot were placed in front of them on the bar.

“Yup.” Chandler picked up the shot glass, tipped it back, and downed it. “Oh, gross.” She coughed a little and reached for Belle’s beer, which she took a long pull from.