Page 96 of Meet Me at the Metro

“Your friend will be just fine!”

“Is Evie chasing away all the good tippers again?” a deep, familiar voice interjects from behind the bar.

I look up and find Theo’s eyes on the two of us, and my heart skips a beat.He’s got that handsome, charming smirk on his face.

“She sure is,” I say, mouth going dry. If I could, I’d watch this man do the most mundane tasks all day if he’d let me. I do my best not to ogle at how nice his inked biceps look as he mixes the martini shaker in his hands.

“Am not,” Evie whines. “Your friend is just a little fucking cream puff.”

“Sounds like fighting words to me,” Theo taunts.

Theo and I chuckle as Evie huffs and dramatically spins the barstool seat away from us.

“I didn’t know you’d be coming here tonight,” Theo says, continuing the conversation as he pours two drinks.

“Thought I’d surprise you.”

He bites back a grin at that. “You staying to watch Harv’s show tonight?”

I nod.“Mhmm. I planned on it.”

“Good. You guys should stay and hang out while I close up,” he offers, darting his gaze to Evie, who’s swaying in her seat. “I can help you get her drunk arse home.”

Evie throws him an offended look. “I am not drunk—yet.I am merely buzzed.”

“Exactly—yet.” He fills up a glass of water and scoots it to her. “Drink up, buddy.”

Theo hands off the two drinks he was preparing to the waiting customers before returning his attention to me. “You want something to drink, Nora?”

“Yes. Somethingverystrong, please.”

He lets out a low laugh that makes every nerve in my body tingle. “You got it, but we gotta take it easy this time, alright? Can’t be getting any more sprained ankles.”

“Got it,” I nod obediently. I’m definitely not going all out like the last time.

“You like dark liquor?”

I smile. “I can do dark liquor.”

He grabs a bottle ofJägermiefteroff the bottom shelf and holds it up.“Jägerbomb?”

“Sounds good, Mr. Bartender.” As he reaches for a clean glass, I ask, “How’s your day been?”

He shrugs. “Fine.”

“Just fine?”

He shakes his head and corrects himself. “Fucking sublime now that you’re here.”

Theo’s eyes linger on me for a long moment, trailing the features of my face so considerately—eyes, nose, mouth.

It makes me feel weightless.

He winks at me as though he can hear the very thought and begins concocting my drink. He nods to Evie. “SoCertified Yapperscared off your friend before she could even get a drink, huh?”

“He,”Evie quickly corrects. “But like I said, her friend is a cream puff. Not my fault.”

“He?”Theo reiterates.

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