Page 18 of January

The room was for a teenager and had several pictures of her mother pinned to the walls and taped to the mirror of what looked to be a makeup table with very old makeup still sitting on it, waiting to be used by a teenage girl who would never come home.

CHAPTER 6

“How did it go last night? Did Bridgette get lucky?” Jill asked.

“No. We went to a couple of places, but nothing. I don’t think she thought it through.”

“What do you mean?”

“That she’d actually have to talk to them,” Melinda replied, grabbing her list for the second tour of the day.

“Did she think she wouldn’t have to say a word and lesbians would come running?”

“I don’t know.” Melinda chuckled. “I think she is still working up the courage. Shedidsee a woman that she thought was hot, though. She did this whole walk-by thing.”

“She did a walk-by?”

“Am I the only one who didn’t know that was a thing?”

“I mean, it’s a risk because there’s a good chance that they don’t even notice you, so then you’ve got to back up and introduce yourself, but if you can’t figure out what to say, it’s a good way to find out if they’re at least somewhat interested. Did nothing happen?”

“Nope. She walked right on by the table and said that the woman didn’t even look up. Then, she texted me that she wanted to go and gave up.”

“That’s it? She walks byonetable, and she gives up?”

“It wasn’t even a gay bar. And the woman was there with someone else, too, so I told her not to take it as an insult.”

“She was there with someone, and Bridgette still pulled a walk-by?”

“I guess she thought she was really hot.”

“Wasshe?”

Melinda thought about that for a minute. She’d been thinking about the woman from the bar all morning, and if she was being honest with herself, last night after she’d gottenhome, too. She had no idea why, but the look the woman had given her as Melinda had walked past the table had been locked inside her brain, and Melinda hadn’t been able to focus on much else.

“Yeah, she was,” she admitted.

“Tourist or local?”

“Don’t know. Likely, tourist, though.”

“Bridge missed her shot, I guess,” Jill replied. “Are you going out again?”

“Probably. I’ll let you know when we do if you want to come. You’ll probably just be watching me nurse a drink while Bridge points out hot women, with no real plans to talk to them.”

“Where are you going today?” Jill asked.

“I’ve got food today,” Melinda replied.

“That’s the best of them all, isn’t it?” Jill noted. “Time for my next one. I’ll see you later?”

“Yeah,” Melinda said.

She checked the list and noticed that she only had eight participants for this smaller group tour of food in the French Quarter. It was a good way for people to get to know the local cuisine, and she usually got to benefit from wherever they went and got some great free food out of it. With this tour, she had to check dietary restrictions, and thankfully, finding none, she planned to take them to Henry’s place first and get them Po-Boys. After that, she’d ask them about the cuisine that they wanted to try and take them to the best spots nearby. It was a three-hour tour that usually left everyone full and in need of a nap, which was why it was offered in the afternoon.

“Hello, everyone. My name is Melinda. I’ll be your–” She stopped when she saw her. Then, she cleared her throat and looked away. “Tour guide today. If you’re not here for the food tour, you’re likely looking for the cemetery tour, which is led by my colleague, Jill, who is standing over there.” Melinda pointed.

The woman from the bar, along with the woman she’d been with, both turned toward Jill, and for a moment, Melindawas worried they’d leave to join Jill’s tour. When they turned back and didn’t move to leave, Melinda smiled and went on with her introduction and explanation of the tour. Now that they weren’t in the dark at the pub, she could see the woman more clearly, and yes, she was hot, but she was also every other adjective Melinda had used the previous night to describe her. She was beautiful, and Melinda needed to focus because she couldn’t just stare at a stranger all day.

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