Page 35 of Worth the Chase

People didn’t usually wait in line for hours to drink a cocktail.

“I’m good with it if you are,” I said as I finished cutting the limes and setting them aside. Glancing around my bar, I realized that I had everything ready to go.

The cocktail menus were set neatly in front of each stool, featuring our current seasonal drinks. Excitement rushed through me. And pride. I’d created this part of the restaurant, and there wasn’t anything I’d have done differently.

“I’m here!” I heard Anna shout before I saw her. “Hi.” She shimmied her way toward me, her blonde ponytail swishing back and forth.

“You’re early.” I was shocked.

“Didn’t want to be late on my first day. The line is insane,” she said, sounding out of breath. “It’s halfway down the street.”

“Really?” I asked because I’d had no idea how long it stretched.

“I feel like all of Sugar Mountain is here.” She giggled before she stepped up to the sink and washed her hands without me having to remind her to do it.

“Think you can handle a crowd?” I teased, but I wasn’t honestly sure if people would be drinking in the day or not.

“I guess we’re about to find out.” She gave me a concerned look. “What if I’m not good at this?”

“Then, I’ll fire you,” I said before laughing. “Or delegate you to beer only.”

She looked momentarily satisfied with my answer, but didn’t have time to argue about it because Addi stepped outside and talked to the line of people. I overheard her thanking them, saying she hoped they loved the food as much as she did. There was clapping and shouting, and before I knew it, the place was jam-packed. All the seats were taken, including the ones at the bar.

“Shit,” Anna cursed under her breath after the mixer she held in her hands dropped and the contents flew all over the bar and the floor.

Thank God none of the liquid had hit any patrons. I would have been mortified.

“Anna.” I tossed her a look.

She mouthed,Sorry, as she tried to clean up around me.

“Everyone okay?” I laughed, trying to play it off like it was no big deal and happened all the time.

Thankfully, everyone seemed to be in a good mood, and they laughed right along with us, not bothered by the hiccup at all.

My best friend was definitely struggling though. She broke a glass and then three more, simply trying to wash them, and I knew I was in trouble. The mixer had come apart one more time before I delegated her to drinks that only required pouring and a quick stir.

Hours passed, and once the bar finally slowed to a crawl, I took stock of the mess around me.

“Damn,” Anna said before she leaned her body against the ledge. “That was madness.”

“That was pretty crazy,” I agreed.

Today had been unprecedented, and we most likely wouldn’t keep up that level of business on a daily basis.

“Have you always been this clumsy and I just never noticed?” I asked because I’d never considered Anna a butterfingers, but today was off the charts.

“The bubbles make it slippery,” she explained before pointing down at the sink.

“What about the mixer?” I nudged her hip with my own.

“I don’t think I put it together right.”

She definitely hadn’t. The two pieces needed to be smacked into place and then held on to tightly as you shook it.

“Did you at least have fun?” I decided to ask the most important question.

Because if her answer was yes, then I might be able to salvage this. But if her answer was no, then there wouldn’t be much hope. Someone who enjoyed what they did, even if they were initially bad at it, would stick it out through the struggle and try to improve. Someone who hated it, however, would lack the desire to get better.

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