Page 86 of Just Business

“He won’t leave me alone,” she explains. “Alan has rocks for brains and he can’t figure out how to get into his website to change that picture.” I laugh and she shoots me a devious smile.

She puts the car in drive, and we head to the bar. One thing I’ve noticed about Cassie since she’s been here is how terrible of a driver she is. She’s aggressive, like she’s in Dallas instead of small-town Alabama, and she’s always going at least ten miles over the speed limit. I raise my hand to the "oh shit" bar, holding on for dear life.

Josie snickers from the back seat, and Cassie glances over, noticing me white-knuckling the bar.

“You're ridiculous.” Cassie rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling.

“You’re just so aggressive!” I laugh. “What’s the hurry?”

“But have you died?” she shoots back, and we all burst out laughing.

“The night is young,” Josie says from the backseat.

Five minutes later, we’re flying into a parking spot near the bar. Cassie takes the turn too quickly, and the back tire hops the curb. Josie and I immediately dissolve into a fit of nervous giggles.

When we get inside I notice it’s more crowded than usual. That’s fine with me. It means it’ll be so loud I won’t have to do much talking. I’m really only here to make Cassie happy and get Josie out of the house for a bit.

The bartender takes our orders, and while we wait, I check my phone again for a text. Still nothing. I sigh, trying to shove down my dissapointment.

“Hey, will you guys grab us that table? I’ll wait on our drinks,” Cassie yells to Josie and me over the loud music of the bar.

We grab the high-top table that a group just vacated and sit down to wait.

“I can tell you don’t wanna be here,” Josie says, her eyes scanning up and down my face.

“What gave it away?” I ask.

“I know the many faces of Penny Miller,” she says, grinning. “You’ve got your resting sad face on again.” Josie mimes a frownie face, tugging down the corners of her mouth with her fingers.

I shrug and force a big, exaggerated fake smile, teeth and all.

“That’s terrifying.” She shudders, and I roll my eyes. “Hey, look, Liam just walked in.” Josie motions toward the entrance.

Liam pushes through the crowd, scanning the room like he's looking for someone. His gaze lands on Cassie, still standing at the bar, and his face breaks into a grin. That’s…interesting. He takes a long drag from his cigarette, blowing smoke from his nostrils as he makes his way toward her.

He heads toward the bar, but right before he gets there, a guy we went to school with steps in his path, stopping him for a quick chat. Liam glances over at Cassie, but ever the nice guy, he takes some time to speak with the guy. I notice Cassie hasn’t spotted him yet, too busy laughing and talking animatedly to the bartender. They're probably on a first-name basis by now, knowing her.

She walks over, balancing our drinks in her hands and sets them down in front of us with a flourish of her hands, as if she’s doing a presentation.

“Cosmo for Penny, lemon drop for Josie, and a whiskey sour for me.”

She climbs up onto the tall chair and raises her glass to toast.

“What are we toasting to?” I ask, eyeing her curiously.

“To fresh starts and new love,” Cassie replies.

“What about me? I have neither!” Josie exclaims.

“You don’t know that. I’m manifesting that shit!” We clink our glasses together and each take a sip.

“Hmmm…love that for us,” Josie says, when she sets her glass down.

Finally, Liam makes it over to our table. “Mind if I sit?”

“Only if you put that cancer stick out.” Cassie motions to his lit cigarette.

Liam walks backward, his eyes never straying from her face as he reaches for an ashtray on the bar and puts the cigarette out. Josie and I look on with our mouths hanging open.

---