Page 35 of The Barkeep and the Bro

She bowed her head and nodded, just as she did when she’d get in trouble as a girl. Some things never changed.

“I’m sorry, Dad. I guess it was a little weird seeing him here. Like, what are my college ex-boyfriend and Dad doing together, y’know?”

I opened my mouth, about to say we weren’t together. But that would only make things more awkward.

“Now, you came over to discuss vendor proposals, right? Let’s get started.”

She took out her iPad and attachable keyboard and didn’t mention Charlie for the rest of her time here.

* * *

After she left,I spent a little more time emailing my own vendors before rejoining everyone downstairs. I enjoyed spending time with my employees. I didn’t want to be that boss who barricades himself away and only shows his face to dole out orders.

“How’s it coming?” I called into the supply room.

“Great! Y’know, it’s gonna be a process. Miracles don’t happen overnight.”

I admired his hope.

Charlie emerged from the closet, wiping dust off his shirt. His muscles were in fine form.

“So, Mitch, I was shocked to see you out on Friday night.”

“What?” Natasha cleaned off a table. “Mitch, you went somewhere and did something?”

I shot her a glare, then gulped back a lump in my throat. I wondered if he was going to bring it up. “Me? You were the one at a gay bar.”

“I was there with Amos and his friends.” He leaned on the bar. “I gave them all flirting lessons, and I’m pretty sure all of them hooked up that night.”

“You should open a charm school for manwhores,” Natasha said.

“That’s not a bad idea.” Charlie laughed, his gleaming, gorgeous set of teeth on display. “But back up. Mitch, I was kind of surprised to see you there.”

“We close at one, and Remix is open until four.”

“Yes, but you’re…” Charlie glanced at Natasha, and I knew what they were thinking.

“Old?”

The young folk bowed their heads in embarrassment.

“I like to go out.” Every once in a while, my friends will drag me out to make sure I still have a social life. Even though it’s late and we’re dog-tired, Leo said it’s the most efficient method for finding me a guy to bring home. Standards fall dramatically after two a.m. Not like I ever followed through with that mission. Only on very rare occasions.

“I’m trying to picture you at a bar...having a good time.” Natasha cocked her head to the side. “Like, are you looking around judging everything?”

“No.”

Yes.

“He looked like he was having fun,” Charlie said.

“So did you,” I said back. I don’t remember anything except staring at Charlie from across the room, remembering how his pink lips and entrancing eyes twinkled in the mood lighting.

“I like being out, around people. Doesn’t matter where they stick it.” Charlie flipped a dishtowel over his shoulder. He always had one hanging there like it was a prop.

“I think I need that on a bumper sticker,” I said.

Charlie was a textbook extrovert. It took me a while to realize that even though I ran a bar, I was not a people person. I needed my solitude.

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