Page 13 of January

“Yeah, I know. Those are exhausted, too. I’ve got three different ones charging right now, actually, just in case I need them later.”

“It’s been, like, six months, Bridge,” Melinda noted as they walked.

The crowd wasn’t yet massive, but it would be soon. Even in the off-season, the streets would be packed.

“I loved her, Mel,” Bridgette replied. “And I know we were only together for six months, so I should be over her by now, but I’m not yet.”

“But I thought you were ready.”

“For sex, yes. Sex with a hot tourist who I never have to see again. For a relationship? I don’t know that part yet. But I don’t have to answer that question tonight because I plan to be honest with any of the ladies I talk to.”

“Where do you want to go?” Melinda asked.

“Anywhere. I plan to hop.” Bridgette pulled Melinda into a bar. “There. A table. Grab it. I’ll get us drinks.”

Melinda headed to the small two-top table and pulled up the chair. Surprised to even find a table and chairs available, she yanked the empty one over closer to her, making it clear that it was hers and that she was waiting for someone she knew to come back and take it. She’d grown accustomed to claiming her space from tourists a long time ago. Then, she watched as Bridgette ordered them drinks and waited for them to be made. Looking around and seeing the mix of men and women in the place, Melinda had a feeling they wouldn’t be hanging out here long. That was confirmed when Bridgette walked back over without their drinks in hand and nodded toward the door. Melinda sighed and followed her out.

“I wasn’t feeling it,” Bridgette said.

“We’re in the Quarter. Do you want to go somewhere else, maybe?”

“I don’t know,” Bridgette replied, sighing and looking up and down the street.

“What about that pub off Magazine? It’s touristyandlocal.”

“It’s also straight,” Bridgette added.

“But I’m starving, and they have food there. They will also have tables, and they have that balcony where we can sit and check out people walking by. Maybe you’ll find someone there.”

“Doubt it.”

“Well, it could happen when you least expect it.”

“Now, you sound like one of my greeting cards.”

Melinda laughed and walked them out of the Quarter toward where she knew they could order a car. Usually, she walked or took public transit nearly everywhere in the city, but she’d been walking all day and had to take that extra tour, so she was exhausted and didn’t want to have to wait for the bus. Cabs were still everywhere, but shared rides were even more common these days, making it easy enough to hop ina car for a couple of miles when her feet were tired or if she’d had too much to drink. Tonight, she guessed, Bridgette would be the one to do the drinking, so getting some greasy food in her might not be a bad idea.

They got out of their shared ride at the corner of Magazine and Poydras due to a traffic back up and turned away from the casino and in the direction of the pub Melinda had been to at least a thousand times by now. Bridgette followed her inside through the shutter doors after their IDs were checked by the bouncer. The full bar downstairs was already packed, but Melinda knew the upstairs one would be less so. She pulled Bridgette up the stairs and around a corner to the balcony, where there was a line of tables, half of them empty.

“Here,” she said, walking to the one at the end, where they’d have a full view of the street below.

“You stay. I’ll go inside and grab drinks,” Bridgette replied.

Melinda sat down at the metal table that wobbled and waited for Bridgette to return. A few minutes later, her friend walked down holding two beers and looking gleeful.

“What happened in there? Did you get laid in the three minutes you were gone? If so, you really were hard up, if it happened that fast.”

“Shut up,” Bridgette said, chuckling. “No, I didn’t get laid. But I did see the woman who I’m kind of hoping will be responsible for my orgasms tonight. And yes, I saidorgasms, plural, because I want more than one.” She sat down at the table and passed Melinda her beer.

“Who?” Melinda asked.

“She’s inside. I had to go downstairs because the line up here got long, and I saw her walk in. Technically, she walked inwithsomeone, but it didn’t seem like they were together. I’m hoping it’s a friends thing.”

“Then, why are you here and not down there, talking to her?”

“She’s on her way up. They ordered food to-go, and the bartender told them to wait up here for it.”

“Should I disappear for a few minutes so that you look like you’re alone?” Melinda asked, picking up her beer.

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