Page 58 of February

“Because I want everyone to like it here. No further questions, Your Honor.”

“I don’t think that’s how that works,” Jill noted.

“Well, we’re going. Are you staying?”

“No, we’ll come with you,” Melinda replied, and Bridgette tried not to show her disappointment because she’d wanted to go to Pat O’Brien’s with Monica on her own.

Once they arrived and walked to the courtyard, Bridgette scoured the space for seating. It wasn’t as crowded as it would be later, and she was able to find a table for four and a spare metal chair that she dragged over to sit next to Monica.

“I don’t know. She’s cute,” Jill said a few minutes later. “But she’s with people.”

“Back to the fact that we all travel in packs?” Melinda asked.

“She’s with two women who are totally into each other,” Bridgette added. “They’ve kissed already. So, she could be third-wheeling it.”

“I’m good where I am tonight. We’re celebrating Kyle moving into her beautiful and massive house in the Garden District tonight. I’m not looking to get laid.” Jill held up the Hurricane she’d nearly finished already.

“After this, we should go to Cat’s,” Melinda suggested. “Or, we can hit up gay town.”

“Gay town?” Monica asked Bridgette.

“Lavender Line,” Melinda explained. “The part of the street with rainbow flags all over it. We can go there next.”

Bridgette checked Monica’s expression, but the woman looked down at her watch and then had her half-finished drink while Melinda and Kyle started talking.

“Do you not like your drink?”

“No, I do,” Monica said as she turned to Bridgette. “I just had two already, and I don’t hold my alcohol like I used to.”

“You don’t have to finish it if you don’t want to. Jill will take it, I bet.”

“I don’t think I’m up for another bar, Bridge. It’s getting kind of late, and I should get back to the hotel.”

“Do you really feel that way, or is there something else going on?” she whispered into Monica’s ear.

Monica turned her head to speak into Bridgette’s then, bringing them closer together.

“I’m so much older than all of you. I’m exhausted and a little drunk, and I don’t think I can stay out any later without passing out in the street.”

Bridgette laughed silently and said, “You wouldn’t be the first person to do that.”

Monica smiled at her and said, “Even so, you and your friends are great, but… I don’t exactly fit in.”

“Why not?” Bridgette asked.

“Obvious reasons.”

“But are you having fun?”

“Yes,” Monica replied.

“It’s all in your head, Monica. No one here knows or cares about your age. If you’re tired, though, we’ll go.”

“We?”

“I’ll make sure you get back to your hotel. My car is over there, anyway.”

“You should stay with your friends.”

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