Shaken Not Stirred (Mixology) (8 page)

“Are you trying to distract me? I’m not going
to forget about what you put me through last night.” I still
couldn’t quite believe Macon had done that to me.

“Yeah, I’m sorry I forgot to turn my phone
on.”

“You’re lucky you had it off.”

“I love your idle threats. It’s one of your
best features. It ranks right up there with how much you hate the
word ‘cock’—and ‘dick.’”

“You know what, this isn’t worth my energy.”
I stormed out of his room.

He followed me. “Did it make you realize how
great your date with Colin was? Maybe make you think it’s worth
calling him?”

“Wait. You’re going to try to convince me
that you put me through all that to try to talk me into calling
Colin?” I stopped in my tracks.

He stood there looking at me.

“You can’t be serious.”

“I don’t get why you haven’t called yet.”

“If he wanted to see me, he’d have called.” I
tried to keep the hurt out of my voice. His failure to call
shouldn’t have bothered me nearly as much as it did.

“Or maybe he’s waiting for you to call
him.”

“He’s not. I can promise you that.” I walked
into my room and sat down on my twin bed. Luckily, the room came
furnished. Otherwise, I’d have been sleeping on the floor.

“No, you can’t.” He leaned against the
doorframe. My room felt small with him standing there, like he was
boxing me into a tiny space.

“I saw him out on a date last night. On top
of my disaster date, I saw him with another girl.”

“What did you say to him?”

“Say to him? Nothing. I left so he didn’t see
me.” Wow. I sounded like a coward saying it.

“Why?”

I went with the honest answer. “Because I
didn’t want to deal with it.”

Macon stepped into my room. “Because you
actually like him.”

“Why does this matter to you?” I pulled up my
legs under me. “Why do you care whether I call Colin?”

“Because I’d like to see you do something
that makes you happy.”

“I’m always happy.”

Macon busted out laughing. “Oh yeah.
Always.”

“Cut me a break, Macon. I’ve had an awful
year.”

“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean you should
continue it. Eventually, you’re going to have to snap out of this
‘woe is me’ crap and move on with life.”

“Says the guy working at a dive shop.”
Sometimes Macon’s hypocrisy made me want to scream.

He sat down next to me. “It’s only
temporary.”

“So is bartending.”

He turned so he could look at me. “But what’s
it temporary until? You love plans. I don’t believe you don’t have
one.”

“I don’t. Maybe that’s the point. I don’t
want to have one.”

“Because you’re too afraid to find one,” he
mumbled. He knew he was treading thin ice.

“You don’t understand what it’s like.”

“Sure I do, Maddy. Life didn’t work out
exactly as you planned. You’re not going to med school. You’re not
marrying some ambitious guy, planning out how many perfect children
you want to have. That pisses you off. I get that.”

“You don’t get it.” I leaned back against my
pillows. “I’m tired of sucking.”

“Oh, stop the pity party.”

“The pity party?”

“Yeah. It doesn’t look good on you. If you
really wanted to go to med school, you’d be signing up for that
master’s program your parents found. But you’re not, because you
don’t want to go. You just can’t handle that things aren’t going as
planned. It burns you up.”

“I don’t honestly know what’s bothering me. I
just feel lost.”

“We all feel lost sometimes.”

A smile broke through despite my mood.
“You’re pretty sage for a guy who got a glass of water poured over
his head.”

“I want you to snap out of this. I want Maddy
back.”

“Glad I’ve been missed. I hadn’t even
realized I’d gone anywhere.”

He leaned back next to me. “Oh, you’ve been
gone.”

“And you honestly think calling Colin is
going to bring me back?”

“No.”

“Okay, so everything you’ve said is
pointless?”

“It’s not going to bring you back, but it’s
at least a step. You’re acknowledging that you care about
something—or rather someone.”

“I don’t think I can handle him telling me he
met someone. It’s more rejection.”

“And rejection is worse than never
knowing?”

“Yes. Rejection hurts. You wouldn’t know
that.”

“Oh yeah? Because I’ve never been
rejected?”

“Have you?” I couldn’t imagine Macon ever
being rejected. He was the golden boy and eye candy rolled into
one.

He looked away. “Yes.”

“When?”

“More times than you want to know, but this
isn’t about me.”

“I’m not calling Colin, but maybe I’ll keep
dating.”

“That’s not the same thing.”

“Why not?”

“That’s just trying something new again.
That’s different than putting in the effort toward something.”

“First dates take effort. I extend more
effort picking out clothes and going through possible conversation
topics than I spend on the next ten dates combined.”

“Ever think that’s part of the problem?”

“What’s part of the problem?”

“You put so much energy in the beginning and
then lay off. Life’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

I put my arms behind my head to prop myself
up more. “No you didn’t.”

“Didn’t what?”

“Go there with the ‘life is a marathon’
metaphor.”

“Oh, I did. I definitely went there. It’s a
good metaphor.”

“Well, then I better get training.” I got up
and began shooing Macon toward the door.

“At least think about what I said.”

“I will. I’ll even go shopping for new
running shoes.”

“Make sure to get a warranty on them—you
never know when you’re going to need it.”

“I don’t even know how that fits the
metaphor, but I’ll pretend I do.”

“You know what? I’m not leaving.” He flopped
down on my bed again. “You woke me up and soaked my bed. I’m going
back to sleep while you find your way.”

“Fine. I’m going for a walk.”

“Good for you. Take it slow.”

I hit him with a pillow. “No more marathon
metaphors.”

“Fine. I have plenty of other metaphors to
try out next.”

“You are such a loser sometimes.”

“Some people would call me a caring friend,
but I’ll take what I can get.”

“Good, because it’s all you’re getting.”

I went back to the basics the next Thursday
night. I made Lyle a highball. Maybe I was making things too
complicated. Some people were more basic with their drink
selections. They wanted the strong taste without too much
interfering. My next attempt would be a whiskey up, but maybe he
was a ginger ale guy. I would have pegged Lyle to be into the more
complicated mixtures, but he was turning out to be a lot harder to
read than I expected.

Brody and Macon sat in their usual spots as I
stared at Lyle from the distance. He was wearing a red t-shirt with
a faded emblem I couldn’t make out. If it were someone else I would
have assumed he bought it that way, but with Lyle it seemed more
likely that he wore it and washed it so much that it wore out.

“I don’t know why you’re bothering with Lyle.
I heard you and Ralph had a good time.” Brody sipped his Coke.

“Do you want me mad at you?” I’d already let
Brody have it for his participation in the event. He didn’t get the
‘water poured over his head’ treatment, but that didn’t mean he was
off the hook.

“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.