Page 30 of Lying Hearts
Tonight, I give two glasses of Sam Adams to a nice couple on a date, and take their cash. This is definitely their first date, and she hates beer but isn’t telling him that, yet. I can see it in her eyes when I hand it to her.
This is my bar, and even though it hasn’t found its stride… it’s mine. All mine. I did it. Now I’m just praying I can make it successful.
Smiling to myself, I head back to refill Barbara’s already empty glass. Hell, she might be able to keep this place afloat on her own. “You want another, Barb?”
“Do kids love cake?”
I chuckle and pour as she holds out her hand, bracelets jingling.
“Let me see a picture of this Italian boy of yours.”
I pull up his photo on my phone, the one I took the weekend we went to Venice. “Here he is.”
“Ooooooo. Look at him!”
I smile, leaning in to look at it, too. “Yeah. He’s not hard on the eyes.”
“How long have you been dating him?” Her eyes stay glued to the screen taking in his olive skin, dark hair and deep brown eyes. She starts to scroll for more pictures, but I grab it from her before she finds something naked.
“I met him right after I got there. He took me in. So, four and half years? Yeah.” I lean on the counter to make way for Manny loading up the refrigerator with more bottles of beer. “But we’re not dating anymore. I told him while I’m gone, he should date other people.” It hurts just saying it.
Her perfectly-lined eyebrows go up. “And here I thought you were smart.”
I stare at her. She’s mirroring exactly the same thing I’ve been thinking, and it’s unnerving to have your doubts stare back at you. Or is it just the nerves of financial uncertainty that has me doubting?
And if I really want to see Brendan, then why haven’t I contacted him yet? I know where he works. It’s pretty much common knowledge that Brendan is the Creative Director for the biggest advertising agency in the city. But what am I going to do, call up his assistant and say, hi. I think I’m in love with your boss. Is he in?
But thinking of him now, the memory of his eyes looking into mine, makes me feel more certain that I have to find out. This feeling hasn’t gone away in five long years. I have to make it go away, even if that means getting hurt all over again.